Gainesville Airplane Accidents Lawyer

Gainesville Airplane Accidents Lawyer

Were you or someone you love hurt in a plane accident in Gainesville, FL? Did you lose a loved one in a plane crash? Plane accidents are one of the rarest forms of transportation accidents, but they almost always result in fatalities or serious injuries. After a crash, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Allen Law Firm, P.A. has represented injury victims for decades. Contact our law office calling (877) 255-3652 to speak with a Gainesville airplane accidents lawyer during a free consultation.

How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help You After an Airplane Accident in Gainesville

How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help You After an Airplane Accident in Gainesville

Plane crashes are among the most devastating types of accidents. Sadly, they are not as uncommon as many think, especially when it comes to small charter planes. Recovering the compensation you deserve is not as easy as you might expect. Carriers and manufacturers may fight over who was to blame. A full investigation can take months or even years, and you must wade through complex state laws, federal aviation laws, and even international laws.

You deserve an experienced Gainesville personal injury lawyer to help you secure compensation after you or a loved one were hurt in a crash. Allen Law Firm, P.A. has been representing injury victims in Gainesville, Florida, for more than a decade. Founding attorney Bill Allen has more than 28 years of legal experience and has been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating.

Count on Allen Law Firm, P.A. to help in every aspect of your accident case by:

  • Offering sound legal advice and support
  • Conducting an independent investigation into your accident
  • Working with top specialists in many fields to establish causation, negligence, and damages
  • Identifying all potentially liable parties and avenues for compensation
  • Handling all administrative tasks and communications on your behalf
  • Negotiating for a settlement that fairly compensates you 

Do not trust an insurance company to make a fair offer, no matter how devastating your injuries. You need a lawyer with experience in aviation law. Call Allen Law Firm, P.A. today to schedule your free case review with a Gainesville airplane accident lawyer who can help.

How Common Are Plane Accidents in Florida?

There are more than 220,000 active general aviation aircraft in the United States. This catch-all term refers to all civil aircraft, including small private planes. Commercial aviation refers to scheduled flights that transport cargo or passengers from tarmac airports.

Florida is one of the top three states for private flying licenses. The state’s tourism industry and scenery make charter planes and small aircraft – and resulting crashes – all too common.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) collects data on all civilian (non-military) aviation accidents. These accidents are separated into large commercial planes, general aviation planes, and small commercial planes with fewer than ten seats for passengers.

In 2018, 393 people were killed in civil aviation accidents. That was up 13% from 2017. This included a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight who was killed when an engine failure partially ejected them from the plane. That was the first airline passenger death since 2009.

Most plane accidents involve small general aviation planes, not large commercial planes. On average, about four small aircraft crash in the United States every day. About 25% of these crashes involve amateur-built aircraft. 

Nearly 80% of plane accidents occur during the first three minutes of take-off or the last 8 minutes of the descent.

What Damages Are Available to Airplane Accident Victims in Gainesville, FL?

The at-fault party is responsible for paying the damages you sustained in an accident. You are entitled to compensation for your non-economic and economic damages. 

This compensation may include:

If a loved one was killed in a fatal plane crash, you are entitled to seek different forms of compensation through a wrongful death claim. 

In Florida, survivors may be entitled to money for:

  • Mental pain and suffering
  • Loss of services and support the decedent provided
  • Loss of companionship and protection
  • Loss of parental guidance, instruction, and companionship
  • Final expenses, including funeral expenses 

The decedent’s estate, which may include family members, may also recover the decedent’s lost wages.

We’ll Fight for the Fair Compensation You Deserve for Your Airplane Accident Injuries

Aviation accident cases often result in serious or fatal injuries. 

Allen Law Firm, P.A. is committed to fighting for full compensation for the injuries you or your loved one sustained, including:

We recognize that a plane accident results in far more than physical injury. They typically leave survivors and families with emotional and psychological trauma. We will seek the full value of the damages you sustained, including the future expenses your accident will cause.

What Causes Most Airplane Accidents in Gainesville, Florida?

Many people realize that small aircraft are more likely to be involved in a crash than larger planes. However, this is not necessarily related to the size of the plane.

Small aircraft usually have pilots with less experience. The planes themselves have less redundancy than large planes, which offer backup if something fails. Regular maintenance and strict regulation of commercial aircraft also contribute to the safety of commercial planes. Meanwhile, personal aircraft are subject to very little regulation.

About 80% of all plane accidents are caused by human error. This can involve errors by a pilot, air traffic controller, mechanic, or someone else. Pilot error alone is believed to cause 53% of plane accidents.

Pilot error can come in many forms. The most common is decision errors, such as misusing information or poorly executing a procedure. Mistakes by the pilot may also be skill-based or a perceptual error. In some cases, a pilot may cause an accident by violating procedure or federal law.

The remaining 20% of accidents are caused by equipment failure. After pilot error, mechanical failure is the most common cause of plane crashes. 

Mechanical failure may be attributed to:

  • Improper maintenance
  • Improper inspection of the aircraft
  • Failure to replace components as needed
  • Mental fatigue
  • Design defect of the aircraft or a component
  • Manufacturing defect 

Depending on the cause of the accident, multiple parties may be held liable for the accident, including:

  • The designer of the aircraft or components
  • The manufacturer of the aircraft or components
  • Maintenance company
  • Inspection company
  • Airline 

If your accident involved a private or charter plane, the owner or operator may be held liable in addition to other parties.

The Allen Law Firm, P.A. will help you build your case against the responsible parties. We will investigate your accident to determine who can be held liable and exhaust every avenue for compensation.

How Do I Prove Negligence in an Airplane Accident in Gainesville, FL?

Airplane accidents are always complicated and require a thorough investigation to determine how the accident occurred. Negligence requires proving that one or more people acted unreasonably under the circumstances, thereby causing the accident. However, not all plane crash cases require proving negligence; many cases come down to product liability.

Multiple government agencies typically conduct an investigation into a plane accident. This investigation may identify liable parties. Your attorney may also perform an independent investigation and work with specialists.

Multiple parties often share blame for a plane accident, each of whom may attempt to shift liability to the other. An airline, for example, may try to shift blame to the manufacturer. That’s why it’s critical to seek experienced legal representation to sort out the liable parties. 

Contact the Gainesville aviation accident attorneys at Allen Law Firm, P.A. today to learn more about an attorney client relationship.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Plane Crash in Florida?

The amount of time you have to file an injury claim after a plane accident depends on whom you are suing:

  • Claims against the federal government. The FAA is responsible for air traffic control. If an FAA employee caused the accident, a claim must be filed against the FAA under the Federal Torts Claim Act. This requires first filing an administrative tort claim before your lawsuit. There is a two-year statute of limitations.
  • Claims against a Florida government entity. These claims usually involve municipal airports. You typically must file a special claim in writing first. Then, you have three years to file a lawsuit, but only after a 180-day investigation period.
  • Negligence. Florida’s new statute of limitations deadline for personal injury cases gives you two years to file a negligence claim if your accident happened on 3/24/2023 or later, and four years if it happened before that date.
  • Claims against an airline. If you have a claim against the airline, you generally have a two-year statute of limitations for international flights and either a two or four-year statute of limitations for domestic flights, based on when the accident occurred.  

Aviation accident cases are incredibly complex, even when it comes to the deadline to file a claim. Exceptions apply in many cases that can adjust the deadline. If you have been involved in an aircraft accident, it’s crucial to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Gainesville as soon as possible.

Contact a Gainesville Airplane Accidents Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Plane accidents are almost always devastating. Allen Law Firm, P.A. is committed to giving you the sound legal representation you need to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our law office today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with a Gainesville airplane accidents lawyer who can help you.

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