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Fresno Aviation Accident Attorney

Many Fresno residents travel on aircraft to visit friends and family, attend business meetings and conferences, and see new places. While airplanes and helicopters are generally safe, catastrophic aviation accidents can occur due to poor visibility, mechanical failures, and pilot error. If you or a loved one suffers injuries due to a negligence-caused airplane crash, you may be eligible for financial compensation—and Freedman Law can help. Our Fresno aviation accident attorneys represent Fresno residents in their claims against airlines, pilots, and other liable parties. We will fight diligently to secure the settlement you need.

Freedman Law’s Philosophy

  • For over 20 years, our firm has advocated for thousands of clients throughout the Central Valley. We have the skills, experience, and knowledge you need to pursue an aviation accident claim.
  • Our attorneys have extensive trial experience and deep knowledge of insurance company practices, personal injury law, and the Fresno court system. We will advocate aggressively to secure a maximum settlement in your case.
  • Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis and assumes the risk for your case. You will only be charged legal fees if we secure a financial award on your behalf.

What Is the Aviation Industry Like in Fresno?

Aviation is a booming industry in Fresno. The city is a large home base for private jet charters and hangers. Several airports, airfields, and heliports are based in and around Fresno, including the following:

  • Fresno Yosemite International Airport
  • Sierra Sky Park Airport
  • Fresno Chandler Executive Airport
  • Eagle Field Airport
  • Community Regional Medical Center Heliport
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Fresno Service Center Heliport
  • Valley Medical Center Heliport

What Causes a Fresno Aviation Accident?

An aviation accident can be a terrifying, life-altering experience. These devastating incidents often result in fatalities and severe injuries to surviving passengers. Aircraft accidents can happen for several reasons, including poor weather, faulty equipment, and negligence on behalf of the pilot, airline, or airport.

Some of the most common causes of aviation accidents include the following.

  • Pilot Error: Many aviation accidents occur due to preventable pilot errors. The pilot may travel during dangerous weather, make mistakes in judgement, or become distracted while flying a plane. In serious cases, pilots operate aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Poor Maintenance: It is crucial for airlines to perform regular inspections and maintenance on their fleet of aircraft. Unfortunately, not all airlines uphold this duty. As a result, an aircraft can suffer from mechanical failures and other dangerous issues during a flight, leading to an accident.
  • Defective Equipment: Some aircraft equipment becomes damaged during manufacturing. In other cases, the equipment or even the aircraft itself is defective by design. Unsafe aircraft equipment can put passengers and pilots at risk and our Fresno defective machinery attorney is prepared to take on cases relating to dangerous items.
  • Runway Defects: Airports have a duty to ensure that their runways and airfields are safe for landing and takeoff. If a runway has a defective design, uneven surfaces, or another condition that makes it dangerous, an aviation accident can occur.
  • Regulatory Violations: The aviation industry has a duty to follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. If an airline fails to uphold these regulations, dangerous accidents can occur.

Common Causes of In-Flight Injuries

Aviation accident cases can also arise from in-flight injuries rather than a crash. For example, from:

Turbulence

Although turbulence is often unavoidable, pilots can warn passengers or light up the seatbelt sign in an effort to prevent injuries.

Falling Luggage

If flight attendants fail to check that overhead baggage compartments are shut and secure, heavy pieces of luggage can fall on top of passengers during flight.

Broken Seatbelts

Passengers can be thrown from their seats during take-off, a landing, or turbulence if their seatbelt breaks or doesn’t latch.

Service Carts

If a flight attendant forgets to lock a heavy food and beverage cart or the lock doesn’t work, it can run into passengers or over their feet.

Torn Carpet or Poor Lighting

Torn carpeting or poorly lit areas can cause trip and fall accidents.

Hot Liquids

Flight attendants may unintentionally spill hot beverages on a passenger that they are serving.

In these preventable accidents, passengers can suffer severe injuries that require medical care and time off from work to recover. For instance, severe lacerations, bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, neck or back injuries, strains and sprains, burns, and more.

Who Is Liable for an Aviation Accident?

Negligence often leads to aviation accidents. If you are injured in an aircraft crash in Fresno, you could file an aviation injury lawsuit against the person or company responsible for the accident. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the accident.

Multiple parties could be liable for an aviation accident, including the following.

  • Pilots
  • Airports
  • Airplane manufacturers
  • Airline companies
  • Air traffic controllers
  • Manufacturers of defective parts
  • Maintenance and runway crews
  • Other flight employees

A Fresno personal injury attorney from Freedman Law can help you identify the cause of your aircraft accident and the liable parties. Our firm will leverage valuable resources to support your claim, including statements from expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf.

Recoverable Compensation in an Aviation Accident Claim

When another party’s negligence is responsible for a Fresno aviation accident, you have the right to pursue compensation. The types of compensation available can vary case by case, but victims commonly recover the following:

Economic Damages

Compensation for actual monetary losses, such as:

  • Current and Future Medical Bills: Reimbursement for any treatment you received after the accident, such as emergency transportation, care, hospital stays, prescription medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation, in-home care, etc., and any medical care you anticipate needing in the future.
  • Current and Future Lost Wages: Any wages you could not earn due to having to miss work while recovering.
  • Diminished Earning Capacity: If you cannot work at the same level as before the accident, you can recover compensation for the difference in income you make now compared to before the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Compensation for non-monetary losses that are subjective and harder to prove. For instance:

  • Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain that you have had to and will continue to endure.
  • Emotional Distress: If you suffered any emotional distress as a result of the accident, such as depression, anxiety, shock, terror, sorrow, confusion, insomnia, etc.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries limit you from engaging in activities that you were previously able to enjoy.
  • Loss of Consortium: Compensation a spouse can recover if your relationship with them has changed due to your injuries—for example, loss of companionship, services, sexual relations,etc.
  • Physical Impairment: Compensation for a permanent injury, such as a disability or loss of limb.
  • Disfigurement: If your injury leaves permanent scarring or disfigurement that causes social embarrassment.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are  only granted in cases when a defendant ( at-fault party) exhibited an extreme disregard for the safety of others. This type of compensation is intended to punish the defendant and deter others from similar actions.

Fresno Wrongful Death Claims for Aviation Accidents

Due to the catastrophic nature of aviation accidents, many people do not survive their injuries. Many Fresno families believe that they have no legal recourse after a devastating loss. However, this is not the case.

If you lost a loved one in an aviation accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim on his or her behalf. Generally, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit in Fresno if your loved one would have been able to file a personal injury claim over the same event.

Under California law, only certain individuals can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased person. Speak to an attorney at Freedman Law to determine your case eligibility.

Workers’ Compensation for Aviation Accidents

If you are injured in an aviation accident while performing your job duties, you may be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim. For example, a flight attendant who breaks a bone during sudden turbulence would be eligible for this coverage. Medical staff transporting a patient to a hospital via helicopter can file a workers’ compensation claim if the aircraft crashes. Airplane crashes commonly lead to serious burn injuries. A burn injury attorney in Fresno is prepared to fight for justice on your behalf.

All California employers must carry this insurance in the event of an employee injury, regardless of the number of employees. You can recover the following benefits by filing a workers’ compensation claim.

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Partial wage replacement during your recovery time
  • Permanent disability benefits if your accident results in long-term limitations
  • Death benefits to surviving family members if an employee dies on the job

It is important to remember that filing a workers’ compensation claim will prevent you from filing a lawsuit against your employer. If you believe that negligence may be involved in your accident, speak to an attorney at Freedman Law as soon as possible to identify your optimal path to compensation.

Contact a Fresno Aviation Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one was involved in an aircraft accident, Freedman Law can help. Our aviation and car accident attorneys in Fresno can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and secure the settlement that you deserve. Reach out online or call 559-447-9000 and discuss your legal options with Fresno’s highest rated personal injury firm.