Pre-Settlement Funding: Aviation Accidents
Whenever we think of aviation accidents, we often tend to think of catastrophic accidents that involve commercial airliners and result in hundreds of deaths. While aviation tragedies of this magnitude are rare, aviation accidents, in general, tend to happen a lot more often than most people realize. Aviation accidents go beyond commercial airliner accidents, and also include small planes, private flights, and helicopters. Although aircraft safety has only continued to improve over the years, and thus fewer accidents have been occurring, the numbers are still alarming. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, in one recent year, there were a total number of 1,315 civil aviation accidents in the United States. Out of these accidents, 211 accidents were fatal, resulting in a total number of 347 deaths.
In some cases, the cause of some aviation accidents remains unknown. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, some of the top causes of aviation accidents include:
- Loss of control, which remains the leading cause of aviation accidents
- Weather-related incidents
- Mid-air collisions with other aircraft, which usually happen near airports
- System component failures, such as issues with the airplane itself, control system failures, and maintenance failures
- Fuel-related issues, which can cause engine failure and other mechanical malfunctions
- Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents: for example, when an airplane crashes into land, water, or other terrains other than safely landing on a runway
As technology continues to change and evolve, aviation safety is also following suit and continues to improve over the years. In an effort to specifically improve aircraft safety through the use of more advanced technology, the FAA recently introduced their NextGen program, as well as En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), which is a new high-altitude air traffic control system. This system will accommodate the NextGen technologies, providing the United States with a more powerful air traffic system.
Over the years, several aviation accidents have made headlines and are quite memorable for one reason or another. One of these accidents happened in 2009 shortly aft takeoff in New York City and is commonly known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”, This particular flight involved a birdstrike, which was a collision between the airplane and a flock of birds. While this often causes minimal damage to the aircraft, in this particular case, the airplane lost all power and there was a significant safety threat to everyone on board. However, the airplane’s pilots managed to safely make an emergency landing in the Hudson River, resulting in minimal injuries. Although this was an unavoidable situation overall, the pilots’ skills managed to save everyone on board. If a pilot is slow to react in a similar situation or makes the wrong decision, the end results can potentially be tragic.
Losing a loved one in an aviation accident can be a traumatic and devastating loss. After all, flying is said to be one of the safest ways to travel. When something goes wrong and this type of accident results, it is often deadly for the pilot and passengers. Families of victims often have a lot of questions about what went wrong, and understandably so. Sometimes, a negligent decision was the root cause. Just one wrong move or careless decision can be fatal for everyone on board. There is a lot that goes into safely flying an airplane, from attentive airport control tower operators to adequately trained pilots, to making the decision whether to fly or not based on weather conditions, to well-maintained airplanes and everything in between. If just one of these things goes wrong, it can affect everything and everyone involved.
If you lost a loved one in an aviation accident, you may be currently working with an attorney on a wrongful death lawsuit. Your attorney is likely working hard on every aspect of your case, including determining liability and possibly working with other legal teams who are representing the other victims and their families. If you were personally involved in an aviation accident and you survived, it is likely that you sustained serious injuries. After all, aviation accidents tend to be severe, and victims who survive may now have to face lifelong injuries that are the direct result of another individual’s negligence. You may currently be working with an attorney on a personal injury lawsuit, and like many other plaintiffs, you may be wondering when you can expect your case to settle. Even though the timeline of an aviation accident lawsuit can be somewhat unpredictable, one thing you can count on is help from USClaims when you need it the most. If you’re looking to receive money upfront while waiting for your aviation accident case to settle, contact USClaims today to learn more about our pre-settlement funding services. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have and can also verify whether your lawsuit qualifies for our services.
