We’ve all seen news stories about a plane crash in both at home in the United States and around the world. Despite the fact that air travel is actually safer than road travel when an aviation accident happens, it can be catastrophic.
The personal injury lawyers at McDonald Worley have decades of combined experience handling these types of cases. They understand the urgency involved and know what it takes to get their clients justice.
The attorneys at McDonald Worley rely on renowned experts who are skilled in the investigations of aviation accidents. They are pioneers in the area of aviation law.
McDonald Worley Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Cases Involving Wrongful Death
McDonald Worley handles a variety of injury and wrongful death cases, including both domestic and international accident events. Whether you’ve experienced a loss at home or abroad, their compassionate lawyers are ready to help your family get justice.
If your family has experienced an aviation accident, you want to rely on a team that has your best interests at heart. They can help answer any questions your family may have about what to do next.
Our personal injury attorneys handle all types of aviation cases, including:
- Commercial airline crashes
- Private plane accidents
- Helicopter accidents
- Charter and corporate airplane incidents
- International aviation disasters
Our firm offers your family a free private initial consultation so you can discuss your case with an experienced wrongful death attorney.. We work hard to get your family the compensation it deserves.
Our firm represents clients from all over the world who’ve suffered losses in international aviation disasters. We understand that it’s ideal to get our clients justice here at home so we always try to file suit within the United States.
Some defendants will try to move the case to foreign countries where they feel they have a better chance of evading liability. We won’t let that happen. We’ll make a case to keep the litigation here at home where it belongs.
It’s not always clear what caused a plane to crash. Some of the more common causes include:
- Pilot Error: Of all plane crashes, about half of them are caused by pilot error. It’s hard to imagine that this is possible with how much things are controlled electronically. However, a pilot error can still directly cause a plane to crash. This could be anything from failure to maintain fuel estimates to improperly programming their flight plan.
- Mechanical Failure: About 20% of all crashes are caused by mechanical failure. The plane could suffer from fan blade damage. Or, the engine itself can malfunction. There is some amazing technology that helps prevent a lot of accidents. However, mistakes still happen.
- Weather: A lot of airports ground their planes in extreme weather such as snow and ice. However, most planes still take off despite inclement weather. Storms, snow, and fog are the leading types of weather that can cause a plane crash. Once that plane is up in the air, there’s nothing to do but push through the bad weather.
- Sabotage: Although there is not as much of this on commercial airlines, sabotage does happen. It could be done by terrorists. Or, an employee may hold a grudge against the airline that causes him to do something he shouldn’t.
- Other Human Error: There are more people involved in the airline industry than just pilots. There could be issues by the mechanics or grounds crew. Someone at air traffic control could make a fatal mistake.
Since your lawsuit may have to be filed before the exact cause is determined, we make sure we name all possible defendants in your claim.
Who Are the Possible Defendants in an International Aviation Disaster?
In order to make sure your family gets the compensation they deserve, our personal injury attorneys will name all possible defendants in your claim.. Usually, there is more than one party responsible for the accident.
Some of the parties that may be liable for your loss are:
- Owner or Operator: If you’re traveling by private plane, the owner or operator would be named in the lawsuit. So would his insurance carrier. The owner is ultimately liable for any injuries caused while on his plane.
- Airline: If your plane was a commercial plane, you would have to file suit against the airline. If the pilots work for the airline, the company is responsible for any pilot error or negligence.
- Manufacturer: If there was a defective component or mechanical failure, the manufacturer of the plane may be liable for your injuries.
- Pilot: In some cases, you may have to name the actual pilot as a defendant. Your attorney can review your case and see if you need to do this.
It’s important to our team that not only get your compensation, but we get you justice. The people who are responsible for the plane crash need to be held accountable. This is the only way to make sure air travel is safe and we prevent any future aviation disasters.
There’s a Good Chance Suits Against Boeing Will Be Filed in the U.S.
It’s impossible to have not heard about the tragic plane crash that took place in Ethiopia on Sunday, March 10, 2019. A hundred and fifty-seven people lost their lives on the flight headed for Nairobi, Kenya. Sadly, there were no survivors.
Immediately after news of the crash broke, there was speculation about the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 8 passenger jet’s safety. There was a similar crash of the same type of plane just five months previously in Indonesia.
As of today, the cause of the crash is not known.
In the past, Boeing, who is headquartered in Chicago, has been able to convince U.S. judges to dismiss lawsuits filed against them. Plaintiffs had been forced to file their claims in the countries where the accidents took place. This time around, it seems Boeing will have to face the music here on American soil.
McDonald Worley will be amongst the attorneys fighting to make sure this is the case. There are distinct advantages to having litigation take place in the U.S.:
- Evidentiary rules are fairer and allow plaintiffs to present proof of liability
- Procedural rules protect plaintiffs and won’t allow them to be silenced
- American courts have no limit on the damages that can be claimed in types of cases
Although it’s too early to tell for sure, it appears that this time, United States jurisdiction will prevail.
Timeline of Flight ET 302 From Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The investigation was underway within hours of the plane crash in the capital city of Addis Ababa Ethiopia. So far, they’ve established the following timeline:
8:38 am:
- Flight ET 302 took off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa
- The flight tower noticed the plane’s vertical speed was not right
- Air Traffic Control received a distress call from the pilot
8:44 am: All contact with the plane was lost
10:48 am: Ethiopian Prime Minister tweeted news of the crash
11:15 am: Ethiopian Airlines said that all 149 passengers and 8 crew members were on board
1:35 pm: Ethiopian radio announced that all had died
2:45 pm: CEO of Ethiopian Airlines was already on site
3:30 pm: Ethiopian Airlines CEO confirmed that there were passengers on board from Canada, China, and America, among other countries
4:50 pm: Ethiopian Prime Minister said that a full investigation would be initiated
6:40 pm: Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian authorities, the plane’s manufacturer Boeing, and all other international stakeholders would collaborate on the investigation
It’s important that all parties take part so that an impartial investigation can be undertaken.
McDonald Worley is Ready to Help Hold Boeing Responsible for Sunday’s Tragedy in Ethiopia
Although no cause of the crash has been determined, there is speculation that there is a mechanical issue with Boeing’s 737 Max 8 plane. Two of their planes have crashed in the last six months. In addition to Sunday’s tragedy, one of the company’s planes went down in Indonesia back in October.
In the Lion crash last October in Indonesia, investigators have implicated the plane’s control system. The same control system was installed in the plane destined for Nairobi Sunday. This control system was designed to help planes from stalling in mid-flight.
The program does involve a manual override that can be engaged in the software malfunctions, However, this override involves the pilot manually flipping a switch as opposed to simply pulling up on the plane’s control stick.
If this switch is not engaged within five seconds, the plane’s nose will continue moving downward. This creates not only a dangerous condition but one that can cause a plane to crash, as was the case with the Boeing 737 Max 8 involved in the Lion crash in Indonesia.
The issue is that many believe that this problem was foreseeable and could have been corrected. However, Boeing did nothing to fix the problem other than let pilots know it could be an issue.
This could result in widescale liability for Boeing for the crash in Kenya last week. The personal injury attorneys at McDonald Worley are prepared to help hold Boeing responsible for this apparent negligence.
The Personal Injury Lawyers at McDonald Worley Will Demand That You Are Compensated for Your Loss
If you’ve lost a loved one in a plane crash, you should contact a personal injury lawyer at McDonald Worley. We will sit down and review your claim. We will let you know if you have a valid claim against any of the parties identified as potential defendants.
The types and amounts of damages your attorney will demand depends on where the case is filed. If it’s filed in the United States, your attorney will demand the following:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of your loved one’s income
- Loss of companionship and counsel
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
In cases such as these, the damages can be quite significant. Your attorney is going to fight to get you all the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at McDonald Worley Today
If your loved one has been involved in an aviation accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer at McDonald Worley today. Our compassionate attorneys are ready to answer any questions you may have.
You can call today and schedule a free initial consultation by phone or in-person.
McDonald Worley PC is conducting its own investigation into the accident and is available to answer questions and address inquiries regarding the Ethiopian Airways Flight 302 disaster. Our investigation will include a thorough comparison between the flight data from the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the available data from the Lion Air crash using onsite/offsite personnel and resources.