The risk of an airplane accident increases as air traffic is expected to double over the next 20 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA.

Air traffic is generally regarded as a safe means of transportation. However, when airplane accidents occur, it usually results in horrifying fatalities. Less serious accidents that usually involve private aircrafts occur more frequently than many people realize as most of these accidents are unreported.

Who is Liable?

In aviation accidents, there may be one or more parties who are liable for such an incident, depending on the cause. Those parties who may be liable are the following:

?Operator of the aircraft

?Owner of the aircraft

?Maintenance suppliers

?Manufacturers

?Federal government

Aviation Accident Law

Aviation accident law covers both general aviation and major air carrier accidents.

General aviation includes the following:

?Small plans

?Large business jets

?Charter flights

?Pleasure crafts

?Helicopters

?Hang gliders

Airplane Accident: What are the Causes?

Here are some of the most common causes of general aviation and major air carrier accidents:

?Faulty equipment

?Pilot error

?Design or structural problems

?Violations of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations

?Negligence of Federal Air Traffic Controllers

?Negligence of Flight Service Station employees

?Negligence in the selection of a carrier of a third party

The NTSB and FAA

There are two federal agencies that control air travel and investigate every commercial and general aviation accidents in the U.S., these are the National Transportation Safety Board or NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the one responsible for looking into and investigating every civil aviation accident. To prevent any future accidents, the NTSB also recommends safety standards to be followed.

The Federal Aviation Administration sets safety standards for flight operations, pilot conduct, and aircraft manufacturers. They also enforce FAA regulations through criminal or civil penalties.

Damages

The usual categories of damages that are recoverable include the following:

?Loss of income

?Past and future medical expenses

?Loss of earning capacity

?Past and future pain and suffering

?Emotional distress

?Loss of consortium (for married couples only)

?Punitive damages

Recoverable damages and the proof required for every category vary depending on the jurisdiction. In addition, there are many states that impose "caps" on some categories of damages, thus, limiting a potential recovery.

Having expert aviation lawyers by your side is very much advisable as they can aid you in choosing the best jurisdiction. They will also properly present your damages to make sure that you are justly compensated for your injuries.

Aviation Litigation

Aviation litigations are much complex as there are many different liability theories under international law, federal law, and state law. Also, there are various issues that may affect the result of aviation litigation, including:

?Potential defendants

?Questions of venue

?Aviation engineering

?Industry standards

?Federal government rules and regulations

If you have been injured or one of your family members died in an airplane accident, it is very important to hire an experienced lawyer to provide legal assistance to protect your rights.