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How Common Are Aviation Accidents?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

How Common Are Aviation Accidents?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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Aviation or aircraft accidents are luckily not extremely common; according to To70—a well-known aviation consulting firm—out of 8 fatal accidents in 2019, 257 people died worldwide. In this same year, fatal commercial airplane accidents were reported to have fallen to just 1 out of every 5.58 million flights. However, even though these accidents are not extremely common, they do continue to occur and cannot be ignored. In most cases, aviation accidents are serious and result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities, not to mention serious trauma for survivors and loved ones.

Aviation accidents are not common but they are extremely serious.

Although not particularly common, aviation accidents remain an area in need of constant monitoring and attention. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for deciding industry regulations for commercial and private aircraft regarding an assortment of safety-related practices. Some of the most common FAA regulations include expired pilot licenses, maintenance violations, record-keeping violations, and more. Pilots, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and airport operators all have a strict responsibility to the safety of their crew and passengers; a breach of this duty of care is serious and should always be reported, especially when safety is compromised as a result.

Aviation mishaps can be deeply traumatic.

While some FAA violations may not result in a fatal crash, the dangerous situations that can result from mishaps may still easily traumatize an entire aircraft full of passengers. For example, United Airlines faced a lawsuit after passengers from Flight UA328 experienced foreseeable and severe emotional distress when the plane’s engine failed, resulting in an emergency landing. Symptoms of lasting trauma following an aviation or other accident may include nausea, tachycardia, symptoms of shock, PTSD, and more. Passengers who experienced an aviation mishap particularly while in the air may be eligible to pursue compensation for the long-lasting effects of that traumatic experience on the rest of their lives, even if no physical injuries were sustained. 

Both private and commercial aircraft operators owe a duty of care to their crew and passengers.

It’s important to remember that while the rules that apply to private and commercial aircraft may vary slightly, both parties have an equal responsibility to the safety and wellbeing of their passengers and crew. However, due to the highly specific nature of FAA guidelines, it’s important to reach out to an experienced aviation accident attorney if you suspect a violation resulted in a traumatic, dangerous, or life-threatening experience for you or a loved one. These attorneys typically offer free consultations to accident victims and their families, and they even work on contingency, which means they don’t get paid unless they win. 

Damages that may be sought in an aviation accident claim could include the cost of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, ongoing therapy, and even wrongful death damages in the event of the loss of a loved one. When a loved one dies in an aviation accident, their family may be able to pursue compensation not only for loss of care and companionship, but for loss of financial support and even funeral and burial expenses in addition to those damages that could have been sought if their loved one survived. 

To learn more about aviation accident law or for help investigating your claim, reach out to an aviation accident lawyer.

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