Plane crash leaves 2 dead outside Gettysburg
For most people in Pennsylvania, the thought of flying in a plane is not frightening. Many people fly numerous times a year without incident, but there is always a risk of a plane crash, however small. Although most of the crashes we hear about are from small planes operated by recreational pilots, any kind of plane could go down, and the relatives of anyone killed can file wrongful death lawsuits.
In the case of a recent Pennsylvania airplane crash, it is unknown if a mother will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the pilot of plane that went down with her 17-year-old daughter aboard. The mother, who was the pilot’s live-in girlfriend, may not wish to file a lawsuit against her deceased boyfriend’s estate, but that doesn’t mean that she couldn’t if she didn’t want to.
When an airplane crashes, it is almost never the fault of the passenger or passengers aboard. They are not the ones operating the airplane, they are not the ones who trained the pilots and they are not the ones who built the airplanes. Most of the time, they are just passengers and, thus, they are generally devoid of responsibility in the event of a crash. What this also means is that the relatives of these crash victims can generally sue the parties responsible.
Just as with the driver of a car or a bus, it is the pilot’s responsibility to keep his or her passengers safe. If he or she is negligent, the pilot may be held liable for any injuries suffered by his or her passengers.
While most people don’t want to consider the possibility of losing a loved one in a plane crash, if it does happen, it is important to work with a lawyer experienced in aviation accidents who can provide advice on what to do next.
Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer, “Coroner identifies 2 victims of Pa. plane crash,” Jan. 3, 2013