Why helicopters crash

In helicopter crash litigation, all potential defendants are brought into a products liability case. Almost immediately after being hired, engineers, investigators and aviation experts are contacted and secured to help support the liability claims against the named defendants. Time is critical; it is important to get an experienced products liability attorney to represent you immediately after the crash so that your rights are protected.

Having an experienced attorney and hired experts involved as soon as possible prevents evidence from the crash from being lost, through failure to document something of importance, or even discarded, after the federal investigation for example.

Hiring an experienced attorney soon after the helicopter crash or aviation accident is usually the best course of action to prevent destruction and spoliation of the evidence. Helicopters are complex, sophisticated machines. They consist of engines, rotors, drive shafts, gears, electronics, flight controls and landing gear, all of which must function properly both independently and together for the helicopter to operate safely.

These individual systems and their components must be designed, manufactured, maintained and operated with the utmost skill and care if the helicopter is to fly safely. Recently, government agencies, industry and operators conducted their first International Helicopter Safety Symposium which was held in order to develop means to reduce helicopter accidents.

The accident rate in helicopter flight was flat, or perhaps increasing attendees noted. The statistics presented showed that the helicopter accident rate was 7. It therefore requires special attention to ensure safety of flight. The causes of helicopter accidents can be grouped into three major causal areas: Operational error, mechanical malfunction, and electrical malfunction.

Within these broad categories, there are multiple underlying causes. Operational Error. In either case, whether it be due to improper planning, a stuck fuel gauge needle, or a technical failure, running out of fuel can quickly spell disaster if a helicopter is unable to make an emergency landing.

Flying in the rain, snow, sleet, fog, or any other scenario where visibility is impaired is a common reason as to why helicopters crash. Other environmental factors like striking a flock of birds — which is much more likely to happen with a helicopter than an airplane due to flying at lower altitudes — or experiencing wake turbulence can cause a helicopter to crash.

ATC operators must always be alert and provide necessary and reliable information to pilots. If outdated or incorrect information is conveyed to a pilot, it can be of great consequence.

An example might be directing two aircraft along the flight path that would result in a direct collision. Loss of Tail Rotor Function The tail rotor is designed to prevent a helicopter from spinning in the opposite direction of the main rotor blade. Main Rotor Damage Due to the unique ability of a helicopter being able to hover and fly at much lower altitudes than fixed-wing aircraft, it can find itself near surroundings that can act as obstacles.

It is often the case that more than one factor was to blame for a helicopter crash. When you have an experienced attorney working for you, he or she will also conduct a thorough investigation to identify possible defendants who may be sued for what happened to you or your loved one.

There are several parties which can be held accountable for injuries and wrongful deaths occurring due to helicopter crashes including:. Depending upon the circumstances surrounding the accident, there may be others that are responsible. In some cases, more than one party may be a defendant in a helicopter accident lawsuit. For example, a helicopter crash can be caused by a combination of improper maintenance and error on the part of the pilot — the responsible parties could include the pilot, his or her employer, the owner of the helicopter and the company in charge of maintaining the aircraft.

When innocent victims are injured in helicopter crashes, the injuries they suffer are often very serious. An injured victim often faces high medical costs, a loss of income and many other financial losses as they are trying to recover. He or she may also require long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation and may be in need mental health services to deal with the trauma caused by the helicopter accident.

It is important to obtain the assistance of an attorney as soon as possible as it takes time to properly prepare a helicopter crash lawsuit. There is much work to do which includes analyzing evidence, hiring experts, interviewing witnesses and more. Additionally, there are deadlines that must be met when filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim. If these deadlines are missed, the opportunity to seek compensation will no longer exist. We will assist in scheduling new and existing clients for all offices.

For initial consultations we will ask you a few questions and then find the best time for you to talk to one of the lawyers that best fits your legal matter.