Maison Law represents families who have tragically lost a loved one in an airplane crash. Our California airplane accident lawyers assist family members in getting the support they need to rebuild their lives and avoid financial uncertainty in the future. Please contact us after an accident involving an airplane for a free, no-obligation consultation for you and your family. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold an aviation company fully liable.
Life-Threatening Risks for California Airplane Passengers
Catching a flight at LAX in Los Angeles, at SFO in San Francisco, or at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport can expose flyers to unique dangers. Unfortunately, any trip on an airplane can end in disaster to claim hundreds of lives in an instant.
Weather can contribute to frightening crashes, but the fault in airplane accidents usually lies with the airline, the pilots, the ground crew, or with someone in charge of keeping the airplane in safe, working order. When the duty to give passengers the safest ride possible in an aircraft is neglected, these and other parties can be sued and support can be collected.
Families who lose a loved one in a deadly airplane accident can file something known as a wrongful death claim. This civil claim asks for support for the family when a loved one was killed in part or in full because of an airline employee’s or an airport employee’s mistake.
A California Wrongful Death Airplane Accident Lawyer files this claim on behalf of family members and demands the most in support available for what they’ve been through. A wrongful death settlement should also protect the family in the future when they’ll be without the support the victims would have provided.
Who Is Responsible for Fatal California Airplane Accidents
Families faced with the tragic loss of a loved one will naturally wonder who is responsible for a devastating accident. A pilot or a mechanic could be blamed for a mistake that led to a crash, but it’s the employer of those individuals who would usually be held responsible.
An airline is usually the entity held responsible for airline accidents. They are accountable for the actions of all of their employees. These are just some of the reasons an airline may be held liable for the death of passengers:
- Pilot Error – An airline is responsible for hiring skilled and qualified pilots. A pilot found to be intoxicated or lacking in sleep would leave an airline liable for the damages they cause. If an aviation corporation hires a pilot with a problematic history because of an improper background check and a crash occurs, the owners and operators may face accountability. Airlines are supposed to make sure pilots get yearly training and certifications to maintain their safe operation of planes.
- Ground Crew Error – An overlooked safety check could lead to a devastating mid-air malfunction. A ground crew could approve a flight for takeoff while knowing there are dangers present.
- Maintenance Neglect – An airline may have needed to pull a plane into a hanger and do routine part replacement and inspections. Maintenance records can show if these necessary upgrades and replacements were skipped over.
An airplane manufacturer could also be found responsible for the mid-air failure of an engine or electrical system.
Air traffic controllers can send airplanes on dangerous paths or supply pilots with incorrect information. Controllers are under the FAA and a lawsuit would be directed against the federal government.
An accident caused by the mistake of airport personnel might make the local city that operates the airport liable for the hardships placed on a family.
Your California airplane accident attorney would identify each party from this list who might share in the blame for bringing a plane down. Each entity would be responsible for providing you and your family with support through such a difficult time.
Compensation Available to Families Through a California Wrongful Death Claim
A wrongful death claim can ask for compensation for more than just the bills a family that’s lost a loved one may receive. Family members should receive support for non-economic hardships as well.
Your California wrongful death lawyer would be asking for these and other economic and non-economic damages for your family:
- Support for the income the passenger can no longer contribute to a spouse and children in the years ahead.
- The gifts and benefits the victim would have provided to the family.
- Funeral expenses.
- The household chores the loved one would have provided and the sense of security that would have come with it.
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by the tragic death.
- The “loss of consortium,” loss of intimacy with a spouse.
- The love and guidance lost to the family (especially to children) in the future.
- The life lessons a father or mother can no longer provide to young children as they mature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After an Airplane Crash in California?
A spouse and the children and stepchildren of the victim could file on behalf of the family. If the children have passed on, the grandchildren could file. In some cases, the parents and siblings of the victim could file a wrongful death claim.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim after a California airline accident?
California generally allows families to file a claim up to two years after an accident. But it’s important to act quickly because lawsuits involving city government or the federal government can have shorter deadlines.
What If I Can’t Afford to Pay an Airline Accident Lawyer?
You won’t need any upfront money to hire Maison Law. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they don’t get paid unless they win your case for your family. Then, the attorney fee comes out of the settlement money awarded to you.
Contact a California Airplane Accident Lawyer
If an airline’s negligence caused an injury or death in your family, you should speak to a California Airline Accident Lawyer. Contact us to schedule a free and confidential consultation. It’s a chance to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold an airline fully responsible for the deaths it caused.
We work to get the families devastated by an airline disaster the most compensation possible after a tragedy. We also want to negotiate with airlines and their insurance companies while providing as little disruption to the family as possible. Families should be given time to cope with their loss without having to worry about their financial futures.
