Find Aviation Attorney By Laura Evans
Aviation law is a very complex field that can involve interacting with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The FAA is part of the United States Department of Transportation, and has the ability to issue and enforce regulations relating to aviation as a whole. The NTSB is an independent federal agency that does not have the ability to issue or enforce regulations. One purpose of the NTSB is to investigate aviation accidents as well as other types of transportation vehicle accidents. The NTSB also makes safety recommendations to help prevent airline accidents from occurring in the future.
Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act
If one of your family members has been involved in a commercial airline accident, the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act prevents an aviation attorney from soliciting your business without your consent, insurance companies from contacting you, or attorneys for the airlines from contacting you for one month after the accident. If an aviation lawyer contacts you, whether the lawyer is soliciting your business or representing the airline, you can report the lawyer to your state bar association.
Liability
Should there be an accident involving an airplane, an aviation attorney can help you determine who is liable. Since the NTSB conclusions about the causes of the accident are generally not admissible in court, your aviation lawyer will have to conduct an “independent” investigation while still protecting your rights. Your aviation lawyer will need to interview witnesses and make sure that the wreckage, radar readings, and air traffic control recordings are all preserved. Depending on the type of accident, liability might be assessed to the manufacturer of the airplane, the suppliers of replacement parts, or the airline itself. Many times there are multiple causes for an accident, such as a combination of pilot error and defective parts. There might be criminal charges involved as well, if it is found that the pilot was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if the airlines was illegally transporting controlled or hazardous substances. Individual state laws vary, but damages could include lost wages, past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, and punitive damages.
If you have been involved in an airline accident, it is very important to hire a competent aviation attorney since the law is very complex and there are potentially so many agencies and companies involved. An aviation attorney can also help guide you through related legal issues during a very difficult time.
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Chicago, IL 60610
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121 Chanlon Road
New Providence, NJ 07974
800-526-4902 ext. 8001