Helicopter Accident Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Helicopters are convenient and adaptable. They can take off and land vertically and they do not need a runway. These and many other characteristics make their private and public use commonplace. People use helicopters for a variety of purposes: corporate and personal travel, tourist trips, recreation, military landing, medical transport, transportation, construction, emergencies, weather investigation, firefighting, air ambulances, crop spraying, unmanned aerial vehicles, cattle mustering, game counting, search and rescue, and a variety of other jobs that require the special capabilities of the helicopter. The police use them to monitor traffic, catch speeders and even to detect marijuana grow operations.
Helicopters are uniquely designed; some of them are very small and ultra light. This creates dangers associated with helicopter operation. The National Transportation Safety Board reports that most accidents happen when helicopters are engaged in maneuvers that are unique to their capabilities, such as hovering or carrying external loads. In 2008, there were 140 civil helicopter accidents in the United States. 29 of them were fatal, resulting in 75 deaths. 28 out of the total number of helicopter crash survivors sustained serious bodily injuries.
What Causes Helicopter Crashes?
There are three major causes of helicopter crashes: Mechanical malfunction, electrical malfunction and operational error.
1) Mechanical Malfunction occurs when a component fails or malfunctions. Defects in manufacture and design responsible for malfunctioning may include:
- Improper design
- Inadequate testing
- Faulty manufacture
- Inadequate quality control
- Inadequate operational monitoring
- Improper use
- Poor maintenance
- Inadequate lubrication or cooling
- Improper installation
2) The electrical Malfunction occurs when an electrical short occurs or an electrical component fails to function as intended. Inadequate design, testing, quality control and operational monitoring of an electrical component can all cause a crash.
3) Operational Error is human error. Operational error can occur in flight planning, actual conduct of the flight, in training or in maintenance. The following is a list of some causes of helicopter crashes due to human error:
- Failure to operate the aircraft in accordance with the aircraft's operational limitations;
- Operating the aircraft in unsafe environmental conditions;
- Failing to properly plan the flight;
- Improper maintenance;
- Improper training of flight and maintenance personnel;
- Faulty manuals, training guides, checklists and operational procedures;
- Faulty oversight, auditing and review procedures.
In light of these complex technical causes, helicopter crash attorneys with the resources and experience to navigate the investigation and the development of the case are necessary in order to litigate a case. The helicopter crash lawyers at the Lassen Law Firm have extensive resources to litigate these complex cases. When handling a personal injury case, survival or wrongful death action, we work with investigators, accident reconstructionists and technical experts in order to correctly identify the cause of the accident. If an accident occurred due to negligence or a defective product or component/part, survivors of an accident or families of those who died in a crash may file a lawsuit against the responsible parties in order to recover compensation.
Personal Injury Lawyer Pennsylvania
Helicopter accidents are emotionally wrenching for everyone involved. If you have lost a loved one in a crash, you deserve to know the truth about the cause, and whether anything could have been done to prevent it The Lassen Law Firm can help you get the answers you are looking for. At the Lassen Law Firm, we are a team of experienced civil trial attorneys who will litigate your case aggressively to ensure you recover the highest money damage award available to you under the law. Call the Lassen Law Firm now to discuss your case.
The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.
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Authored by: Christian Lassen