Airplane Accidents

While airplane crashes are rare, many people are injured each year during flights. Luggage falling from overhead bins, heavy drink carts moving through narrow aisles, and falls caused by turbulence can all lead to serious injuries to passengers. When such injuries are caused by someone’s negligence or by the use of a defective product, the injured people may claim compensation for their medical bills, their pain and suffering, any lost wages (or loss of earning power) resulting from the injury, and more.

If the injury was caused at least in part by the negligence of an airline’s (or other company’s) employee, the injured party may sue that company. If a defective product caused the injury, the injured person could sue the manufacturer of the product. At times, the injury might be caused by a combination of factors, and a suit might include multiple defendants.

In order to prove negligence, a plaintiff (i.e. the person bringing the claim) would have to show that the company’s employees had a duty to act with care toward him or her but failed to meet that duty, and that the failure injured the plaintiff. As “common carriers” in the business of public transportation, airlines are under a duty to exercise a high degree of care toward their passengers. They must also comply with numerous regulations designed to protect the public.

In contrast to claims based on negligence, if a person’s injury was caused by a defective product, the injured party would not have to prove that the product’s manufacturer was negligent.

If you have been injured in an airplane accident, or if you have suffered the loss of a family member through such an accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Ronai & Ronai LLP are ready to help you pursue your legal rights. In some circumstances, punitive damages may also be available: in other words, a defendant may be ordered to pay an additional amount of money as punishment for wrongdoing and as a deterrent to similar conduct in the future.

To discuss the specifics of your case with a caring and knowledgeable attorney, please call Ronai & Ronai LLP at 1-800-664-7111, or fill out and submit our online “Contact Us” form. Our initial consultation is free.