Two people died in Madison County, Florida from a plane crash. WCTV reported that 32-year-old James Swiggart and 18-year-old Maitland Harvey, who were cousins, both died in the crash. They were flying from Ocala to Tallahassee in an experimental RV-4 plane and lost contact with air traffic controllers before the crash. If you lost a loved one in a plane accident, contact a Miami Wrongful Death Attorney.
The crash occurred in a heavily wooded area and it took authorities a long time to both locate and reach the crash site. There were no witnesses of the crash, although some area residents reported hearing a noise.
Swiggart was a navy pilot although the plane he was operating was a personal aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash.
This crash is the second one in the area in less than two months. Despite advances in air plane safety the accident rate for personal flights has increased by 20% in the last 10 years, and the fatality rate for personal flights has increased 25% While large commercial flights are becoming increasingly more safe, small personal aircrafts still pose significant dangers to the pilots and passengers.
Airplane Accident Law
Pilots and airliners have a responsibility to meet a multitude of safety standards to make sure their passengers are as safe as possible. Failing to do so can hold them liable for injuries or deaths resulting from an accident.
Plane crashes can occur for various reasons and could leave you grounds to sue the pilot or airline company. These include dangerous conditions inside the plane, careless handling of the plane by the pilot, choosing to fly in unsafe weather conditions and general incompetence by the flight staff. Accidents can also be caused by a maintenance issue, where the owners fail to maintain the plane properly or by a design flaw in one of the plane’s parts.
Following any civil aviation crash in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the accident. The findings of this investigation can prove extremely useful in any civil litigation that follows, as the board will determine the cause of the crash and whether any parties behaved negligently to cause the accident.
After a plane crash you can file a personal injury suit if you were injured or a wrongful death suit if you lost a family member. Damages you can be awarded include medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of wages, and property damage. You can also receive compensation for non-economic damages that include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.
Contact a Miami Wrongful Death Attorney Today
If you lost a loved one in a plane crash or any aviation related accident, do not hesitate to contact an experienced attorney. The Law Office of Gerson & Schwartz has a team of experienced wrongful death attorneys that are truly to committed to seeking justice for their clients, large and small. All our cases are conducted on a contingent fee so there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover money on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation.