Maryland Accident Law Blog

Maj. Stephen Stilwell, an air force pilot, is suing plane manufacturer Boeing over the F-15C airplane accident that left him disfigured and with debilitating shoulder injuries. The plane was built by defense contractor McDonald Douglas, which was purchased by Boeing Corp.

In his personal injury lawsuit, Stilwell says that the plane started “shaking violently” during a routine training mission. He ejected himself from the plane and was seriously injured when he was struck by parts of the plane, which had started to disintegrate.

According to air force investigators, there were cracks in the aircraft parts that caused the failure. These parts were installed without implementation of the correct safety measures.

After the plane crash, all of the F-15’s were grounded for inspection, with several of them staying there after similar cracks were discovered.

Stilwell says the accident has affected his ability to work as a civilian/military aircraft pilot. Stilwell contends that Boeing should have known that its F-15C was a dangerous/defective product that was susceptible to breaking apart during flight.

Product manufacturers, sellers, and distributors are responsible for making sure that their products will not cause harm to any users. Grounds for a products liability lawsuit can include:

Negligence: Failure to act with reasonable care to make sure that a product is safe for use.

Strict Liability: If a person is injured by a product, the manufacturer can be held liable even if he or she did not act negligently.

Misrepresentation: Marketing, promoting, or presenting a product in a manner that misrepresents the actual safety or risks that come with using a product.

Breach of Warranty: The manufacturer is in breach of the warranty that accompanies its product.

If you are injured on the job by a defective product, you usually will not be able to sue your employer, but you can file third party lawsuits against other liable parties, such as the manufacturer or distributor of the product. You may also be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits from your employer’s insurer.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., one of our products liability lawyers would be happy to speak with you.

Pilot hurt in jet breakup sues Boeing, CNN.com, March 25, 2008

Related Web Resources:

The Boeing Company

Plane Crash Info

Continue reading "Pilot Sues Boeing For Personal Injuries From F-15C Breakup Jet Accident" »

Early reports from the August 9 plane crash on Lawrence Hayden Road in Hollywood, Maryland, say that the Piper PA-22-160 immediately began experiencing mechanical difficulties shortly after takeoff. The single engine fixed wing aircraft was unable to go back and land at the airport, and the pilot had to emergency land the plane in an open field.

Pilot Gerald Nance, his son Gerald Nance, Jr., and his mother Agnes Nance were able to get out of the plane before it became enveloped in flames. Mrs. Nance was taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where she later died from her injuries.

The plane did not hit any buildings or homes as it was landing.

Aviation accident law oversees plane crash accidents involving large air carriers and airlines, helicopters, small planes, private jets, corporate planes, charter flights, and pleasure aircrafts.

Some common causes of plane crashes include:

• Faulty equipment
• Mechanical failures
• Pilot error
• Negligence by a third party, whether the person who chose a particular carrier or any organization or person connected to the running, maintenance, design, or manufacture of the plane
• FAA violations
• Negligence by the air traffic controller

Plane crashes often result in fatalities, and the people who do survive a plane crash—often with serious injuries—are very fortunate.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a plane crash that was caused because another party was negligent or because of a product defect, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one in a plane crash.

The airline company, the pilot, the manufacturer of the plane, maintenance operators, plane designers, and the U.S. government are just some of the parties that could be held liable—depending on the cause and circumstances surrounding a plane crash.

A good personal injury attorney will understand the different standards, rules, and laws involving airplanes and the different kinds of personal injury claims that can be brought. He or she can sort through the evidence and determine who can be held liable for your injuries and accident.

Two Hurt and One Killed in Plane Crash, Firehouse.com, August 16, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Plane Accidents Overview, Justia

Aviation Safety Network

Recent Accidents, Planecrashinfo.com

Continue reading "Preliminary Reports Say Plane Crash In Hollywood, Maryland Was Caused by Mechanical Problems " »

On an open field on Maryland’s Eastern Shore on April 4, three people died when their small plane crashed during a thunderstorm. The victims were Gregory Doppke, a heating and cooling contractor and the plane’s pilot, his business partner Richard Lomas, and their friend Andrew Young. Lomas and Doppke ran ABM Air Conditioning &Heating. All three men had been riding in Doppke’s twin-engine Piper PA-30 and were headed from Westchester County Airport to Pinehurst, North Carolina where they were meeting friends for a golf outing. Their plane crashed close to the Choptank River, south of Trappe, Maryland.

The FAA says the investigation could take weeks.

There can be different causes for plane crashes, including pilot negligence or errors, faulty equipment, and improper maintenance. Plane crashes often result in fatalities.

Some other causes of an aviation accident:

• Unsafe weather conditions
• FAA regulation violations
• Problems in the structure or design of a plane
• Federal Air traffic controller negligence
• Negligence in the aircraft’s fueling

There may be more than one liable party deemed responsible for a plane crash, and survivors of a plane crash who have been injured should be sure to file a claim to make sure that they are financially compensated for their loss, pain, and suffering. Family members who have lost a loved one in a plane crash should also speak with a lawyer to see about filing a wrongful death claim.

There are many laws and regulations governing aviation accidents, which is why you should speak to a personal injury law firm who is experienced in handling plane accident cases.

Continue reading "On Maryland's Eastern Shore, Three People On A Golf Outing Are Killed In Plane Crash " »