Plane Crash Lawsuits
Airline liability for catastrophes is based on a hybrid form of negligence. Because airlines require
payment for service, they are considered professional "common carriers" and held to a higher standard of
care than an ordinary person operating an airplane or vehicle. As professionals, they owe customers this
high degree of care when maintaining, operating, and supervising all aspects of their transportation
services.
Similarly, taxis, busses, and cruise ships all offer public transportation with an expectation of profit,
and are subject to the common carrier standard of negligence. Consequently for plaintiffs, the burden of
proof in plane crash lawsuits is lower than in cases based on ordinary negligence.
Plane Crash Lawsuit Settlements
In plane crash lawsuits, personal injury lawyers generally have little difficulty establishing liability.
Airlines depend upon a public perception of safety for their continued existence. In most air catastrophes,
all passengers acquire similar causes of action based upon the conduct of the airline while responsible for
the safety of their passengers. Also, airline customers are permitted a reasonable expectation of safety
when entrusting total control of all aspects of operation to airline personnel.
The fact an accident happened, standing alone, does not establish liability. Nevertheless, because of the
inherently dangerous and complex nature of operating jet aircraft, airlines rarely attempt to justify
mass-death as an acceptable risk of air travel. The amount of settlement offers extended however, is an
entirely different matter.
See also: the standard of negligence in plan crash lawsuits - personal injury attorneys and claim settlements.
|
