While flying in a jet on a commercial airline is generally safer than many other forms of transportation, accidents do still happen. Furthermore, statistically speaking, flying in a smaller commuter plane or a private or “for hire” plane can be just as risky as many other forms of transportation. Each year, according to statistics collected by the Aircraft Crashes Record Office (ARCO) there are over 1,000 fatalities as a result of airplane accidents. Studies have also shown that your chance of being involved in an aviation accident is considerably higher when you are flying in anything other than a commercial jet. Given that fact that over two-thirds of the flights in the United States each day are aircraft other than commercial jets, there is clearly room for concern. Sadly, it also results in fatal accidents that leaved loved ones grief stricken and confused.
When someone suffers the loss of a loved one, they tend to go through a number of emotional stages. Anger, denial and depression are common reactions to losing a loved one. When the loss is sudden and unexpected it is frequently even more difficult to accept. Once the reality of the loss has sunk in, people tend to look for answers as to why it happened, could it have been prevented and who was responsible, according to California aviation attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates.
Studies tell us that the most common reason for an airplane accident is pilot error. Almost 50% of all airplane crashes were at least in part attributable to pilot error. Mechanical defects and weather come in far behind pilot error for causes of plane crashes. What this means for those that have lost a loved one in a plane crash is that either the pilot, the airline, or the manufacturer of the plane may have been negligent and therefore contributed or caused the death of your loved one. If that turns out to be the case, you may be entitled to file as a claimant in a wrongful death claim. Under the laws of the State of California, certain surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit and collect compensation for the negligent death of a loved one. Clearly, nothing can bring back your loved one, however if someone was responsible for their death then you owe it to them, yourself and your family to pursue and legal remedies at your disposal to seek compensation. Additionally, if you were dependant on the decedent, financially or emotionally, then a wrongful death claim may be the only way to assure a more secure future for you and your family.
If you have lost a loved on due to an aviation accident and would like additional information on who can file and how to file a wrongful death claim, please feel free to contact California aviation attorney Emery Ledger for a free and confidential detailed evaluation of your case. He can be reached at Ledger & Associates online at www.ledgerlaw.com or at 1-800-300-0001.
