Aviation Accident Lawyer in Mobile, AL

Decades of Experience Handling Aviation, Airplane Accident, & Airplane Disaster Cases in Alabama

Over the last 100 years, air travel has revolutionized the world around us. Whether for business or recreation, billions of people use air travel each year. Despite advances in aviation technology, accidents and crashes continue to occur – often times with tragic consequences.

At Cunningham Bounds, our aviation accident attorneys we have decades of experience successfully representing victims and families affected by private, military, and commercial airplane and helicopter crashes. Our firm has a proven track record of success, with billions obtained in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

Call (251) 299-0101 to begin a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Alabama aviation accident attorneys. Contact us today.

What is an Aviation Accident?

An aviation accident refers to any incident involving an aircraft that results in injury, death, or significant damage to the aircraft itself. These accidents can involve commercial airlines, private planes, helicopters, charter aircraft, or small recreational planes.

Under aviation safety standards, an accident typically includes situations where:

• A person suffers serious injury or death during aircraft operation
• The aircraft sustains significant structural damage
• The aircraft becomes missing or completely inaccessible

Aviation accidents may occur during various stages of flight, including takeoff, landing, taxiing, or midair operations. Because aviation involves highly technical systems and strict regulatory oversight, determining the cause of an accident often requires extensive investigation.

Victims injured in aviation accidents may be passengers, pilots, flight crew members, ground workers, or individuals on the ground affected by a crash. Regardless of the circumstances, victims may have the right to pursue legal action against responsible parties.

Types of Aviation Accidents

Under Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, an incident may be classified as an “aviation accident” any time that a person is seriously injured or killed on an aircraft, regardless of who owns the aircraft or what the person was doing at the time of the accident.

From helicopter crashes to private jets failures, there are many incidents that can be classified as aviation accidents each year. In fact, based on the most recently available data, there were about 1300 aviation accidents in the U.S. in 2017 alone.

The main types of aviation accidents we can handle:

• Commercial airline crashes: Accidents involving large passenger aircraft operated by commercial airlines
• Private plane crashes: Incidents involving privately owned or recreational aircraft
• Helicopter accidents: Crashes involving medical helicopters, news helicopters, or private rotorcraft
• Charter flight accidents: Incidents involving aircraft hired for private travel
• Cargo aircraft accidents: Accidents involving planes transporting goods rather than passengers
• Runway accidents: Collisions or incidents that occur during taxiing, takeoff, or landing
• Mid-air collisions: Crashes involving two aircraft colliding while in flight
• Ground impact accidents: Aircraft colliding with terrain, buildings, or other obstacles

What Are the Common Causes of Aviation Accidents?

Because commercial air travel is considered to be one of the safest forms of transportation, aviation accidents are a relatively rare phenomenon. However, when aviation accidents do happen, victims and their families may face unique struggles and obstacles to seeking compensation.

After a plane or helicopter crash, there are usually two questions on everyone’s minds: Why did this happen, and how can this be prevented from happening ever again? While the causes for aviation accidents may range considerably, we believe that all aviation accidents are preventable.

By working with a team of leading aviation experts and carefully investigating the root causes behind a crash, our attorneys aim to provide victims and families with concrete answers to their questions – and ensure that future accidents are avoided.

Generally, the most common causes of aviation accidents are:

• Pilot error
• Engine failure
• Computer and electronic failure
• Equipment and component failure
• Structural failure
• Faulty maintenance
• Dangerous or defective aircraft design
• Air traffic controller error
• Airport design error
• Violations of FAA regulations

Who is Liable for an Aviation Accident?

Determining liability in an aviation accident can be complicated. Unlike many other personal injury cases, aviation accidents may involve multiple potentially responsible parties.

Some of the parties that may be held liable include: