Aviation Accidents: 5 Common Causes
Aviation accidents occur more than most people realize. When you get on an airplane, you put your life in the hands of the pilot, the airline, and the airplane manufacturer. You trust that the pilot will do his or her job correctly to get you to your destination safely, and you trust that the plane was properly built and maintained to be fit to go up in the air. If you or a loved one have been injured in an aviation accident, schedule a conference with one of our attorneys who have experience in handling all types of aviation accident cases.
According to the Insurance Information Institute,
There were 38 accidents globally in 2020 on all aircraft, down from 52 in 2019. The global all-accident rate rose to 1.71, up from 1.11 in 2019 and above the 5-year (2016-2020) average of 1.38.
What Causes Aviation Accidents?
But what happens when something goes wrong? While we don’t like to think about it, aviation accidents do happen. Some of the most common causes of these crashes can include:
1. Pilot error: While pilots are highly trained, just like any of this, they can make an error at any time. They can make a wrong maneuver, fail to make a decision, or make a wrong decision. This can have serious consequences when you are in the air. These mistakes can be due to a variety of reasons, from a lack of training, not enough experience, fatigue, intoxication, distractedness, and more.
2. Mechanical Failure: Before a plane takes off, we trust that the plane has undergone all needed maintenance and that it’s properly tuned up and inspected. But just like in all vehicles, planes can suffer from equipment failures. A defect can go undetected, repairs can be made incorrectly, and other errors can occur.
3. Weather: While we hate to have our flights delayed, it can be necessary. Flying in poor weather conditions can be extremely dangerous. Trying to fly in snow, fog, heavy rain, lighting, and other poor conditions can cause poor visibility and other issues the pilots need to maneuver through. This can lead to fatal accidents. The National Transportation Safety Board states that more than two-thirds of all weather-related aviation crashes are fatal.
4. Sabotage: We assume that the planes we board have been properly maintained and prepped for our flight, but while it’s rare, at times sabotage can occur. This can include hijackings, as well as someone purposely damaging the aircraft to cause an accident. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s still a threat we need to be aware of.
5. Human error: It takes a lot of people to get an airplane safely in the air. This can include the maintenance staff, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, and other airline and airport employees. If one person doesn’t do his or her job correctly, it can have devastating results. Sitting on the runway and waiting for clearance for takeoff might be annoying at the time, but without someone safely controlling when flights can takeoff, it could lead to many accidents – and even fatalities.
Contact Experienced Aviation Accident Lawyers
Not every personal injury attorney has experience handling aviation accidents. If you or a family member was injured in an aviation accident, contact the attorneys at Gallagher & Kennedy at 602-530-8400. We care about our clients and are committed to using our skills, work ethic, and resources to help you or your family obtain compensation and justice.
Aviation law is a complex practice area with highly specific state laws and federal regulations governing when tragedy victims have the right to seek financial compensation for their damages. At Gallagher & Kennedy, our Phoenix aviation accident lawyers have over 40 years of experience handling aviation accident claims in state and federal courts.
We have the resources, aviation lawyers, and successful case history to provide high-quality legal representation after an aircraft disaster. Let us be your advocate by contacting our office today!