San Diego Aviation/Airplane Accident Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured in a plane accident in San Diego, CA? Aviation accidents are a big deal and come with big injuries. You may be entitled to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. An experienced San Diego aviation/airplane accident lawyer at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to secure the money you deserve. 

Since 2010, our legal team has fought to recover tens of millions of dollars for injured clients across Southern California. We’re ready to help your family get the compensation you deserve.

Do you have questions about your legal options? Contact our law offices in San Diego, California, at (619) 777-5555 to schedule a free consultation today.

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Aviation/Airplane Accident in San Diego

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Aviation/Airplane Accident in San Diego

Air travel is generally safe–and plane crashes are much less common than car accidents. On the other hand, they can also be some of the most devastating accidents imaginable. That also means they can be extremely costly for the victims.

It’s not your fault that you got hurt. You shouldn’t be left to shoulder the financial burden. Our personal injury lawyer in San Diego, CA can help you fight for the maximum compensation available.

When you trust our team to protect your interests after a plane crash, you’ll have a team of legal professionals on your side to:

  • Investigate to determine the cause of the crash
  • Locate all responsible parties
  • Hire experts to assess the fair value of your aviation accident case
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies to reach a favorable settlement deal
  • Take the at-fault party to trial if they won’t offer a fair settlement

You can trust our San Diego personal injury attorneys to invest the time and resources your case deserves. With more than 43 years of experience between us, we know how to win cases like yours. Call today to learn more about the benefits of establishing an attorney-client relationship.

How Common Are Aviation/Airplane Accidents in San Diego?

When people think about plane crashes, they’re often picturing large-scale commercial passenger airplane wrecks. In reality, there are two types of civil (non-military) airplanes in the U.S.: general aviation aircraft and commercial aircraft.

Commercial aircraft are passenger airplanes. When you take off from San Diego International Airport, you’re boarding a commercial plane. General aviation aircraft are smaller private planes. 

In total, there are approximately 220,000 aircraft registered in the United States. More than 90% of those civil airplanes are classified as general aviation aircraft. While commercial plane accidents do happen, most aviation accidents involve small private planes.

In 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that 393 people were killed in aviation accidents across the U.S. Ninety-seven percent of all fatal plane crashes involved general aviation aircraft.

What is My San Diego Aviation/Airplane Accident Case Worth?

The value of your personal injury claim will depend on a number of factors specific to your case. At minimum, you should be entitled to reimbursement for your medical bills and lost wages. However, there’s usually more to the story when it comes to recovering from a plane crash. 

Some of the important questions our San Diego aviation accident attorneys will ask include:

  • What types of future medical treatment will you require?
  • Will you ever fully recover from your physical injuries?
  • How has the accident impacted your mental health?
  • How has the injury impacted your daily life?
  • Will you ever return to work in the same capacity?

These are complex and difficult questions. Our legal team will bring in experts and specialists as necessary to help us understand the full extent of your injuries. 

What Types of Damages Are Available to Aviation/Airplane Accident Victims?

Airplane accidents can take a serious toll on the victims. You shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences on your own if someone else caused the accident.

At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight to recover compensation to cover your economic damages and non-economic damages. 

Compensation might be available to cover your economic damages, such as:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Future medical bills
  • Lost future earning capacity
  • Rehabilitation
  • Counseling and mental health treatment

Your non-economic damages can provide compensation for:

If you lost a loved one, we can also help you file a wrongful death claim to recover damages. 

Do you need help protecting your legal rights after an accident? Call our law firm today to learn more about how we can help fight to maximize your settlement award.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Aviation/Airplane Accident in California?

Multiple parties can share responsibility for an airplane accident. Under the pure comparative negligence law in California, victims can recover damages even if they’re partly at-fault.

Understanding how contributory fault works in California is important if you’re being blamed for a crash. Your damages award can be reduced if you’re found partly responsible. If someone is trying to point the finger at you, reach out to our lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Aviation/Airplane Accident Injuries

The number of people killed in plane crashes has increased in recent years–by 13% in a single year. In 2018, there was at least one aviation death per day in the U.S.

Many more people suffer injuries in plane wrecks. At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight to recover fair compensation for all of your airplane accident injuries, including:

Plane crash survivors often suffer from severe emotional trauma. We’ll also help you fight to recover fair compensation for anxiety, PTSD, and depression if you were involved in a plane accident.

What Causes Most Aviation/Airplane Accidents in San Diego, California?

Nearly 80% of all airplane accidents happen during takeoff or descent. More specifically, almost all plane accidents happen during the first three minutes or final eight minutes of a flight. Only 11% happen while the plane is at cruising altitude.

So what goes wrong during this time frame to cause so many accidents? Any number of things can happen. 

According to a report prepared by Boeing, about 80% of plane accidents are caused by human error, including:

  • Inexperienced pilots
  • Distracted operators
  • Fatigued pilots
  • Pilot error
  • Pilots operating a plane under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Communication failures between pilots, air traffic control, and/or airport staff members
  • Failure to properly inspect and maintain the plane

Mechanical failure is another common cause of airplane crashes. Some of the leading causes of aviation/airplane accidents include:

  • Electrical malfunctions
  • Engine failure
  • Software problems
  • Defective aircraft or aircraft components
  • Failure to replace airplane components when necessary

Poor weather conditions can also contribute to the cause of a plane accident. Regardless of the general cause of the accident, you have to identify the responsible party to recover financial compensation. 

Multiple parties can share responsibility for a crash under California laws, including:

  • The pilot
  • The airline
  • Manufacturers of defective airline components
  • The company responsible for inspecting and maintaining the plane
  • Mechanics 
  • The owner of a private plane
  • Air traffic control operators
  • Government agencies

Were you injured in a plane accident near San Diego? Call our experienced San Diego aviation/airplane accident attorneys for a free case review today.

How Do I Prove Negligence After an Aviation/Airplane Accident in California? 

Airplane accidents are complex. Multiple factors can come into play–and multiple parties can share responsibility for the crash. Government authorities may conduct their own investigation into the accident. 

Our attorneys will also conduct a detailed investigation to establish liability. Often, that means proving negligence. Negligence is a legal term for carelessness. 

Proving negligence means showing:

While negligence is the legal theory that applies most often in personal injury cases, it’s also possible that a manufacturer may be strictly liable for your damages under California product liability laws.

Our experienced lawyers will examine accident reports, interview witnesses, and consult experts in aviation and airplane accidents to establish liability. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Aviation/Airplane Accident in California?

The statute of limitations gives accident victims a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. The amount of time you have depends on who you’re going to sue for damages. 

Most personal injury victims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in California. However, you may have less time if you’re suing the airline or government authority.

Contact a San Diego Aviation/Airplane Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Aviation accidents can have devastating consequences. If you or a family member were hurt, call an experienced San Diego aviation/airplane accident lawyer at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers today. Your initial consultation is always completely free of charge, so don’t hesitate to get the legal advice you deserve.

Our personal injury law firm in San Diego, CA also provides: