Atlanta Aviation Accident Lawyers

Whenever we board an airplane, we reasonably expect that the airport, airline, and pilots will keep us safe at all times. Although commercial airline crashes are relatively rare nowadays, when planes do crash, the consequences are fatal.

At Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers, our aviation accident lawyers have successfully represented catastrophic injury victims and the families of wrongful death victims for over three decades. We understand that the last things that our clients and their families want to do when they’re grieving is to handle calls from insurance adjusters and bill collectors. Our goals are to help ease your suffering during this traumatic time period and recover the compensation that you deserve for your losses.

One of our firm’s trial lawyers is a former attorney for an aviation insurance company. As a former aviation defense attorney, he knows how the other side operates in aviation crash cases, and he’s ready to put the knowledge and skills gained from those experiences to work for you. To speak with a compassionate and highly skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer regarding an aviation injury claim, call us at (404) 939-9470 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Aviation Accidents

Call our aviation attorneys right away if you were involved in a:

• Commercial Plane Crash
• Private Plane Crash
• In-Flight Incident
• Hang Glider Accident
• Skydiving Accident
• Helicopter Accident

We handle aviation accidents involving every type of aircraft regardless if it’s a large commercial airliner, a small private plane, or a helicopter. Even if the accident that injured you occurred while the aircraft was on the ground, we are here to help. Call Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers today to determine whether you have a case.

Were You Hurt While on a Commercial Flight?

Many of us travel on commercial airliners for business and for pleasure. We buy an expensive ticket, wait in long security lines, and endure a flight in a cramped space. Although those experiences can be unpleasant, we accept them as a trade-off in exchange for the convenience of a flight that can carry us thousands of miles in a matter of hours. We don’t expect, however, that our safety will be threatened.

Even non-fatal commercial airline incidents can cause serious injuries. Our airplane injury lawyers handle many claims arising from in-flight injuries on commercial airplanes, such as:

• Collisions between a plane and equipment while on the tarmac.
• Inappropriate rapid deceleration
• Faulty or defective equipment
• A defective design within the plane
• Falling luggage
• Sharp metal food carts
• Lack of warning regarding turbulence
• Lack of a seatbelt warning
• Improper pressurization of the airplane cabin
• A dangerous entrance into or exit out of the plane

Who Is Liable for an In-Flight Injury?

If you were injured while traveling as a passenger on a commercial flight, call our airplane injury lawyers right away. Your attorney will help identify every party that is potentially responsible for causing the incident that caused your injuries. The responsible parties might include, for instance, the air traffic control tower and its operators, the airline, and the pilots.

As common carriers, airlines and air carriers owe their passengers a high standard of care pursuant to the Federal Aviation Act. That does not mean, however, that an airline is responsible for every injury that its passengers suffer. However, the airline is responsible for an airline employee’s negligence. If you were harmed because of a pilot, co-pilot, steward, ground personnel, or other airline employee’s careless or reckless conduct, then you may be able to pursue airline injury compensation.

Suing an Airline for an Injury

If we determine that the airline is responsible for causing your injuries, then we might recommend that you file a lawsuit against the airline. A lawsuit is typically the best way to achieve full and fair compensation for your injuries.

For instance, a lawsuit gives you the opportunity to obtain evidence that the airline would not otherwise voluntarily produce to you. Through the discovery phase of a lawsuit, we will use interrogatories, depositions, and requests for documents to obtain evidence regarding, for example, how the incident occurred, who was at fault for causing the incident, and how much insurance coverage is available. That evidence helps us identify any and all challenges to your claim, and it also strengthens your claim.

After discovery, we might participate in settlement negotiations with the airline. If we can reach an agreeable settlement amount, then your claim would be resolved without going to trial. However, if the airline denies liability or refuses to offer you fair compensation for your losses, then we will take your case to trial.

If your case goes to trial, we will present all of the evidence that demonstrates why the airline is responsible for your injuries and how much money they should pay to compensate you for the harms they caused. Then, the jury will make its decision.

We Handle Private Plane Crash Claims

Our law firm also represents plane crash victims. Commercial air travel is far safer than it was 30 years ago, but small private planes are consistently involved in plane crashes. Those accidents are typically fatal.

Private plane crashes usually occur because of:

• Taxi and takeoff accidents
• Landing accidents
• Landing gear malfunctions or defects
• Mechanical failures
• Electrical malfunctions or failures
• Poor weather conditions
• Air traffic control errors
• Pilot error

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a private plane crash, call us right away. We will immediately begin to investigate the crash. We will contact the federal authorities at the National Transportation Safety Board and acquire all publicly available information that they’ve collected as part of their investigation. Once we review that information, we analyze it and develop a comprehensive strategy to help you recover from your losses.

Private plane crashes often occur due to pilot negligence, a maintenance technician’s negligence, or a plane or part defect. If the pilot was at fault, a plane crash lawyer might recommend pursuing compensation from that individual or their estate. If the pilot was an employee, like for a charter service, then we might recommend seeking compensation from the business. When planes are not properly maintained, we might seek to hold the plane’s owner and/or maintenance provider liable. If the plane or one of its parts had a design or manufacturing defect, then we might file suit against the airplane manufacturer or seller.

After suffering injuries in a plane crash, or losing a parent, spouse, or child in a crash, please do not hesitate to call Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers and speak with an experienced plane crash lawyer. We understand the trauma you’re experiencing. We are ready to assist you while you work to rebuild your life.

International Law and Airplane Accidents

Sometimes, the airline responsible for your injuries is owned by a foreign entity. Or, you might have been injured while you were out of the country. In those situations, your case is usually not governed solely by U.S. law. You will need to work with an aviation accident lawyer like the lawyers at our firm that are uniquely experienced in international law, including the Warsaw Convention, Montreal Convention, and the Hauge Protocol.

Call Our Aviation Accident Lawyers for Help Today

The typical types of aviation accident cases that our firm litigates involve in-flight injuries on commercial airplanes and injuries or deaths suffered in small private plane crashes. However, we certainly realize that the incident that harmed you or your loved one might not fit into one of these categories. You might have been injured or lost a loved one in a paragliding or skydiving accident. You might have been injured or lost a relative in a helicopter accident. We’ve handled all types of aviation-related claims and can help you regardless of the manner in which you were harmed. Do not hesitate to call us for help.

We are here to assist you whether you were hurt in an aviation accident or you lost a parent, spouse, or child. We will work closely with you, your physicians, and medical and economic experts to determine the full measure of your harms. Then, we will fight to maximize the compensation that you deserve to recover for your losses.

To learn more about your rights after an aviation accident, call Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers at (404) 939-9470 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.