If you were injured in a helicopter accident, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Helicopter Accident 30 miles North of San Antonio Kills Two People
According to a Kens5 News report, two people were killed in a helicopter accident in the Spring Branch and Bulverde area on Monday.
The Comal County’s Sherrif Office reported the accident occurred at around 3:15 p.m. on the 600 block of Lantana Ridge on Monday, April 29th. The area is a residential street just east of U.S. 281 in the Spring Branch/Bulverde area in Comal County. Two unidentified people were found dead at the crash site. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash under the National Transportation Safety Board. They have not yet given a cause for the crash but identified the helicopter as an amateur build known as a Hummingbird 260. Hummingbird 260s are experimental single-engine helicopter kits sold by Vertical Aviation Technologies that take roughly 1,200 hours to construct with prefabricated parts.
Did You Know?
There were 1,024 fatal and nonfatal general aviation accidents in the United States in 2020.
Helicopter Accidents in Texas: Causes, Common Injuries, and Legal Options
Aviation accidents are much less common than auto accidents in Texas, but they still happen. Unfortunately, people can experience extreme injuries and are often tragically killed in helicopter accidents when they occur.
The more you understand about what to do after a helicopter accident injury, the better your chances of securing just compensation.
What Causes Helicopter Accidents?
Helicopters present unique risks that are not experienced on airplane flights. Helicopters have more moving parts and fly low to the ground, making them 35 times more likely to crash than airplanes for every hour of flight time.
The most common causes of helicopter accidents include:
- Pilot error,
- Defective parts,
- Improper maintenance,
- Inadequate training,
- Collision with terrain, buildings, and obstacles.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Helicopter Accidents?
Airplanes are more strictly regulated and provide more safety features for passengers than helicopters despite the increased risk of helicopter crashes. Common injuries include:
- Bone fractures,
- TBI,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Paralysis,
- Lacerations,
- Scarring,
- And severe burns.
Legal Options After a Helicopter Crash
For a helicopter accident injury, you can potentially recover economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic Damages — Economic damages include things like medical bills, ambulance costs, property damage, lost work, and other monetary losses.
- Non-economic Damages — Non-economic damages are things like mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other losses that are not necessarily monetary.
- Punitive Damages — Punitive damages are rare and are used to punish defendants for acting with gross negligence, which is essentially reckless disregard for human life.
Multiple parties may share fault for a helicopter accident, including:
- The Pilot,
- The Parts Manufacturer,
- The Helicopter Owner,
- Helicopter Tour Operators,
- And Maintenance Companies.
Extensive investigations and complicated legal matters will follow a helicopter accident. Fortunately, you have the right to secure legal representation for helicopter accident injuries in Texas.
Injured in a Helicopter Crash in Texas? Call Carabin Shaw Aviation Accident Attorneys.
You may be entitled to significant compensation if you were injured or lost a loved one in a helicopter accident. We can help you find out for free.
Carabin Shaw has represented those injured in aviation accidents across Texas for more than 30 years. We’re a trusted name in San Antonio because we put our clients first. Call the team that cares and get your legal questions answered at 800-862-1260, or use the live chat to schedule your free case evaluation. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.
²General Aviation Accident Statistics