{"id":353422,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/aviation-accidents-overview.html"},"modified":"2025-08-19T18:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T23:08:09","slug":"aviation-accidents-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/aviation-accidents-overview.html","title":{"rendered":"Aviation Accidents Legal Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Aviation Accidents Legal Overview<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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As air traffic increases, so does the risk of passengers suffering an aviation accident. But many factors can cause airplane crashes and flight injuries. The facts of a case can affect who is liable for the consequences in a personal injury claim.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, air traffic is a safe means of transportation. But when aviation accidents\u00a0occur, they often result in deaths. Smaller, less serious accidents involving private aircraft happen more often than people realize because many are not reported in the media.<\/p>\n

This article offers a basic overview of how aviation laws and safety regulations work to prevent accidents. It also explains what happens when they fail and an accident occurs, including the victim’s right to start a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

If you lost a loved one in a plane crash or suffered a\u00a0travel injury<\/a>, review your options with a personal injury lawyer<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Causes of Plane Crashes and Helicopter Crashes<\/h2>\n

Aviation accident law covers major air carriers and general aviation airplane accidents<\/a>. General aviation is all non-commercial aircraft. It includes small planes, large business jets, charter flights, pleasure crafts, helicopters, and hang gliders.<\/p>\n

The most common causes of major carrier and general aviation accidents include:<\/p>\n