Aviation Accident Attorneys in Corpus Christi, TX

Helping Pilots and Passengers Injured in Plane & Helicopter Accidents

Bandas Law Firm represents pilots and passengers in Corpus Christi and across Texas who have been injured in aviation accidents involving private or commercial airplanes, helicopters, and other forms of aircraft. We also represent the family members of pilots and passengers when an airplane crash results in the loss of a loved one.

How Common Are Plane and Helicopter Accidents?

Statistically, if you travel the same amount of miles in a car as you do in the air, you’re less likely to be in an airplane crash. However, this figure conveniently elides the difference in risk between commercial and private craft. In 2017, over 35 million commercial flights crisscrossed the grove. Only 2 ended in fatal accidents, killing 13 people. The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) gathered statistics for private flights in America between Sept. 2016 and Sept. 2017. Over the same amount of time, during almost the same period, 347 people died in 209 crashes.

Private planes may be more dangerous because they are constructed without many of the redundancies commercial flights have. Some of these aircraft only have one engine—so failure is almost guaranteed to be catastrophic. Commercial flights also have a co-pilot by default, whereas private planes do not. The commercial airline industry has built safety features into its flights for a reason: Personal jets and helicopters, without them, have shown how dangerous air travel can be.

Causes of Aviation Accidents

Despite the relative safety of air travel, accidents and crashes can occur due to the following forms of human error or mechanical malfunctions:

• Pilot, mechanic, or air traffic controller errors,
• Defective equipment
• Failure to maintain aircraft
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation violations
• Defective aircraft design

In some cases, two or more factors coincide and put a plane or helicopter in a situation where a crash is almost certain. Pilot error may also kick in; especially on private planes, where much less training is required, the panic response can make a bad situation worse. One example of this: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that, for private plane accidents caused by bad weather, the real cause was pilot inexperience. The increased difficulty of flying through wind, thick clouds, and other phenomena stressed the pilots and either required skills they did not have or caused them to make mistakes.

It’s crucial to safeguard the legal rights of victims. At Bandas Law Firm in Corpus Christi, our experienced aviation accident attorneys are dedicated to helping you secure the financial compensation you need for injuries, lost income, medical bills, and emotional distress.

The Most Common Factors in Airplane Crashes

In 2016, the NTSB categorized the one event that was the most significant in a plane crash. Four factors were much more common than others:

1. Loss of control (on the ground)
2. Loss of control (in the air)
3. Malfunction of power system
4. Mistakes during landing (at time of contact)

Other errors included fuel shortages, collision with a standing object during takeoff or landing, a pilot missing the runway entirely, and mechanical errors not related to the power system.

Dangers of Aviation Accidents

Although aviation is one of the most important modes of transportation in the world, flying is an inherently dangerous act, combining extreme speeds, high altitudes, and dangerous chemicals. Even though advancements in technology and maintenance have improved the safety of flying on private and commercial aircraft, simple errors and innocent mistakes can put the lives of travelers at risk, as well as the lives of people on the ground.

Some of the most devastating consequences of aviation accidents include:

• Head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burn injuries
• Lacerations
• Amputation
• Wrongful death

Serving Clients in Nueces County & Across Texas

Airplanes and helicopters owned by private companies or individuals are not regulated in the same way commercial airliners are. Because different sets of laws govern private owners and commercial airlines, aviation accidents resulting in personal injury or wrongful death can be extremely complicated.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an aviation accident anywhere in Texas, it is important to enlist the help of an experienced attorney immediately. The legal rights of crash victims must be protected, and our Corpus Christi aviation accident attorneys at Bandas Law Firm can help you collect the financial compensation you deserve for injuries, loss of income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.