If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an aviation accident in Carbondale, PA, it is important to understand your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, lost wages, and other related damages.
The Carbondale aviation/airplane accident lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates have over 120 years of combined experience. Our lawyers have helped countless clients by winning tens of millions of dollars on their behalf. This money has compensated for their emotional and financial losses but also represents justice after a traumatic accident.
Contact us or call us at (717) 995-8810 to schedule a free consultation with a Carbondale aviation accident attorney today.
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How Can Marzzacco Niven & Associates Help You After An Aviation/Airplane Accident In Carbondale, PA?
For more than fifteen years, Marzzacco Niven & Associates has helped clients in the Carbondale area. We have fought for justice in many types of accident cases, including airplane crashes. Our team of Carbondale aviation accident lawyers is nationally recognized as Super Lawyers “Rising Stars,” Best Lawyers of America, and National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Airplane accidents are highly technical. Our work often includes:
- Calculating your damages
- Investigating the crash
- Identifying all liable parties
- Collecting and reviewing evidence
- Explaining the law and your rights
- Filing insurance claims
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Keeping track of paperwork and deadlines
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
- Fighting for you in front of a jury
Airplane accidents are among the most complicated types of personal injury cases. Don’t risk working with a lawyer who isn’t prepared to do what it takes. Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to speak with a Carbondale personal injury attorney today.
How Common Are Aviation/Airplane Accidents?
Luckily, airplane crashes are extremely uncommon. Air travel is much safer than most other types of transportation, including driving in a car. When it comes to the statistics, air travel is divided into two categories: commercial aviation and general aviation. General aviation includes smaller non-commercial planes like hobbyists or privately owned aircraft.
Commercial aviation includes commercial flights from major airports. In 2022, there were 20 accidents in the United States, but there were no onboard fatalities. However, there were 1,205 general aviation accidents with 358 fatalities in the same year.
Who Can Be Held Liable After An Aviation/Airplane Accident?
Anyone who negligently contributed to or caused the airplane accident could be held liable for your damages. It can be difficult to identify who made an error that caused a crash. Sometimes, it may take aviation investigators months or even years to find out what happened.
Examples of who may be responsible include:
- The pilot
- Air traffic control
- Aerospace manufacturing companies
- Aerospace engineers
- Airplane mechanics
- Commercial airline companies
- Private airline companies
- The airport or airport staff
- Other passengers
There may be multiple people responsible for the accident. In those cases, the defendants could share liability. We will help you pursue every viable defendant so that you have the best chance to recover the money you deserve.
Aviation/Airplane Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Airplane accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. In many cases, an aviation crash will cause death. People who walk away from an airplane accident are often lucky to be alive.
Some of the most common types of injuries from airplane accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Partial or full paralysis
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Severe burns
- Lacerations
- Crush injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of eyesight
- Loss of hearing
We can help you regardless of the type of injury. We often work with clients who have extremely complex diagnoses and coexisting injuries. Our aviation accident lawyers are prepared to review your medical records and talk with your medical team to understand your prognosis.
What Causes Most Airplane/Aviation Accidents In PA?
Most airplane accidents happen when the pilot makes an error. However, crashes can also result from mechanical failures and inclement weather, particularly with smaller non-commercial planes.
Examples of common causes include:
- Miscommunication with air traffic control
- Lack of training and negligent hiring
- Fatigued piloting
- Failure to follow the pre-flight checklist
- Piloting under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Poor weather or suddenly changing conditions
- Improperly maintained aircrafts
- Improper takeoff and landing
- Pilot medical emergency
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates every airplane accident in the United States, whether commercial or general aviation. This is helpful because aviation accident investigation is very complex. The investigator needs to be highly trained and have access to hard-to-get evidence like the air traffic control recording, black box, and even the airplane or remnants. The investigation reports can become vital evidence in a future lawsuit.
What Is My Aviation/Airplane Accident Case Worth?
Aviation/airplane accident cases tend to be worth a lot of money. This is because many people experience catastrophic injuries, extreme emotional trauma, and often death. Some of the factors that will influence your case value include:
- The type and severity of your injury
- Whether or not your injury is permanent or you are expected to recover
- Treatment you have received and will need to receive going forward
- The details of any insurance policy in play
- If you can work and earn income or are permanently disabled
- The effect of the injury on your day-to-day life
- If you have lasting emotional trauma from the crash
- If you lost a loved one during the crash or they later died from their injuries
A Carbondale aviation/airplane accident attorney at Marzzacco Niven & Associates will discuss each of these factors thoroughly. Your lawyer must understand how you are affected by the crash and the future impact. All of this will contribute to understanding your case value and ensuring you recover everything you deserve.
What Kind Of Damages Are Available To Aviation/Airplane Accident Victims?
Airplane accident victims can recover compensatory damages as a matter of proving their case. They can occasionally recover punitive damages in extreme situations, though this is far less common. Compensatory damages pay plaintiffs for their actual monetary and non-monetary losses. They are divided into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are financial losses. These losses can include past and future economic losses. For example:
- Emergency medical bills
- Cost of surgery
- Follow-up doctor’s visits
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Lost employment benefits
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy
- In-home nursing care
- Medications
- Assistive medical devices
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damages
We can calculate economic losses by looking at medical bills, credit card statements, and paystubs. In contrast, non-economic damages are much harder to prove. These include emotional and intangible losses. Many people call this pain and suffering. Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Mental illness like PTSD, anxiety, depression
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
There are different ways to calculate non-economic damages. We can help you calculate these losses based on our extensive experience.
Punitive damages are also possible but are reserved for the most egregious behavior. In airplane crash cases, for example, punitive damages may be used to punish a pilot who intentionally crashed the plane or an airplane manufacturer who intentionally cut corners and knew a plane was unsafe.
If you think that you are entitled to punitive damages, you almost always need a lawyer to help you fight for them. It can be very hard to prove, and you should expect that a defendant will fight vigorously against it.
How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit After An Aviation/ Airplane Accident In Pennsylvania?
You only have two years to file an aviation accident lawsuit after a crash. This is a very short amount of time, especially considering how complex airplane crash cases can be. If you try to file a lawsuit after the deadline, the court will dismiss your case. You will lose all rights to recover compensation.
You must immediately contact a lawyer after getting into an airplane crash or losing a loved one in a crash. Your attorney needs to maximize their time to investigate, find out who is responsible, and prepare for a lawsuit. It may be difficult to call an attorney when you are grieving or receiving grueling medical treatment. However, a lawyer can help take the burden of the legal case off of your hands while you focus on your immediate needs.
Contact Our Carbondale Aviation/Airplane Accident Lawyers To Schedule A Free Consultation
The first step is to call our Carbondale aviation/airplane accident lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free consultation. We will set up an appointment with a compassionate member of our Pennsylvania team who will listen to your needs, explain your rights, and answer any questions. Contact us to get on our schedule today.