California Helicopter Crash Injury Lawyers
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Our California Helicopter Crash Injury Lawyers Provide Responsive Support, Every Step Of The Way
Helicopter crashes often cause devastating losses. Even a relatively minor helicopter crash can result in property damage and injuries. More serious crashes can be fatal, and surviving family members are left with a lifetime of emotional suffering and financial losses. The California helicopter crash lawyers at our injury law firm can serve as your legal ally after any type of helicopter accident. You can schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with us by calling (888) 488-1391.
Common Causes Of Helicopter Accidents
There are many reasons why helicopters crash. It can be helpful to consult California helicopter crash injury lawyers who are familiar with the human error and technical issues associated with aviation. Their knowledge may assist in analyzing factors that could contribute to a crash and the resulting injuries.
Here are some of the most common causes of helicopter accidents:
Pilot Error
Pilot error is a major contributor to aviation accidents, including helicopter crashes. When a pilot is proven negligent, they can be held accountable for the injuries (or deaths) they cause. The pilot’s employer can also be legally at fault (“liable”), as can the owner of the aircraft.
In some cases, third parties, such as a helicopter tour or a private charter company that arranged the flight, may also be partially responsible for accidents. An experienced helicopter accident attorney can assess potential defendants and gather evidence to support your claim.
Improper Maintenance
Helicopters, like any form of transportation, must be regularly inspected and maintained. Helicopter owners must keep their aircraft in good working condition at all times, in addition to the thorough annual inspections that are required by law.
Pilots and the team involved in maintaining the helicopter must ensure that the aircraft is safe to fly before it leaves the ground. A crash caused by poor maintenance could lead to liability for the owner or pilot, as well as a company that was hired to repair or maintain the aircraft.
Defective Parts
A helicopter is a complicated mechanical machine functioning with thousands of parts that can break or malfunction. Defects in parts, components, systems, or the entire helicopter as a whole can result in fatal crashes. Helicopter crashes can sometimes be linked to defective parts, which may make the manufacturer potentially liable. Defective parts are covered by “strict product liability.” Under this type of liability, the victim does not have to prove that the manufacturer was negligent.
As long as the product was being used as intended when it caused the accident, the manufacturer can be held liable for the victim’s injuries. The helicopter crash injury lawyers at Arash Law, headed by Arash Khorsandi, are capable of handling these product liability claims in addition to personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Other Causes Of Helicopter And Aviation Injuries
Though a crash is the most serious kind of helicopter accident, it is not the only way that a passenger can be injured on an aircraft. Injuries can also be caused by:
- Heavy turbulence.
- Cargo that is not properly secured inside the helicopter.
- Passenger negligence.
- Improper seatbelt and safety gear usage.
- Accidents while boarding or exiting the helicopter.
- Slip and fall accidents in the airport or on the tarmac.
If you sustain injuries that were not due to a helicopter crash, consult with a personal injury lawyer about your legal rights. You can also fill out our “Do I have a case?” form to find out whether your claim is valid.
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Wrongful Death Claims In Helicopter Accident Cases
Helicopter crashes can result in fatal injuries. It can be difficult for surviving family members to even consider filing a claim and going through a legal process while they are dealing with their grief. California helicopter injury lawyers can assist in assessing potential responsible parties, including manufacturers, helicopter owners, or pilots, and gathering evidence related to the accident. Addressing liability in these cases may also help highlight safety concerns and promote safer industry practices. What follows are some answers to the most common questions our helicopter accident attorneys get asked about wrongful death cases.
Who Can File A Wrongful Death Claim?
In general, a surviving spouse has priority to file a wrongful death claim. Children can also file a wrongful death claim, and if they are still minors, an estate administrator can file the claim on their behalf. There are also special situations in which registered domestic partners, grandchildren, and other dependent minors (such as stepchildren) might also be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.
In the unusual situation that no family members can be found, and the victims died without a will, more distant relatives can also be allowed to file the wrongful death claim. It is advisable to consult with a wrongful death lawyer about your case if you fall under one of these special circumstances. Not all relatives are eligible to file a wrongful death claim.
How Long Do I Have To File A Wrongful Death Claim?
According to California’s statute of limitations, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years from the time of the victim’s death. In simple terms, this means you usually have two years to start a lawsuit, or the court may not hear your case.
Certain deadlines may apply before the statute of limitations. For example, if you are suing a city for negligently maintaining its airfield, you must notify them of your claim within six months of the death. This “notice of claim” applies to any defendant that is a government agency. This two-year deadline does not mean that you have two full years to hire an attorney. Your helicopter crash lawyer will need time to investigate your case and consult with qualified professionals for their expert opinions.
Who Is Liable For Wrongful Death In A Helicopter Accident?
There are many potential defendants in a wrongful death claim resulting from a helicopter accident. Our experienced helicopter crash injury attorneys will gather evidence and present it to support your wrongful death case. Typically, these are the same defendants who are liable for other helicopter injuries, such as:
- Pilots
- Helicopter owners
- Maintenance companies
- Manufacturers
- Other third parties
What Losses Can Be Compensated In A Wrongful Death Case?
The family of the victim may pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Some of the damages they may seek include:
- Burial and funeral expenses.
- The victim’s medical bills before their death.
- The victim’s lost wages.
- Loss of financial support, if the victim is the main provider in the family.
Surviving spouses (and registered domestic partners) may also be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium. This loss of consortium represents the emotional losses associated with a spouse’s untimely death, such as care, companionship, affection, and even access to sexual relations. Jurors recognize that such a loss can be profoundly affecting, and lawyers can assist in gathering evidence to demonstrate its significance.
What If I Can’t Afford A Helicopter Accident Attorney?
Helicopter accident lawyers who handle personal injury and wrongful death claims usually take cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, clients are not required to pay lawyer fees up front. If you wish to learn more about our contingency arrangement, our injury attorneys will clearly spell out the terms of our representation, including court costs, administrative fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
Seek Guidance From Helicopter Crash Injury Lawyers In California
Our skilled helicopter crash lawyers at Arash Law understand the legal, technical, and medical issues that come up in helicopter accident cases. We serve clients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and throughout California. You may call (888) 488-1391 to schedule your free initial consultation.
