What Happens After a Major Plane Crash?

While there are not many plane crashes in the United States each year, it affects a large number of people when it does occur. Anyone who has ever been in, or is affected by a plane crash should know the laws regarding personal injury and liability due to the crash. This might include the loss of a loved one in a full crash or injury sustained during a crash landing or particularly harsh conditions in the air.

Plane crashes are divided into three different potential areas in regards to personal injury law. There are commercial crashes, international disaster fatalities, and non-commercial crashes of personal planes.

Commercial and International Flights
If you are in a commercial airline crash, there are a number of laws that will determine what the rights of victims and their families are. Laws exist that require airlines to bring families to the crash site, care for any injuries, and deal with all potential liability issues expediently. International accidents are an interesting issue because they are not always governed by US law. For an unintentional mistake, there is little room for liability claims due to the Warsaw Convention of 1929. However, if a pilot is negligent or a mistake was intentionally made, the issue can become much more volatile.

Privately Owned Planes
Finally, there are private plane crashes that do not take place on commercial planes. In these cases, general aviation law is used to dictate how the crash is handled. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Administration are both called in for investigation and placement of fault if there is any. Defendants in a case regarding a private plane crash can include the owner and operator of the plane, the maintenance crew of the plane, those supplying parts for the plane, the manufacturer of the plane, and many other with whom fault may be found.

A plane crash is often a tragedy in which multiple families are affected. Due to the number of regulations, the range of potential injury, and how a plane crash is investigated, there are any number of outcomes for how you should handle it. Know that if there is fault to be had, plane crash victims will almost always be recompensed for their pain and suffering.

This article is not meant as legal advice.

For more information in the Chicago, Illinois area, contact Ken Allen Law.