Have you been hurt in an airplane or helicopter accident in Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia? If so, the pilot, their employer, or other parties responsible for the crash could owe you compensation.
Contact an experienced Atlanta aviation accident attorney at Bayuk Pratt today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you demand the money you need for medical bills, long-term care, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Our founding attorneys offer over 50 years of combined legal experience in Atlanta and insider knowledge as former high-stakes insurance defense lawyers. Our unwavering commitment to accident victims and their families has helped secure more than $300 million in compensation on their behalf.
We care about your future and want to help you get the medical treatment and support you need to move on after a tragic aviation accident.
What Are Common Causes of Atlanta Aviation Accidents?
Aviation accidents can occur due to pilot error or mechanical malfunction.
Some of the most common causes of airplane and helicopter accidents include:
- Negligent operation of an aircraft
- Distracted flying
- Flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Flying while drowsy
- Disregarding air traffic control instructions
- Violations of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations
- Fueling problems, including failing to load enough fuel
- Deferred or negligently performed maintenance or repairs
- Flying in dangerous weather conditions
- Faulty aircraft or engine design
- Defective aircraft equipment
- Pilot inexperience, including flying at night or in IFR conditions when only licensed for daytime or VFR flying.
What Types of Injuries Can Happen in an Aviation Accident?
The extreme forces involved in aircraft accidents mean they often result in severe injuries, including:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Severe cuts and scarring
- Torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Spinal injuries, including disc herniations, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis
- Internal organ damage and bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Traumatic amputation or limb loss
- Emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, new fears of flying, or depression
- Death.
Who Can Be Held Liable in an Aviation Accident?
Various parties can bear liability for an aviation accident in Atlanta, depending on the cause of the crash, including the following:
- Pilot/aircraft operator – A pilot may be liable for an aviation accident due to errors, such as misreading gauges or information screens, failing to follow air traffic control (ATC) instructions, distracted operation, or flying in unsafe weather or low visibility conditions.
- Airline/charter company – An airline or private charter company may be responsible for injuries and losses from an aviation accident when:
- The crash occurred due to their employees’ negligence, such as a pilot’s error or negligent maintenance by in-house mechanics.
- They hired a pilot who is inexperienced, unqualified, or has a poor safety record.
- They instructed their pilots to engage in unsafe activities, such as flying beyond FAA hours restrictions.
- Aircraft owner – The aircraft owner may be liable for an aviation accident due to inadequate aircraft maintenance, leading to failure and a crash.
- Air traffic controllers – Air traffic controllers can cause an aviation accident due to negligent errors in managing flight patterns. However, because air traffic controllers work for the FAA, pursuing an aviation accident claim against the government presents challenges.
- Aircraft or part manufacturer – Manufacturers who build the aircraft or its components may be liable for an aviation accident due to a design or manufacturing defect.
- Aircraft maintenance company or fixed base operator – A third-party aircraft maintenance company can be responsible for an aviation accident due to the company’s negligent maintenance work. A fixed base operator, which also provides maintenance and fueling services, may be held accountable for a crash due to negligent maintenance or fueling.
How Can Federal and State Aviation Regulations Affect My Douglasville Aviation Accident Claim?
Many aviation accidents occur because pilots or other parties disregard state or federal regulations. Aviation regulations exist to ensure that pilots have the training and experience to operate aircraft and that air traffic proceeds safely.
A pilot’s or aviation company’s breach of federal aviation regulations may prove their negligence and help you hold them liable for the harm you’ve suffered. Contact our Atlanta aviation accident lawyer today.
What Should I Do If I Am Involved in an Aviation Accident?
Taking prompt action after a plane crash can protect your right to financial compensation and accountability from those responsible for the accident.
Take the following steps to lay the groundwork for a strong injury claim:
- Report the accident to local police and federal aviation authorities, such as the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
- Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries and follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Remember to request copies of your medical records of your treatment and rehab.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts for your expenses during your recovery. Gather pay stubs and income statements to calculate your lost earnings if you miss work.
- Contact an aviation accident lawyer from Bayuk Pratt as soon as possible to discuss your options for seeking compensation.
What Types of Compensation Might I Be Eligible for from the Aviation Accident?
If someone else is responsible for causing your aviation accident-related injuries, they could owe you money for the following:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Costs of long-term disability treatment or personal care
- Ongoing and future losses of income due to missed work or lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional trauma
- Reduced quality of life
- Scarring, disfigurement, or disabilities.
You and your family may also be able to seek compensation if you lost a loved one in an aviation crash, including for:
- Final medical bills and other expenses
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support and services
- Loss of companionship, comfort, and affection.
Contact an Atlanta Aviation Accident Attorney
At Bayuk Pratt, our attorneys have over 50 years of combined legal experience helping accident victims in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. We know how to succeed in the most challenging cases.
That’s because our firm’s founders, Frank Bayuk and Bradley Pratt, previously served as senior partners in two of the country’s top insurance defense law firms. They now use their insider knowledge to benefit our clients.
As our former clients can attest, we will be committed to protecting your rights and seeking maximum compensation for you after you have suffered harm in an aviation accident.
“Frank’s resume speaks for itself. It’s unusual to find a big law attorney who leaves the dark side to help real people. Without a doubt, Frank is one of the best trial lawyers in Atlanta.”
– Hunter Garnett
Have you suffered severe injuries or lost a loved one in an aviation accident? Get the legal skill and experience to hold the at-fault parties accountable for their negligence. Contact Bayuk Pratt today for a free consultation with an experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer and determine what your case could be worth.