Although the number of plane and helicopter accidents are decreasing, it is helpful to know what can be done if a loved one is killed as a result of one of these accidents. In the United States, over 1,000 people were killed last year as a result of plane crashes, and close to 500 people died as a result of a helicopter crashes.
If a tragedy like this happens; the spouse, children, the parents of the deceased, legal guardian, or personal representative for the estate may be able to file a lawsuit. Families are overcome with emotional needs while grieving the loss of a loved one. However, there are Statues of Limitations for filing law suits. For example, if your type of case has a statue of limitations for only 2 years after the accident (Florida wrongful death cases) and it’s been longer than or close to 2 years, or you are waiting until the last minute to make a claim; it may be too late to file a claim. In order to prevent this, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
It is in your best interest to contact an attorney regarding your potential case before speaking with an insurance company. There are many different causes that contribute to plane or helicopter crashes. A plane or helicopter crash could be due to pilot error, the manufacture of the plane or helicopter, the person or company that provides the maintenance, the airline, airport control tower operator. Since there are many possible causes for this type of accident and you are likely dealing with a major insurance company, they may attempt to settle with you quickly for much less than the case is worth to protect themselves. If you were to settle the case on your own with the insurance company and you later realize they should have paid you more money for your claim, you can’t file another claim. They always have you sign a release form that prevents you from making a claim against them for that same accident in the future. This is why you must hire an experienced attorney so they can guide you from the beginning, to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your case.
If you are wondering how much it costs to hire an attorney, most personal injury and wrongful death law firms don’t get paid unless they get money back for you. Brooks Law Group offers a free consultation to review your case.
When researching for a potential attorney to handle your case, check out their website to see if they have trial experience. If they do, make sure they have proven results. You do not want to choose an attorney that doesn’t try cases in court because then they may pawn your case out to a real trial attorney. We all know that direct referrals from family and friends can be the best, but Brooks Law Group recommends you do your own research. Some types of cases are more complex than others (like aviation cases) so you may not get the same financial results with the “family attorney”. It is always a good idea to research an attorney before making a final decision. Brooks Law Group has a team of aviation litigation attorneys that can help the relative survivors of crash victims pursue wrongful death claims and help them obtain the maximum settlement possible for their loss. It’s important to have a compassionate, experienced attorney on your side. Our mission is to provide the Best Client Experience Possible.
