Aviation accidents are a common fear for a reason: An aircraft that crashes from the sky almost always leads to death or very serious injuries for the people on board. Statistically, it's true that you're safer in a commercial jet than you are in a car going to the airport. Unfortunately, smaller aircraft, including charter planes, work-related helicopters and personal planes, have a much higher accident rate, in part because they lack the safety mechanisms and resources of commercial airlines. And while crashes of commercial jets at cruising altitude are rare, accidents on board still happen, including slips and trips in tight quarters and attacks by angry or unreasonable passengers.

Bad decisions by pilots and crew can cause accidents, but they're far from the only cause. Orders to fly in unsuitable weather, mistakes by controllers on the ground, defective parts and bad maintenance are all sadly common causes of airplane and helicopter accidents. If this type of negligence has led to a death or serious injury for you or someone you care about, you have the right to hold the decision-makers legally responsible for your personal and financial losses with a Florida aviation accident lawsuit.

Aviation accidents often present legal and practical complexities. In addition to the serious and complex nature of the injuries they cause and questions of jurisdiction in flights that leave the state, it may take months to discover the causes of the accident. To bring a successful claim against an airline, pilot, or aviation company, you should consult with an experienced attorney who has the knowledge and resources to fully investigate what caused the aircraft to fail, crash or collide.

Cohn & Smith are Fort Lauderdale airplane accident attorneys who represent people in Florida who have been injured or have lost a loved one in an aviation accident. If your loved one's life was cut short or you suffered an injury because of a plane or helicopter accident, please contact us online or call us at 954-431-8100 or 305-624-9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.