Florida Aviation & Plane Accident Attorney
Plane crashes often affect countless victims and survivors in Florida, and our lawyers can help those seeking compensation identify which parties were negligent and are liable for the accident.
Aviation accidents often occur because of a combination of failures or errors. Common contributing factors include pilot error, dangerous weather, mechanical failure, design defects, and negligent air traffic control. Based on the specific case, our lawyers can review weather reports from the date of the accident, communications between pilots and air traffic controllers, and other relevant information to identify all parties who share liability for an accident and the damage it caused. For example, if a runway accident happened because an air traffic controller gave a pilot improper flight clearance or was otherwise negligent, victims or their survivors could bring claims against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to get compensation in Florida.
To get a free and confidential case analysis from our aviation and plane accident attorneys, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today at (305) 204-5369.
Common Primary and Contributing Causes of Aviation and Plane Accidents in Florida
Commercial and private plane crashes are typically catastrophic, often resulting in fatalities. Surviving victims might sustain permanent and life-altering injuries that are costly to treat and even harder to recover from emotionally. When victims or their survivors seek compensation for an aviation accident in Florida, our lawyers can identify all possible contributing causes so we can hold all potentially negligent parties liable.
Pilot Error
Pilots who neglect any of their duties before and during flights could make egregious mistakes that cause accidents. Common pilot errors include taking off without sufficient fuel, making navigational mistakes, skipping mandatory steps on pre-flight checklists, or flying at the wrong height. Using the incorrect procedures during takeoff or landing might cause accidents as well, the likelihood of which could increase if the pilot is fatigued. The Federal Aviation Administration limits how often one and two pilot crews can fly to reduce fatigue and the risks associated with it. If an airline ignores these restrictions, it will likely be liable for any damages from an accident due to pilot error from fatigue.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the majority of fatal and non-fatal aviation accidents in 2021 occurred due to a loss of control mid-flight. While pilots might lose control of aircraft due to their own negligence, a combination of factors is often at play, which our lawyers will investigate when preparing claims in Florida.
Dangerous Weather
Flying into inclement weather poses considerable dangers for everyone aboard an aircraft, including pilots, passengers, and crewmembers. Airlines must monitor weather reports and keep planes grounded if necessary to avoid catastrophic crashes or accidents. Those who charter private planes also rely on pilots and crews to notify them of when it is unsafe to fly and could be in serious danger otherwise. If an accident was due to poor weather in Florida, our aviation and plane accident attorneys could investigate to determine if there were weather reports, such as Meteorological Aerodrome Reports and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, to see if the airline failed to respond properly to poor weather, contributing to or ultimately causing an accident.
Furthermore, we can review any preserved communications between the pilot and air traffic control during the flight to investigate whether the pilot sought guidance or otherwise responded appropriately to the difficult weather they ran into.
Mechanical Failures or Design Defects
Planes, no matter their size or purpose, have extremely complex mechanical systems that require routine maintenance and attention. Neglecting repairs at all could be disastrous, as airplanes must withstand the frigid temperatures and intense pressures of the heights they fly at. Airplanes should be equipped with various monitors to detect possible mechanical failures, and if any of those monitors stop working and cannot alert pilots to issues, there could be a high risk of danger. Mechanical failures mid-flight that pose considerable risks for pilots, passengers, and crew include loss of navigational control and powerplant failures, which could cause engines to go out entirely.
In addition to mechanical failures, design defects in airplanes or the parts within airplanes could cause accidents. In such situations, various parties might share liability for victims’ damages, such as the airline, the airplane manufacturer, an equipment manufacturer, or a distributor. Mechanical failure is often due to a combination of problems, not just one issue, and investigating all aspects of a case is crucial to ensure we include all liable parties in your claim.
Negligent Air Traffic Control
Air traffic controllers primarily work for the Federal Aviation Administration and help manage the flow of traffic in and out of airports. Air traffic controllers also keep track of flight paths and communicate with pilots if necessary to prevent mid-air collisions between aircraft. Air traffic controllers might be negligent and cause or contribute to an accident in various ways, such as by failing to alert pilots to hazards on the runway, failing to respond to pilots in need of assistance, failing to manage traffic in the air, and giving improper takeoff clearance, among others.
Suppose an air traffic controller is negligent during takeoff, landing, or while performing any other professional responsibilities in Florida and misleads a pilot, causing an accident. If this happens, victims can file claims against the FAA, not the individual air traffic controller whose negligence caused the incident, according to 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1). This is part of the Federal Tort Claims Act, which makes the United States liable for the negligence of government employees, who are often protected from litigation themselves. Our lawyers can help victims or their survivors initiate a claim with the FAA after an aviation accident due to negligent air traffic control in Florida.
Call Our Florida Aviation Accident Lawyers for Help Today
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. for a free case assessment from our aviation and plane accident attorneys at (305) 204-5369.
