Helicopter Accident Attorneys

The versatility of helicopters makes them a popular mode of transportation among emergency service and law enforcement departments, and recreational tour and news services. Helicopters are also frequently used as executive, offshore, and military transport. Helicopters, however, are intricately complex machines that require high levels of design, construction, maintenance, and operation, making them vulnerable to accidents.

Generally, the U.S. helicopter accident rate is about 30 percent higher than the U.S. general aviation accident rate, and much higher than the U.S. Air Carrier rate. In 2009, there were 161 civil helicopter accidents in the U.S., 20 of them fatal, resulting in 45 fatalities. Civil helicopter accidents in 2009 also resulted in nearly 100 additional injuries, 42 of them serious.

Helicopter accidents are usually caused by operational error, mechanical malfunction, or electrical malfunction. Within these broad categories, however, there are a number of underlying factors that can contribute to the cause of an accident and greatly complicate helicopter accident investigations. Sadly, whatever the cause, helicopter accidents invariably turn out to have been preventable.

The suffering caused by the loss of, or serious injury to, a loved one cannot be reversed. A thorough investigation and careful application of liability laws, however, can hold the responsible party(ies) to account. Potential defendants in a personal injury or wrongful death case include the:

• Pilot
• Operating company
• Aircraft or component manufacturer
• Aircraft or component seller
• Flight school or instructor
• Owner, lessor, or lessee of the aircraft
• Overhauler
• Maintenance provider
• Air traffic control and/or individual control operator
• Flight chart publisher
• Operation or maintenance manual publisher
• Airfield, heliport or helicopter pad owner or operator
• Owner/lessor of obstruction (media tower, structure, etc.)
• Official weather provider

If you or a loved one has been involved in a helicopter accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

For an evaluation of your case, contact an attorney with the necessary resources and experience to represent you effectively.