On Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at approximately 12:10 p.m., there was a fiery plane crash that claimed the life of 4 people – who still have not been identified. The crash occurred at Corona Municipal Airport, located at 1900 Aviation Drive.
According to reports surrounding the incident, the plane had stopped at the airport to refuel. Allegedly, the single-engine plane was attempting to depart from the airport when it crashed at the end of the runway (on the airport’s eastside). As mentioned, the plane had recently refueled. The 80-gallon fuel tank was full at the time of the crash; the fuel spilled and ignited the fire, engulfing the plane completely. The fire burned approximately one-quarter of an acre after spreading to nearby brush.
The fire department arrived at the scene shortly after the incident; they extinguished the flames and discovered that the four occupants of the plane suffered fatal burn injuries.
According to one witness, the aircraft was clearly having difficulties during takeoff. That is, when the pilot was attempting take off, the plane would take off 2 to 3 feet off the runway but come back down. This allegedly happened at least 3 separate times. The witness then saw as the plane hit a fence at the end of the runway and flip over – smoking and burning almost immediately.
The Federal Aviation Administration as well as the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Unfortunately, plane accidents – like the one described above – are very common. The family of deceased victims, as well as the entire community are left asking many questions. One of the primary questions is how did the accident happen? Regretfully, it can take many months of investigation before this question is answered.
Some other questions that family members and the entire community are left asking include the following:
- Could the crash have been prevented?
- Was the plane inspected before the crash?
- Did the plane have any known mechanical problems?
- Was the pilot licensed?
- Did the crash occur because of a pilot error?
- Was the plane defective?
Another important question includes the following: can I sue for the death of a member of my family due to a plane accident? Surviving family members, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident, sometimes have grounds to pursue claims against the entities liable for the crash.
If you would like to explore the possibly of filing a claim for the death of a member of your family, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience. At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – including wrongful death claims. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to take legal action. If you would like to discuss the possibility of filing a claim with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.
The Common Causes of Plane Crashes
Why do plane crashes occur? Plane incidents can happen for a number of reasons, some of which could include the following:
- The plane has a mechanical issue, either known or unknown, that contributes to the crash. This can typically be attributed to the plane owner’s negligence.
- The pilot is unlicensed or has a suspended/expired license, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or not medically cleared to fly but decides to fly the plane regardless, contributing to the incident. This can typically be attributed to the pilot’s negligence.
- The plane has a defect in manufacturing, labeling, or design that contributes to the crash. This can typically be attributed to the plane manufacturer’s negligence.
Many might argue that the causes of plane crashes are irrelevant given that the outcome of the crashes are devastating regardless. Without a doubt, plane accidents are usually fatal; if there are any survivors, they are usually often left with critical injuries. If planes ignite after crashing, the incident is even more likely to be fatal; although some might survive the crash, they might not survive the blaze of the flames.
Understanding the causes of plane crashes is essential to determining liability and taking legal action for the death of a loved one.
Understanding Liability for Plane Crashes
Above, we discussed three of the most common causes of plane crashes. Each of the common causes can be attributed to the negligence of one specific party or entity. Let’s consider potential liability based on the cause of the accident.
If the plane crash was found to have been a result of a mechanical issue in the plane, the plane owner could be found liable. Although these planes could be privately owned by one party, it is common for them to be owned by private aviation companies (that essentially rent them to pilots). Regardless, the owners of the planes have a duty of care to ensure that their planes are safe to fly. They must inspect their planes, keep up with maintenance/repairs, and address any issues immediately to ensure that their planes are not hazardous. If a plane owner failed to identify or address the mechanical issue and still made the plane available to fly, the plane owner could be liable for all the harm resulting from a plane crash.
Similarly, if the plane crash was found to have been a result of pilot error, the pilot could be found liable for the incident. If the pilot is also a fatality in the incident, liability could be transferred onto the pilot’s estate. Pilots have a duty to fly planes cautiously and safely to promote the safety of their passengers. When pilots fly with a suspended/expired license, under the influence of drugs or alcohol (including any medication), without completed training, without medical clearance, or even just sleep deprived, pilots are recklessly making the decision to fly the plane. If any incidents occur because of this recklessness, pilots could be liable for the harm resulting from a crash.
What if the plane crashed because it was defective? It is possible for plane crashes to occur because of defective planes. In these cases, plane manufacturers could be found liable. Liability in these cases are based on product liability; that is, companies have the duty to ensure that all their products are safe before making them available for purchase. Defects in design, labeling, and manufacturing, could all make products hazardous. If a plane crash occurs because of a plane defect, the manufacturer could be liable for all harm suffered.
Liability is not always clear. In fact, liability could be shared among multiple parties/entities. If you would like to learn more about establishing liability for a plane crash, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience.
Understanding Your Right to Sue
Do you have the right to sue for the death of a member of your family in a plane crash? Could you pursue a claim? Depending on the details surrounding the incident, you might have grounds to pursue a claim for the wrongful death of a member of your family. Specifically, if liability is clear and the death of the victim can be directly connected to the negligence of a party or entity, you will have grounds to pursue a claim. You could sue the plane owner, the pilot (or pilot’s estate), or the plane manufacturer for the wrongful death of your family member. In some cases, you might even have grounds to file your claim against multiple parties/entities.
Would you like to learn more about your right to sue after the wrongful death of a member of your family in a plane crash? If so, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
Could You Recover Compensation?
Do you have the right to recover any form of monetary compensation if you sue? If your wrongful death claim reaches a successful claim outcome, you might be eligible to recover compensation. There is no doubt that recovering compensation can help you and the rest of your family move forward with your lives, even if it does not fill the void left by the death of your loved one.
What type of compensation could you be eligible to receive? Depending on the details surrounding your claim, you could be eligible to recover compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral costs
- Burial costs
- Punitive damages
If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to recover if your plane crash wrongful death claim reaches a successful outcome, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Immediately
If a member of your family died in a plane crash, you should seek legal assistance immediately to explore the possibility of filing a claim. It is essential that you act promptly – especially considering that all claims are subject to a statute of limitations (or deadline to sue). You could trust the experts at Normandie Law Firm to handle your claim effectively and help you file your claim within the appropriate length of time.
At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims, always representing the best interests of our clients and their families. Our lawyers have successfully handled all sorts of claims and have recovered millions for our clients. If you would like our plane crash attorney to evaluate your claim, do not hesitate to contact our law firm immediately.
At Normandie Law Firm, we are dedicated to remaining accessible to all; therefore, we offer free legal services. Our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions, during which our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and essentially provide you with all the information that you might need to start or continue your claim. If you would like to discuss your claim with our experts and benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today.
Our firm also offers a Zero-Fee guarantee that ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything until after reaching a positive claim outcome. This means that our clients will not pay unless they win.
If you are ready to speak with our attorneys, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience. We are ready to represent you and handle your wrongful death claim.
