Were you injured in a plane crash in Atlanta, GA? An airplane accident can have catastrophic consequences that affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. You shouldn’t have to deal with those consequences on your own, especially when the plane crash happened due to circumstances beyond your control. Our Atlanta plane crash lawyers are here to help you demand the compensation you need and deserve to move forward with your life.
Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC is a fierce advocate for catastrophically injured plane crash victims and grieving families in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. We’re award-winning trial lawyers with over 85 years of collective experience taking on powerful aviation companies, government agencies, and insurance carriers on behalf of clients like you. Our case results – including more than $600 million in damages – are a testament to the representation we provide.
There’s no charge for an initial case review. Contact our Atlanta law office at (404) 869-8600 to schedule a time to speak with our team about your plane crash case today.
How Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC Can Help Victims of Plane Crashes in Atlanta, GA
Even though you may have the right to pursue damages after an airplane crash in Atlanta, Georgia, getting compensation can be very challenging. Plane crashes are extraordinary events that require lengthy investigations to get to the bottom of why and how they happen. Those responsible for a plane crash tend to have a lot of resources at their disposal to fight legal claims from victims, as well as skilled defense attorneys ready to protect the company’s reputation and bottom line.
Choosing Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC puts top-rated, respected legal advocates with more than 85 years of combined experience in your corner. Unlike powerful aviation services, airlines, and insurance companies, we prioritize the rights and futures of plane crash victims in Atlanta. Our unwavering support of our clients and multi-million dollar case results have earned us top honors from Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and other leading legal organizations.
You can count on us to handle all aspects of your personal injury case. We will:
- Review the results of inquiries into the plane crash conducted by The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other regulatory agencies
- Conduct a thorough independent investigation into your airplane crash
- Gather key evidence needed to build a winning legal claim for damages, including black box data, video footage, eyewitness statements, aircraft maintenance logs, air traffic control logs and communication, photographs, property damage, and medical records
- Evaluate the extent of your damages and calculate what your plane crash case is worth
- Protect your rights by making sure that your legal claim complies with relevant state and/or federal law and procedural requirements
- Build a claim that clearly highlights another party’s liability and forces them to make a settlement offer that makes things right
- Offer the legal advice and guidance you need to make the best possible decisions about the future of your airplane accident case
- Fight for the best possible results at trial, if necessary
You’re probably overwhelmed in so many different ways right now, including financially. Hiring an Atlanta personal injury attorney to help you win compensation shouldn’t add to your stress. That’s why we represent plane crash victims in Atlanta on a contingency fee basis.
We’re so confident we can win your case that we’ll stake our fees on the results. We’ll only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Contact us to arrange a free consultation to learn more. Our team is available to take your call right now.
How Common Are Plane Crashes?
Plane crashes usually gain national attention, given their rarity and the devastation they tend to cause—especially when they involve commercial airliners. In reality, 99.9996 percent of all commercial airplane trips are completed without incident.
The odds of being involved in a commercial airplane accident are 1 in 260,256, including minor accidents on the runway or while a plane is taxiing.
The odds of dying in a commercial airplane crash are one in 816,545,929.
However, plane crashes involving private civil aircraft happen much more often. In fact, these account for the vast majority of airplane accidents in Georgia and across the United States. According to federal crash data published by the NTSB, there were 12,368 airplane accidents nationwide in 2021, including 2,269 fatalities. At least 3,817 people died as a result of these civil aviation accidents.
At least 328 of these airplane accidents happened in the state of Georgia. This included 78 fatal crashes in which 139 people were killed.
What Causes Most Airplane Accidents?
Federal research indicates that 80 percent of airplane accidents – including plane crashes – result from pilot error.
Some of the most critical pilot errors that cause plane crashes include:
- Loss of control in-flight
- Loss of control on the ground
- Abnormal runway contact
- Controlled flight into terrain
- Inadequate flight preparation
- Failing to maintain a safe speed
- Directional errors
- Failing to identify or avoid an object in the aircraft’s path
- Mismanaging fuel
- Flying through unstable terrain
- Poor decisions and judgment
- Operator distraction and inattention
- Drug and alcohol use
- Negligent use of flight controls
The remaining 20 percent of airplane accidents usually happen because of:
- Air traffic controller errors
- System failures
- Power failures
- Aircraft defects
- Engine failure
- Miscommunication between pilots and air traffic control operators
- Understaffed air traffic control centers
It’s essential to get to the bottom of why and how your plane crash happened. Our aviation accident attorneys in Atlanta, GA, will carefully investigate the circumstances of your case with the help of qualified experts–including aviation specialists, forensics professionals, and other professionals who can offer critical insight into the non-legal aspects of your case. Knowing the cause will allow our law firm to determine who’s at fault and, therefore, liable for your crash-related damages.
Who Could Be Liable For an Airplane Crash in Atlanta?
Under Georgia law, anyone who contributes to a plane crash can be liable for a victim’s injuries or death, including a:
- Pilot
- Aircraft owner
- Commercial airline company
- Government agency
- Air traffic control operator
- Aircraft mechanic
- Aircraft manufacturer
- Airport staff and employees
- Airplane passengers
We will work hard to ensure that anyone who played a part in your recent plane crash will be held accountable for your resulting injuries, costs, and suffering.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded to Atlanta Plane Crash Victims?
When you file a lawsuit after an airplane crash in Atlanta, you’ll have the right to seek two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are paid to help you deal with the calculable or projected costs of your plane crash, such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages are awarded to help you cope with the considerable trauma you’re bound to experience as a plane crash victim, such as:
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pain and suffering
- Embarrassment
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages might also be awarded to you if your plane crash lawsuit goes to trial. Pursuant to Georgia law, a jury is empowered to award these additional damages when there’s evidence of malice or gross negligence.
What Can I Do If I’ve Lost a Family Member in a Fatal Plane Crash?
If someone you love was recently killed in a fatal plane crash in Atlanta, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the airline or another responsible party.
In Georgia, a wrongful death claim can be successful if a surviving spouse, parent, or child can prove that their loved one’s death was the result of negligence, intentional misconduct, or a defective product.
Through a wrongful death claim, your family may be entitled to compensation for the “full value of the deceased’s life,” as well as costs related to their funeral and medical bills. This can help you get money for lost wages and financial support you would have received if they’d survived, as well as money to make up for the services, support, companionship, and training they offered your family.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Compensation After a Plane Crash in Atlanta?
Following a plane crash in Atlanta, Georgia, victims and families will typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages.
The statute of limitations begins to run on the date of the airplane crash or a victim’s death, whatever is later.
While there may be times when a different set of rules applies–such as cases involving government negligence or an injury to a child–you’ll lose the right to recover compensation if you miss the filing deadline.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Atlanta Plane Crash Lawyer
Call Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC if your life has recently been turned upside-down because of a plane crash in Atlanta, Georgia. You may have the right to demand compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, and harder-to-value trauma. Our experienced Atlanta plane crash lawyers can offer the experience and resources you’ll need to maximize your recovery.
Our law firm has recovered more than $600 million for injury victims and families in Georgia. Benefit from 85+ years of experience by calling our Atlanta law office today. There’s no charge for your initial case review.
