Aviation Accidents

FREE Case evaluation

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Aviation Accidents

Aviation Accident Lawyer Services

While it is often said that air travel is safer than driving, aviation accidents do occur. The airplane crash lawyer Washington DC relies on is here to help with information about air travel and its associated risks. Air travel still presents significant risks that can be far more severe than an accident on the ground. Every time you board an airplane you are putting your life in the hands of hundreds of people you will never meet. You trust the pilot to be skilled and experienced and to get you where you need to go safely. You rely on the ground crew to be thorough in their preflight inspection. You expect the air traffic controller to be alert. You even trust the workers who built the plane to have tightened every rivet and checked every weld.

Aviation accidents can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Some of the ways an aviation accident can be caused are:

  • Errors by the flight crew
  • Faulty aircraft machinery
  • Weather
  • Poor maintenance of the airplane
  • Airport and air traffic control errors

Air travel is one of the popular ways for people to transport themselves long distance. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, they regulate up to 2.5 million airline passengers every single day. Upwards of 27,00 flights are scheduled every day to carry eager passengers from destination to destination. Air travel also poses a risk to property damage. With 39.9 billion pounds of freight being transported annually, plane and jet accidents could result in the destruction of property. All of these millions of people who choose to fly are all at risk for the human and property cost of an aviation accident.

Because of the high risks of air travel, the aviation industry is regulated heavily at multiple levels of government. Many federal and state agencies are charged with some degree of oversight of air travel. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration oversees all non-military air traffic in the United States. They also keep reports on the aviation accidents and air traffic in order to try to prevent further problems from occurring. There are regional airport authorities who also have a job to ensure the well-being of passengers and airplane crew throughout the duration of all flights. All these people have a role in ensuring the safety of the aviation industry and that no accidents happen.

An aviation accident is defined by the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft, which takes place from the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until all such persons have disembarked the aircraft, and in which a person is fatally or seriously injured and/or the aircraft sustains significant damage or structural failure and/or the aircraft goes missing or becomes completely inaccessible. The Annex also defines an aviation “incident” as an occurrence, not an “accident,” and is associated with the operation of an aircraft that has affected or could affect the safety of operation. A hull loss is if an aircraft is destroyed, damaged beyond repair, lost, or becomes completely inaccessible.

The first fatal aviation accident occurred near Wimereux, France, on June 15, 1785. The aviation accident involved a hot air balloon that killed the balloon’s inventor, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier, and the balloon’s other passenger, Pierre Romain.

The first aviation accident that involved a powered aircraft was on September 17, 1908 when a Wright Model A aircraft crashed at Fort Myer, Virginia and injured its co-inventor and pilot, Orville Wright, and killed the passenger, Signal Corps Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.

On March 27, 1977, 583 people died when a KLM Boeing 747 attempted to take off without flight clearance, and the airplane collided with a taxiing Pan Am 747 at Los Rodeos Airport on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain. The accident has the highest number of airliner passenger fatalities in history. There were no survivors from the KLM airplane. However, 61 of the 396 passengers and crew on the Pan Am aircraft did survive. Pilot error was the primary cause of the aviation accident, as the KLM captain began his takeoff run without obtaining air traffic control clearance. Unfortunately, a terrorist incident had occurred at a different airport and so many flights were diverted to Los Rodeos airport, but the small airport was equipped to deal with an aircraft of such size, and the dense fog contributed to the accident since the KLM flight crew could not see the Pan Am aircraft on the runway until just before the collision. The accident changed how the aviation industry operated in the area of communication, increasing emphasis on using standardized phraseology in air traffic control (ATC) communication by both controllers and pilots. “Cockpit Resource Management” was incorporated into flight crew training. Input of the crew is encouraged during aircraft operation and the pilot is no longer thought of an infallible.

Recently,  aviation accidents have been in the news after Boeing’s  two 737 MAX crashes and subsequent groundings. After two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft (first in October 2018 and then in March 2019), regulatory authorities around the world grounded the aircraft series until further notice. On May 18, 2019, Boeing admitted that flaws in 737 MAX simulator software made the system unable to reproduce flight conditions that contributed to the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. The aviation accidents have severely damaged Boeing’s reputation and earnings, many calling for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to be grounded forever.

Meanwhile, the world’s deadliest aviation-related disaster of any kind, taking in fatalities both on the aircraft and ground, was on September 11, 2001. On that morning, four commercial aircrafts traveling on transcontinental flights were hijacked after takeoff and were subsequently crashed in four separate suicide attacks. As a result, 2,996 lives were lost, including the deaths of 19 terrorists. The 9/11 crashes were not considered accidents, but instead mass murder-suicidse. The United States and the member nations of NATO consider the incididents an act of war and terrorism. 

If you or someone you love who lives in the DC area has been involved in an aviation accident or has died as a result of an aviation accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering, injuries or losses. You may want to contact a top aviation accident lawyer Washington DC if you have any questions.

Despite this high level of regulation, air travel accidents do still occur. When they do, the results are too often tragic. These accidents are almost always fatal. It’s no secret that airplane crashes have the highest mortality rate per accident of any form of public transportation. Aviation accidents have a higher mortality rate than car accidents, truck accidents, and bus accidents. Yet, not every airplane accident is necessarily a disaster that makes the news.

If you have been injured through no fault of your own while traveling on an airplane or any other vehicle, you should contact the aviation accident lawyer Washington DC trusts to find out if you are entitled to recover. The lawyers at Cohen & Cohen, have spent decades helping victims of aviation accidents get the compensation they deserve; call today to see if we can help you.

Personal Injury Attorneys In:

Washington DC | Maryland | Virginia

workers compensation attorneys in dc

Featured on:

Injury Attorneys DC, MD, VA – Get the Compensation You Deserve! Whether you have been injured in a car accident, a malpractice victim, injured on the job, as the result of shoddy craftsmanship, or in a slip and fall, we can help! Our experienced, competent attorneys excel in all areas of personal injury law.

PRACTICE AREAS

Catastrophic Injuries DC, MD, VA

Automobile Accidents DC, MD, VA

Workers’ Compensation DC, MD, VA

Slip and Fall DC, MD, VA

Medical Malpractice DC, MD, VA

Wrongful Death DC, MD, VA

Truck Accidents DC, MD, VA

Motorcycle Accidents DC, MD, VA

Metro Train Accident DC, MD, VA

FREE CASE EVALUATION

Our team is available and ready to help you with your case. Feel free to contact us via the form below or call us 24/7 at 202-955-4529

RECENT POSTS

Client Review

"My experience with Cohen & Cohen was beyond my expectations. Jill did an amazing job with negotiating on my behalf and got me way more money than I anticipated. Thank you for having my back."
L Proctor
Client Review

"I am very pleased with the outcome of my case. I received more than the amount that I originally thought and am very satisfied with how my case turned out. Jill, the attorney working on my case did an excellent job advocating for me to the insurance company and getting me a good settlement. A special shout out to Bryan Moran, who always kept me posted on the updates of my case and was always super responsive to my questions. They are a really thoughtful team, I would definitely recommend to my friends and family."
Carolina Bazan
Client Review

Hear from our clients

If you have been injured, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation today. Our staff is available 24/7 to assist you.

Cohen & Cohen has an  impeccable Client Satisfaction Rating with hundreds of
5 STAR Reviews. We are among the best-rated firms in the areas we serve.

Cohen & Cohen has an  impeccable Client Satisfaction Rating with hundreds of
5 STAR Reviews. We are among the best-rated firms in the areas we serve.

L Proctor
August 30, 2022.
My experience with Cohen &Cohen was beyond my expectations. Jill did an amazing job with negotiating on my behalf and got me way more money than I anticipated. Thank you for having my back.
Ebony Stoutmiles
June 23, 2022.
To say that I am happy with the outcome of my case is the understatement of the century! Jill Stanley is a BEAST at what she does. That is the only way to explain it. She takes no prisoners. She and her team are very skilled and knowledgeable. I am so happy I trusted them to do their job and rolled with Jill's suggestions. I would choose Jill again 100 times. She settled my case for more than I imagined I would receive. I was literally in tears. It is the best feeling to know my pain isn't for naught. Wayne Cohen and Kristopher Yorke were nothing short of amazing. They have the patience of saints. I'm 100% certain that I got on their last nerves with my frustration and tears at every other call I had with them. Being in pain and wanting to just be able to heal was all I could focus on, but they helped me realize that I also had to focus on the bigger picture (the case) so I could put this piece behind me. As a high-strung individual with anxiety, it was hard for me to not worry and let them do their jobs, but they reassured me all of the time that they had this. To be injured before the start of the pandemic and have to receive regular, weekly treatment while others are able to stay home is anxiety inducing. I was in pain, I was anxious, and I was just hoping it all worked out. It more than worked out. I hope Jill, Siri, and Kris know how much their hard work and "hanging in there" meant to me. I am eternally grateful. I can't recommend you all enough. If you choose this law firm, you won't be sorry!
Beloved Temple
June 3, 2022.
I was very pleased with the handling of my case and settlement with Cohen& Cohen. I appreciate them, would highly recommend them.
willie howell
May 25, 2022.
COHEN & COHEN ARE THE BEST I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CAR CRASH AND 2 YEARS LATER I HAVE RECEIVED MY SETTLEMENT I AM VERY EXCITED TO SAY BRYAN!!! IS THE MAN HE INSURED THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF ME AND THEY DID 100% ANY QUESTIONS I ASKED THEY WERE ANSWERED. Jill and SIRI WAS ALSO REMARKABLE AND SHOWED THEY REALLY CARED I RECOMMEND COHEN &COHEN TO ANYONE THEY ALSO MADE SURE I GOT MORE THAN EXPECTED WHICH WAS AMAZING I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS THANK U💯
Jose Rivera
May 25, 2022.
The legal team at cohen & cohen did a great job I really appreciate the hard work on gating my compensation in a fair amount of time. Special thanks to Kris for a wonderful job
Lea Harvey
May 25, 2022.
I had a great experience with the team at Cohen & Cohen. From my intake attorney, Adam, to the paralegal, Bryan, who worked with me regularly for months to document and prepare my case, to Jill, the attorney who secured my settlement, I feel fortunate to have had their representation and expertise on my side.
Cameron Galloway (HustleDaGod)
May 19, 2022.
Kris was phenomenal. Spectacular communication & knowledge in regards to my case. Would definitely return if I needed more legal services. 100% definitely recommend.

Best Personal Injury Lawyer in DC

SuperLawyers2010
SuperLawyers2011
SuperLawyers2012
SuperLawyers2014

Cohen & Cohen Has Been Featured On

FREE CASE EVALUATION

Our team is available and ready to help you with your case. Feel free to contact us via the form below or call us 24/7 at 202-955-4529

6 + 10 =

Read more: