Common Types of Aviation Accident Cases

Airplane crashes involving U.S. airlines are very rare, but there are other minor aviation events that can lead to injuries for passengers. A hard landing, unruly passenger, or negligent flight attendant could cause serious injury to a passenger. The airlines may try and avoid responsibility, but they should be held responsible for their negligence.

This page has general information about aviation law and common types of aircraft accidents and injuries. If you want to file a claim against the airline for injuries suffered on a flight, talk to an aviation accident attorney in your area.

What Are Common Aviation Accidents?

A plane crash is generally the most severe type of plane accident. However, there are many other causes of general aviation-related accidents, including accidents that happen while boarding, taxiing, in-flight, or after landing. Types of aviation accidents include:

• Injuries from a rough landing
• Turbulence
• Hit by baggage
• Burn injuries
• Food poisoning
• Assault and battery
• Slip and fall

How Safe Are Airplanes?

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the global accident rate for 2021 was 1.93 per million departures, the lowest in 5 years. There were 48 reported accidents in commercial aircraft and only four fatal aircraft crashes, with no deadly commercial airplane crashes in the United States in 2021. When a plane crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the federal agency responsible for accident investigation.

Airline travel is considered safer than most other means of transportation. However, some types of air travel are more dangerous than others. Large commercial air travel rarely involves fatal aviation crashes, and most injuries on a commercial airline may involve non-fatal injuries. Single-engine small planes, business jets, turboprops, helicopters, and gliders may have higher risks of fatal accidents.

What Causes Aviation Accidents?

Certain dangers are associated with flying, but safety checks are also in place to reduce the risk of an accident. Some accidents may be unavoidable, such as birds hitting the plane. Other accidents can be caused by human error. Causes of aviation accidents can include:

• Abnormal runway contact
• Problems with landing gear
• Mechanical problems
• Fire
• Icing
• Engine failure
• Turbulence or weather conditions
• Airline employee negligence
• Air traffic control errors
• Mechanical failure

Negligence Claims

The negligence of an airline employee can cause many general aviation accidents. Negligence is the breach of duty of care that causes injury to another. Negligence is generally the basis for personal injury claims like car accident lawsuits. If a flight attendant, maintenance worker, manager, or pilot was not acting reasonably and caused injury to a passenger, the airline may be liable for damages.

Airplane Equipment Malfunctions

Airplanes rely on specialized electronic and mechanical equipment to keep planes flying. Aircraft must be adequately maintained and checked for any safety issues. If equipment is not working properly, it may increase the risk of an accident. An injury victim can file a product liability claim against the airplane equipment manufacturer if the defective product causes an accident.

Air Traffic Control Errors

Air traffic controllers have a lot of responsibility in managing airplanes taking off and landing at busy airports. Their failure to follow property FAA orders and local procedures can result in serious accidents, including runway incursions, collisions, and narrow misses.

Pilot Error

According to a report by Boeing, approximately 80% of airplane accidents are due to human error, and 20% are due to equipment failures. Causes of accidents involving pilot error can include failure to follow FAA regulations, failure to properly inspect the plane, fatigue, impaired flying, and improper speed management.

Personal Injury Claims Against the Airlines

If you were injured on a plane, you might be able to recover damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the airline. Suppose the negligence of an airline employee or failures of the airline caused the accident. In that case, the injury victim could recover damages, including medical expenses, lost income, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and future care costs. If a loved one dies because of an airline accident, the family might be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages.

How Can an Aviation Lawyer Help?

After an accident, the airline may not even take your injuries seriously. Getting medical attention for any injuries would be best to reduce the risk of long-term damage. Next, you can call an aviation accident lawyer to find out how to file a claim against the airline for damages. In most cases, your aviation attorney can negotiate a settlement so you don’t even have to go to court.