Investigating Aviation Accidents in Colorado
While victims and their families have two years to file most aviation accident-related claims in Colorado, following an accident, it is important to conduct an investigation as soon as possible. There are numerous factors that can cause airplane and helicopter crashes, and it will often be a combination of factors that ultimately leads to an accident. When you contact us about your aviation accident, we will promptly provide you with an initial case assessment.
If an investigation appears warranted, we will quickly seek to recover all of the available evidence to support your claim. This may include:
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Expert analyses
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records
- Flight and air traffic control records
- Inspection reports and safety assessments
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) records
- Pilot and crew credentials
- Weather reports
- Witness statements
- Wreckage debris
Who is Responsible for a Plane Accident?
To get compensation for injuries or the loss of a loved one in an aviation accident, you have to be able to identify the person or entity legally responsible for the crash.
Fault can vary widely based on specific circumstances and may be shared by more than one person or entity. A Denver aviation accident attorney at Levine Law will investigate the crash exhaustively to determine who is to blame and prove liability.
Pilot Error
Pilot mistakes are the most common factor in plane crashes, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
These errors run a wide gamut and can happen during take-off, landing, dealing with turbulence or navigating harsh weather conditions. Although pilots who make these mistakes are often directly liable for accidents that happen as a result, their employers – whether it is the plane owner, a commercial airline or a staffing company – typically are also legally responsible.
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Plane Owner Liability
Plane owners and lessors often shoulder at least some of the responsibility for a crash, even if they are not operating or even on the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Negligent entrustment is a common claim against owners and lessors. For example, an owner or lessor who negligently turns the keys to the plane over to a pilot who is not properly trained or has a track record of reckless behavior is likely to be considered negligent. Owners are also generally liable for the negligence of any of their employees, including pilots and crew.
Owners and lessors may also bear responsibility if they do not take adequate steps to ensure that the aircraft is in safe working condition before taking off. Owners are responsible for regular maintenance and inspection of their aircraft and equipment.
Commercial Airline Responsibility
Commercial airlines are held to a higher standard of care, thanks to their “common carriers” status under the law. As a result, they are generally liable for negligence by their employees, whether it is in the maintenance of the plane, the piloting of the aircraft or other aspects of airline operation.
Airlines are governed by a strict set of regulations instituted and enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. They are required to equip aircraft with a “black box,” a recording unit with a crash-survivable memory unit. The box often includes vital information about what happened in the moments leading up to the crash, which can be crucial in determining fault.
The NTSB has primary authority for investigating plane crashes and issuing a report detailing those findings. Although these reports have significant weight in court, they can also be challenged. A Denver aviation accident attorney at our firm will review the NTSB investigation and explore all potential sources of compensation.
How a Denver Aviation Accident Attorney Can Help
At Levine Law, we draw on decades of combined experience in aviation and other accident cases to help clients get compensation for injuries or the loss of a loved one.
In aviation accidents, we work closely with experienced aviation professionals to investigate crashes and conclusively determine who is liable. We also work diligently to resolve these cases through a negotiated settlement, avoiding complicated court battles when possible.
Our Denver Aviation Attorneys Seek Maximum Compensation from All At-Fault Parties
With the variety of issues that can lead to an airplane or helicopter accident, there are several parties that can all potentially be liable to compensate victims and their families. Based upon the results of our investigation, we will seek to recover money for you and your family’s medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other losses from all of the parties that are to blame.
Aviation Accident Cases Will Commonly Involve Claims Against:
- Air and ground control operators
- Aircraft and component manufacturers
- Airplane and helicopter owners
- Flight instructors
- Inspection, maintenance and repair service providers
- Passengers
- Pilots, crewmembers and other airline employees
At Levine Law, we have the skill, resources and expertise required to handle complex aviation accident cases. If you’ve been injured and live in the Denver area, we will help you put your life back together. If you’ve lost a loved one, we will fight to secure the compensation you need to cope with your loss. We sincerely care about helping our clients, and we want to make sure you do not lose out to a corporation or insurance company that tries to take advantage of your situation.
