AVIATION

Aviation accidents are among the highest profile of disaster incidents. Aviation crashes, including airplane or helicopter collisions or crashes can cause devastating injury. Even low profile accidents involving privately owned aircraft are regularly reported throughout the United States. More information about Aviation safety and accident statistics can be found at AirSafe.com.

While not all aviation accidents lead to catastrophic aircraft failures or death, all aviation accidents involve complex and unique issues. For example, if an airline crash involves a common carrier, the right to recover damages will be greatly affected by whether the flight was domestic or international. International flights limit damages unless the injured party can prove "willful misconduct" on the part of the airline company. Lawyers on behalf of the bombing of a Pan American flight over Lockerbie, Scotland were able to successfully argue that such limitations did not apply because Pan American willfully failed to comply with anti-terrorist security procedures.

Domestic flights do not have such limitations on compensation because international treaties do not apply to them. On the other hand a number of state and federal cases and statutes will affect numerous legal decisions regarding how to best protect an injured party's claim. These cases and statutes will affect decisions such as what Court will present the most favorable forum for the claim.

Of course, the legal analysis is only part of the complex issues raised by an aviation accident. Airplanes and helicopters are some of the most sophisticated machinery on earth. The investigation into the failure of even the most simplistic flying machines requires a specialized understanding of avionics, aircraft design, inspection protocols and maintenance procedures, and pilot responsibilities. Aviation accidents can be caused by pilot error, air traffic control error, mechanical failure, sabotage, and even miscalculations by pilots or others regarding weather or fuel. The liability for such incidents can involve not only the pilot or aircraft owner, but also the airport, the mechanics, and a multitude of manufactures.

The attorneys at LaMarca & Landry, P.C. have handled a number of general aviation cases involving injuries, death and property damage from the crashes of

• Commercial aircraft
• Private/corporate jets
• Single and twin-engine private planes
• Helicopters.

Both Gregory W. Landry and George A. LaMarca are members of the Lawyers-Pilots Bar Association, and Gregory W. Landry is a licensed private pilot with both VFR and IFR experience. They are each well-versed and familiar with the technical language used by the industry and this knowledge assists them in the investigation of aviation incidents. This knowledge, together with their aviation case experience, directly assists them in developing questions for pilots, flight control personnel, aircraft mechanics and manufacturers.