Practice Areas

Aviation Crashes

The personal injury lawyers at Brett & Coats, PLLC are prepared to help their aviation accident clients receive prompt, fair and just compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of pilots and aircraft manufacturers. We are currently representing all the families of the passengers from the largest domestic aircraft accident of 2007.

We understand that as a relative of an aviation accident victim you may be overwhelmed and suffering from emotional, physical and financial burdens. It may be difficult for you to defend your own rights. While monetary compensation cannot change the past, it can help families worry less about the economic side of their future.

We practice throughout Washington State and have offices in Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane, and Vancouver.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in 2007 there were 62 reported accidents with 43 fatalities involving on-demand Part 135 (commercial) operations. Those include airplanes with 10 seats or fewer which may serve as air taxies, air tours, emergency medical service vehicles and charters.

For regularly scheduled commuter Part 135 operations, there were only 3 reported accidents, all nonfatal. The NTSB reported 26 nonfatal crashes and 1 fatality for the larger Part 121 operations, which include aircrafts with more than 10 seats.

The NTSB researched the causes of aviation accidents, choosing a 10-year period from 1993 to 2003. For most of the 10-year period, human error or personnel were cited as a cause or factor in 70 percent to 80 percent of all Part 121 accidents, followed by environment-related causes and by aircraft-related causes.

In part 135 operations, pilot error was found to be the highest contributing factor of the accidents. In both type of planes, the greatest number of accidents occurred during landings.

If you have been injured in an airplane or helicopter accident or have lost someone to an aviation-related death, Brett & Coats’ attorneys can help you receive prompt, fair and just compensation for medical costs, future medical expenses, lost income, future loss of earning capacity, as well as for general damages for pain and suffering. Our attorneys will:

• Prove any negligence on the part of the pilot or others involved. Negligence may include reckless flying, incomplete certifications or disregard of proper take off and landing procedures.
• Establish any liability for defective aircraft parts or design problems and hold the manufacturer accountable for compensation.
• Negotiate a prompt, fair and just settlement.

While insurance is designed to address an accident victim’s economic issues, it is important to remember that insurance companies are in business to maximize their profits. The job of the insurance adjuster is to settle the claim for the lowest possible payment. Insurance companies have a ready team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose focus is to minimize the amount of money paid to aviation accident victims. Should you choose not to be represented by a qualified attorney, you will face the considerable resources of a powerful insurance company.

At Brett & Coats, PLLC, our attorneys give proactive attention to the needs of each client. We help by coordinating medical payments, organizing documentation and supporting each client through the sometimes difficult claims process. Since insurance companies know our firm’s determination to litigate cases when a settlement offer is inadequate, we are usually able to resolve most personal injury claims through negotiation.

Call the attorneys at Brett & Coats, PLLC today at 1-800-925-1875, or contact us via our online form.