When you or a loved one suffered an injury or died in an aviation accident, the physical, emotional, and financial toll can overwhelm you. At Cory Watson Attorneys, our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers understand the issues involved in these complicated cases, and we are committed to fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve.
With over 40 years of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases, we have the knowledge, resources, and proven track record to take on even the most challenging aviation accident claims.
Our firm has recovered over three billion dollars in client settlements and verdicts. We are not afraid to go up against major airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and their insurance companies to recover the compensation you deserve.
Birmingham Aviation Accident Guide
- Why Choose Cory Watson Attorneys?
- Aviation Accidents We Handle?
- Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
- Common Injuries from Aviation Accidents
- Damages in Aviation Accident Cases
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact a Birmingham Aviation Accident Lawyer
Why Choose Cory Watson Attorneys?
At Cory Watson Attorneys, we are advocates for justice. Our team commits to providing personalized attention and skilled client service throughout the legal process. We understand the challenges you face, and we will be by your side every step of the way.
Backed by a team of skilled litigators, investigators, and support staff, we have the resources to take on even the most formidable opponents. Our firm has received national recognition for our achievements. Our attorneys have assumed leadership roles in high-profile aviation accident cases.
Aviation Accidents We Handle?
Our Birmingham aviation accident attorneys represent clients involved in aviation accidents, including:
For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving Birmingham, call 877-562-0000
Commercial Airline Crashes
Major commercial airline disasters can result in catastrophic injuries and loss of life for passengers and crew members. These accidents are often highly complex.
They involve potential issues with:
- Pilot error
- Air traffic control negligence
- Defective aircraft components
- Federal aviation regulation violations
Our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers have the experience to investigate all potential causes and liable parties in commercial airline crash cases.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 877-562-0000
Private Plane Crashes
General aviation accidents involving private planes, air tours, air taxis, and corporate jets pose unique challenges. We must examine factors like pilot qualifications, maintenance issues, manufacturing defects, and weather conditions.
Our attorneys are well-versed in private and general aviation laws and regulations. We leverage aviation professionals to analyze flight data and determine faults.
Contact our Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers today
Helicopter Crashes
Helicopter crashes can occur due to:
- Mechanical failures
- Loss of engine power
- Pilot misjudgments
- Hazardous weather
Whether involving tour helicopters, air ambulances, or private choppers, these accidents frequently result in severe burn injuries, spinal cord trauma, and fatalities. Our team has tackled many high-profile helicopter crash cases on behalf of injured victims and families.
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Air Ambulance Crashes
When an air ambulance goes down, the consequences are truly devastating. Patients placed in these crafts are already in a fragile medical state. An air ambulance crash can exacerbate existing injuries or create new, catastrophic harm.
Our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers understand these life-changing effects and fight tirelessly for those impacted.
Military Aircraft Accidents
Military personnel making the ultimate sacrifice for our country face risk not just from enemy fire but also due to aircraft accidents.
We represent service members injured in military plane and helicopter crashes caused by defective parts, maintenance lapses, pilot errors, and more. Families who lose loved ones also deserve justice.
Airport Premises Liability Cases
Airports must maintain safe premises for employees, crew members, and passengers. When they fail to uphold this duty, hazardous conditions like inadequate lighting, poor signage, unmaintained pavements, or other dangers can contribute to injuries and fatalities. Our lawyers investigate airport premises cases thoroughly.
FAA Violations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exists to promote aviation safety through regulations and standards.
When airlines, pilots, mechanics, or other parties violate FAA rules, it can lead to disastrous outcomes. We hold those who disregard FAA regulations accountable for the harm they cause.
Our team will thoroughly investigate the cause and identify all liable parties, no matter the circumstances surrounding your aviation accident. We have access to industry professionals, aircraft engineers, and accident reconstructionists who can provide insights into these cases.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
While aviation accidents can occur due to various reasons, some of the most common causes include:
Pilot Error
Pilots have an immense responsibility to operate aircraft safely and follow proper procedures. However, errors in judgment, failure to follow protocols, loss of situational awareness, fatigue, and pilot intoxication or impairment can all lead to catastrophic consequences.
Our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers investigate cases where pilot negligence played a role, including inadequate training by the airline.
Defective Aircraft Parts or Design
From critical flight systems to engines and structural components, an aircraft’s parts must be designed and manufactured to the highest standards. Defective parts due to poor design, faulty materials, or lack of quality control can cause total system failures in flight.
We pursue claims against aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and anyone involved in producing dangerously defective parts.
Maintenance Negligence
Rigorous maintenance is necessary for aviation safety. However, issues like improper repairs, failure to follow service bulletins, using uncertified parts, or simply neglecting required maintenance can have disastrous results.
Our attorneys hold maintenance companies, repair stations, and airlines accountable when sloppy or incompetent upkeep leads to preventable tragedies.
Air Traffic Controller Negligence
Air traffic controllers play a key role in coordinating safe aircraft operations.
Negligence like failing to properly monitor and direct pilots, providing incorrect guidance, or mishandling communications between multiple aircraft can set the stage for mid-air collisions or other fatal incidents. We fight for justice when air traffic control errors cause harm.
Inclement Weather Conditions
While pilots undergo training to operate in various weather situations, extreme weather events like heavy turbulence, strong wind shear, ice accumulation, or severely limited visibility can present overwhelming challenges.
We investigate if failures to adequately de-ice, avoid hazardous weather, or implement safety protocols contributed to an accident.
Fuel Mismanagement
Running out of fuel is one of the most inexcusable causes of aviation accidents. However, fuel miscalculations by pilots or ground crews, fuel leaks or contamination, or sensor/gauge failures can all lead to the catastrophic loss of engine power during flight. Our lawyers identify the negligent parties for these preventable tragedies.
FAA Regulation Violations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets rules and standards for safe aviation operations that all parties must follow. Willfully violating FAA regulations on pilot qualifications, aircraft maintenance, maximum flight durations, and more demonstrates a blatant disregard for passenger safety that can enable disasters.
Our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers will work tirelessly to uncover the truth and hold negligent parties accountable for their actions.
Common Injuries from Aviation Accidents?
Taylor Pruett, Associate Attorney
The forces involved in aviation accidents often result in severe injuries for victims who survive. Some of the most traumatic injuries our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers have seen include:
Head and Brain Injuries
Aviation accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries from blunt force trauma, oxygen deprivation, or penetrating wounds. These injuries can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, personality changes, paralysis, and other permanent disabilities.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The extreme forces in a plane or helicopter crash frequently result in spinal cord injuries that can cause full or partial paralysis. Victims may face paraplegia or quadriplegia, requiring a lifetime of medical care and personal assistance.
Burn Injuries
Aviation fuel fires and explosions can cause catastrophic burn injuries over large portions of the body. Severe burns require intensive treatment and skin graft surgeries. They leave victims vulnerable to infections, disfigurement, and permanent nerve damage.
Crushing Injuries
The sheer force and debris involved when an aircraft impacts the ground can cause horrific crushing injuries, including internal organ damage, shattered bones, amputations, and other crushing trauma.
Post-Traumatic Stress
Even for those who survive without physical injuries, the psychological trauma of being involved in a plane or helicopter disaster can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
Our Birmingham attorneys understand the obstacles and lifetime challenges these terrible injuries create. We fight to secure full compensation for all medical care, assistive services, home accommodations, lost quality of life, and other damages aviation accident victims and families face.
Damages in Aviation Accident Cases
Injuries sustained in aviation accidents can be catastrophic. Our firm understands the impact these accidents can have on individuals and families. We fight to secure compensation for:
Medical Expenses
Aviation accident injuries often require extensive medical treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitative care, medical equipment, and long-term care assistance.
Our Birmingham aviation accident lawyers fight to recover compensation for all related past and future medical expenses. We consult medical professionals to fully calculate the lifetime costs of injuries.
Lost Income
Serious injuries inevitably cause victims to miss work for an extended period. This results in lost income, which creates financial hardship for the entire family. We ensure our clients receive compensation for all missed paychecks, bonuses, benefits, and other income losses caused by their injuries from the aviation accident.
Future Earnings
For those who suffer permanent disabilities, the impact on future earning capacity and lost career opportunities can be devastating.
Our attorneys document projected lifetime earnings and factor in raises, promotions, and other future income sources the victim would have reasonably received but for their injuries. We secure maximum compensation for this loss.
Pain and Suffering
The physical pain and emotional trauma from catastrophic aviation injuries can be excruciating and long-lasting. Our lawyers compile evidence of all the suffering our clients have endured and are still facing in the future. We pursue substantial pain and suffering damages for this extremely difficult reality.
Emotional Distress
Beyond the physical injuries, aviation accident survivors and their families often struggle with significant emotional distress like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and an overall loss of enjoyment of life.
These psychological damages may require professional treatment and counseling. Our firm demands compensation for this emotional toll as well.
Wrongful Death
When aviation negligence results in tragic deaths, our lawyers represent the surviving family members who have suffered unimaginable loss and grief. We fight to recover wrongful death damages for loss of companionship, income, guidance, and more.
While no amount can compensate for such an unbearable loss, we ensure families receive the compensation they deserve.
No matter what damages you or your loved ones have suffered, the Birmingham aviation accident attorneys at Cory Watson Attorneys will assess the full scope of losses. We tie every damage to the responsible parties’ negligence to maximize the compensation we demand on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an aviation accident lawsuit?
In Alabama, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the accident or death. Consult an attorney before time runs out.
Do I have a case if the accident was caused by mechanical failure?
Absolutely. If the accident resulted from a defective aircraft part, faulty design, or improper maintenance, the manufacturers, suppliers, repair stations, or airlines may be liable through a product liability claim.
What kinds of professionals are involved in an aviation case?
Our Birmingham aviation accident attorneys frequently consult and retain industry professionals like air crash investigators, aeronautical engineers, aviation mechanics, air traffic control specialists, meteorologists, and more to analyze evidence and testimony.
How much does it cost to hire an aviation accident lawyer?
Our aviation accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs. Our fees are a percentage of the compensation we recover for you, and we only get paid if we win your case.
How long do aviation accident cases take to resolve?
Each case is unique. However, aviation accident litigation tends to be very complex and time-consuming, given the technical nature and extent of damages.
While some may settle in one to two years, others can take considerably longer if going to trial is necessary. We aim to resolve your case as efficiently as possible to obtain maximum compensation.
Let our team of Birmingham aviation accident lawyers review the specifics of your situation during a free, no-obligation consultation. We are ready to be your strong legal advocate during this difficult time.
Contact a Birmingham Aviation Accident Lawyer
Ernest Cory, Birmingham Aviation Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been affected by an aviation accident, do not hesitate to contact our Birmingham personal injury attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation.
We are here to listen, answer your questions, and guide your understanding of your legal options. Trust Cory Watson Attorneys to be your voice and fight for the justice you deserve. Call us today at (205) 328-2200.
Birmingham Office Location
2131 Magnolia Ave s.
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 850-1242
Call or text 877-562-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form