The Robinson R22 helicopter has been associated with multiple incidents in the past. If you or a member of your family were affected in an accident involving a defective R22 helicopter, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit against Robinson. If you are ready to explore your legal options with an experienced team that is ready to help you take action after a helicopter accident, contact the Normandie Law Firm immediately.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with decades of experience handling all sorts of injury claims, including those involving aircraft accidents like helicopter accidents. Our lawyers are more than ready to evaluate your helicopter accident claim and help you take action against Robinson or any other liable party. For more information about the legal options available for you and your family, do not hesitate to contact our experts immediately.
About the Robinson R22 Helicopter
The R22 is a helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Company designed in 1973. The Robinson R22 has been in production since 1979. It is a two-seat, two-blade single engine aircraft. The Robinson Helicopter Company is likely one of the helicopter manufacturers that has been associated with the most controversies (mostly due to another helicopter – the R44). In fact, the R22 Helicopter specifically has also been controversial over the years.
The Robinson R22 is associated with a fatal accident rate of 0.67 per 100,000 flight hours. Although this rate might seem insignificant, it actually places the R22 among the helicopters with the highest fatality rates.
Robinson had issues with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1981 when the R22’s type certificate was temporary revoked due to issues with their helicopter’s main rotor blade. The company responded by replacing the main rotor blades of the fleet of R22 helicopters that was in service at the time. In addition, the R22 helicopters were involved in multiple accidents involving student pilots (since the helicopters were popular in training programs). The company was quick to blame the student pilots and their lack of experience/skill. The company later implemented a safety course for student pilots.
Some Causes of Helicopter Accidents
Helicopter accidents in the past have been caused by the following:
- Pilot error (including but not limited to untrained/unskilled pilots)
- Mechanical/electrical failures mid-flight
- Defective helicopters
More about Possible Helicopter Defects Resulting in Accidents
Unfortunately, companies sometimes fail to ensure that their products are safe for consumer use. Defects present in their products can lead to incidents that can harm parties who are completely innocent. Some examples of helicopter defects that could be present in the Robinson R22 helicopters include the following:
- Issues with the main rotor or tail rotor
- Issues with the rotor mast
- Issues with the tail boom
- Issues with the fuel tank
Any of these issues mentioned above can create serious problems mid-flight, which could unfortunately lead to a crash and have devastating consequences.
Defective Helicopter Accidents and Possible Injuries
Helicopter accidents are easily among the most dangerous accidents that anyone could experience. These incidents can potentially lead to critical injuries, and even fatal harm. Some of the different injuries that victims could suffer include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Crushing injuries
- Severed limbs
- Ruptured/punctured organs
- Nerve damage
- Burn injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
Survivors can sustain critical injuries that can be permanently disabling. As already mentioned, these injuries can also be fatal.
If you were injured in any way or a member of your family was killed because of the injuries sustained in a helicopter accident involving a Robinson R22 helicopter, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible to explore the legal options available to you.
Who is Liable for a Helicopter Crash Involving a Defective R22 Helicopter?
If you were injured or a member of your family was killed in a crash involving a defective R22 helicopter, then Robinson could be liable for all resulting harm. This is based on the concept of product liability, which states that companies are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and completely free of any defects. If companies fail to do this, then they could be responsible for any harm resulting from the defective product.
What does this mean? If you were injured in an accident involving a defective Robinson R22 helicopter, then Robinson could be liable for all damages, and you could sue. Also, if a loved one was killed in a R22 defective helicopter crash, then Robinson could also be liable for all damages, and you could sue for the death of your loved one.
If you would like to learn more about liability for defective helicopter crashes and your right to sue, do not hesitate to contact our lawyers at your earliest convenience. Our attorneys are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Suing and Fighting for Compensation
If you decide to file either an injury claim or a wrongful death claim, you could have grounds to recover monetary compensation. Some of the categories of compensation available for recovery include the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
If you are filing a wrongful death claim, you could be eligible to recover compensation specifically for pre-death medical costs, loss of support, loss of consortium, and funeral/burial expenses, for example.
Here at Normandie Law Firm, we are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover monetary compensation for your injury claim or for your wrongful death claim. For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive if your lawsuit against Robinson Helicopter Company is successful, do not hesitate to contact us today.
Can I Really File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Yes, you could file a wrongful death claim if a member of your family died in a helicopter accident. Based on California law, the following parties have the right to file a wrongful death claim:
- A surviving spouse or domestic partner, surviving children, and in the case of no surviving family, any party who would be entitled to assets based on intestate succession
- A putative spouse and their children, the decedent’s stepchildren, and the decedent’s parents (given that these parties were financially dependent on the decedent)
- A minor who was living with the decedent and who was financially dependent on the decedent for the last 180 days
If you are uncertain about whether you could file a wrongful death claim based on your relationship with the decedent, do not hesitate to contact our experts as soon as possible. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to understand your right to sue.
Getting Help with Funeral Costs after Wrongful Death in a Helicopter Accident
Here at Normandie Law Firm, we can actually provide you with more than legal help. In fact, we can help you with covering funeral and burial costs after a helicopter accident. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you cover these costs after the traumatic loss of your loved one in a R22 helicopter accident, contact us immediately.
How Long Do I Have to Sue? – The Statute of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits, both, are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the time that claimants have to file a lawsuit before losing the right to sue. In the state of California, both injury claims and wrongful death claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This means that you only have two years to file a lawsuit after you were injured or a member of your family died in a helicopter accident. Some exceptions could apply, although any exceptions will be case-specific. For more information about the total time that you have to file your lawsuit against Robinson Helicopter Company, contact us today.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
After you were inured or a member of your family was killed in an accident involving a defective R22 helicopter, it is essential that you seek legal assistance immediately to explore your legal options. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we are ready to help you with your claim. Our helicopter accident attorneys are ready to evaluate your situation and help you sue – regardless of whether you are pursuing an injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit.
We offer free legal services, including free consultations and free second opinions. During these, our attorneys will be available to provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or continue your lawsuit against Robinson for the injuries or wrongful death resulting from a defective R22 helicopter accident. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, contact us today.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures you will not have to worry about any upfront legal costs to benefit from any of our legal services. Additionally, we work on a contingency structure; therefore, you will not have to pay legal costs unless you win.
Contact us today to discuss your R22 helicopter accident lawsuit with our expert attorneys. We are ready to help you.
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