Airplane and aviation accidents are terrible tragedies that result in significant injuries and death. Aviation accidents involve large, commercial airlines as well as private and charter airplanes and helicopters. Aviation lawsuits have complicated legal and factual issues, including determining which entity was at fault, establishing the cause of the accident, and determining which court has jurisdiction. If you were injured or a loved one was injured or killed in a plane crash, it is important to seek the counsel of an experienced Chicago aviation accident lawyer with a strong track record of success in these types of cases.
Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. has the highly specialized set of legal skills necessary to prove why a plane or helicopter crash occurred—whether from pilot error, mechanical failure, improper maintenance, or a mistake by air traffic control. In fact, Attorney Chris Hurley is among the few trial lawyers in Illinois who has litigated and tried aviation cases to conclusion.
Though airplane accidents are not nearly as common as auto accidents, they are more common than many believe. The media generally only reports the major crashes, but between all the commercial, private charter plane and helicopter crashes, there are roughly 1500 non-military aviation accidents in the United States each year. And when an airplane crashes, the risk of serious injury to the pilot and passengers is far greater than in a car crash.
The cause of an airplane/aviation accident can be difficult to determine because it often involves multiple factors. The most common causes of aviation-related incidents include:
- Pilot Error: There are times when the pilot is not properly rested and/or is intoxicated. This greatly increases the chances of something going wrong, particularly if the plane is flying in adverse weather conditions.
- Weather: Sometimes, the weather conditions are extreme, but the pilot chooses to fly anyway, leading to disastrous consequences.
- Mechanical Failure: This can occur if the plane was not properly maintained and/or it was authorized to fly without clearing all its safety checks.
- Other Human Error: Air traffic control personnel are charged with safely navigating the nation’s air traffic. But this job is very stressful, and when air traffic controllers are overworked, mistakes can sometimes happen.
Victims of aviation incidents often find it difficult to determine who to talk to about compensation. Often, blame is shifted from one party to another and the victim or family member ends up getting the run around. This is why it is necessary to work with attorneys that have particular expertise in this area of the law. If you have been injured in an aviation accident or you have a family member who has been killed or injured in one, contact the Chicago aviation accident attorneys at HM&M immediately. At HM&M, our attorneys have the extensive knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain fair and adequate compensation for victims of airplane and aviation accidents.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
