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South Florida Airplane Accident Lawyer, Florida Attorney Plane
Accident Attorneys
South Florida airplane accident Lawyer David I. Fuchs has over
17 years of experience in successfully representing airplane
accident victims, their families and friends who have died or
sustained and suffered serious bodily injuries because of the
negligence of an aircraft carrier, the flight crew, maintenance
personnel, the Federal Aviation Administration or air traffic
controllers.
Planes are among the safest mode of transportation available
today. While the percentages of death and serious injury caused by
airplane accidents is small compared to other types of injury
accidents, the results are almost always devastating to the
families of the victims. Airline accidents frequently involve mass
casualties and are mostly caused by mechanical problems or pilot
error. The leading causes of commercial airline accidents include
engine failures, controlled flight into terrain, approach and
landing, loss of control, runway incursions, and weather (including
turbulence). Private or "general" aviation plane or helicopter
accidents find their causes in controlled flight into terrain,
weather, pilot decision-making, loss of control, and runway
incursions.
Due to the events of September 11, 2001 there have been a
variety of changes in the air travel in the U.S. and elsewhere in
the world. The following are safety tips to keep mind for airplane
travel:
- Fly on Nonstop Routings
Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent, and
landing phase of flight so flying nonstop would reduce exposure to
these most accident prone phases of flight.
- Choose Larger Aircraft
Currently, aircraft with more than 30 passenger seats were all
designed and certified under the strictest regulations. Also, in
the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a
better opportunity for passenger survival.
- Pay Attention to the Preflight Briefing
Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the
closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft
that you fly on and seat you are in.
- Keep the Overhead Storage Bin Free of Heavy
Articles
Overhead storage bins may not be able to hold very heavy objects
during turbulence, so if you or another passenger have trouble
lifting an article into the bin, have it stored elsewhere.
- Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened While You are Seated
Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra
protection you might need if the plane hits unexpected
turbulence.
- Listen to the Flight Attendants
The primary reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for
safety, so if one of them asks you to do something like fasten your
seat belts, do it first and ask questions later.
- Don't Bring Any Hazardous Material
There are rather long lists of hazardous materials that are not
allowed, but common sense should tell you that you shouldn't bring
gasoline, corrosives, poisonous gases, and other such items on the
aircraft unless they were allowed by the airline and shipped in a
proper container.
- Let the Flight Attendant Pour Your Hot Drinks
Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or
tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour
the drink and hand it too you.
- Don't Drink Too Much
The atmosphere in an airliner cabin is pressurized to about the
same altitude as Denver, so any alcohol you consume will affect you
more strongly than at sea level. Moderation is a good policy at any
altitude.
- Keep Your Wits About You
In the unlikely event that you are involved in an emergency
situation such as a precautionary emergency evacuation, follow the
directions of the flight attendants and flight crew and exit the
aircraft as quickly as possible.
Apart from a crash, turbulence is a significant cause of in
flight injuries. Turbulence happens and much of the time it is
unpredictable. And when it does happen, adults and children who are
not buckled up can be seriously injured. According to the FAA, the
majority of turbulence-related injuries and deaths occur when the
seat belt sign is on. The following advice should keep you from
becoming one of those statistics.
- Wear your seat belt at all times, turbulence is not always
predictable.
- In non-fatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading
cause of injuries to airline passengers and flight attendants.
- Each year, approximately 58 airline passengers in the United
States are injured by turbulence while not wearing their seat
belts.
- From 1981 through December 1997, there were 342 reports of
turbulence affecting major air carriers. As a result, three
passengers died, 80 suffered serious injuries and 769 received
minor injuries.
- At least two of the three fatalities involved passengers who
were not wearing their seat belts while the seat belt sign was
illuminated.
- Of the 80 passengers who were seriously injured, approximately
73 were not wearing their seat belts while the seat belt sign was
illuminated.
- Generally, two-thirds of turbulence-related accidents occur at
or above 30,000 feet. In 1997, about half of the accidents occurred
above 30,000 feet.
Many airlines, including all of the major U.S. airlines, allow
children as young as five to travel alone. In addition to the usual
risks that come with flying, there are additional risks that are
associated with children flying alone. Many of these risks can be
overcome by using common sense and taking a few basic precautions.
The following tips will help both children traveling alone and
those responsible for the child to deal with many of the problems
that may be encountered.
- Consider the maturity of the child: While airlines allow
children as young as five to travel unaccompanied, younger children
may not be ready or willing to be in the presence of strangers for
several hours, and may not be able to handle unusual situations
that they may encounter. AirSafe.com makes the following
recommendation: if your child is old enough to travel alone on
public transportation, is able to spend time away from family in an
organized setting like an overnight trip with a youth group, then
that child is probably old enough to travel unaccompanied on a
flight that includes a change of planes. Nonstop flights would be
appropriate for children with less maturity.
- Coordinate with whoever is picking up the child
Make sure that whoever is picking up the child knows all the
relevant details of the child's trip and is able to contact either
you or the airline to confirm the arrival time of the flight. The
person picking up the child should also have identification that
exactly matches the information that you supplied the airline. You
should have the pickup person arrive early at the airport and
contact you when they arrive. If you can't confirm their arrival at
the airport, have an alternate person pick up the child.
You should also include with the child a copy of all of the
contact information that you supplied the airline. I If the child
is able to use the telephone, you should provide them the means to
contact someone (change, phone card, cell phone, etc.) if there is
a flight cancellation, flight delay, or other problem.
- Tell your child what to expect during the flight
You should explain clearly to the child what will likely happen
during the flight, and what kind of experiences to expect. This is
especially important if the child is an infrequent or first time
flyer. They should know basic things such as where in the plane
they will sit, how long the flight will be, and who will pick them
up. It may help to have the child carry a picture of the person or
persons who will be picking them up.
- Discuss appropriate behavior with your child
Make sure you take the time to discuss appropriate behavior with
your child. That includes the behavior of other passengers and the
child's behavior. If another passenger acts in an inappropriate
way, be sure that your child knows to inform a flight attendant or
other airline representative.
Inappropriate behavior on the part of other passengers includes
rude, offensive, or threatening comments; inappropriate touching;
inappropriate conversations; taking food or other items away from
the child; or other behavior that makes the child uncomfortable or
fearful. In addition, inappropriate behavior would include any
attempt to elicit personal information about the child. Make sure
that you child understands that no passenger they meet needs to
know things such as their full name, their home address, their
telephone number, or where they are going.
- Request appropriate seating
When you make a reservation and especially when you check in you
child, make sure that the child has a convenient seat. Request to
have your child seated in a row without any other passengers, or
with at least one empty seat between the child and the next
passenger. Also, request that your child not sit in the same row as
passengers who are consuming alcohol.
- Review the airline's policies
Every airline has slightly different policies on how they
accommodate unaccompanied children. Take special note of their
policies for escorting children at connection airports and
accommodations in the event that the flight is delayed or diverted.
Note that some airlines policies do not include providing overnight
accommodations and the airline may turn over your child to local
authorities if the flight is delayed overnight.
- Take extra precautions for connecting flights
If the child has to change planes, make sure that the airline has
an adequate process for supervising the child when traveling
between gates or while in waiting area. Make sure that the child
understands that when traveling between gates that they must be
escorted and that when waiting for their next flight that they must
remain in clear view of whatever airline person is responsible for
them.
- Spend extra time at the airport
You should plan on coming to the airport early and staying for a
while after departure. If there are last minute changes before the
flight's scheduled departure, getting there early gives you a
better opportunity for dealing with the situation.
- Identify the lead flight attendant
Either you or your child should take the time to identify the lead
flight attendant so that they know that there is an unaccompanied
child present. On larger aircraft, you should identify at least one
flight attendant who will be in the immediate area of the
child.
- Escort the child to the seat
If possible, escort the child onto the aircraft and check the area
around the seat for hazards such as heavy carry on items in the
overhead storage bins. If there is anything about the seating
situations or about nearby passengers that do not meet with your
approval, contact the lead flight attendant or a gate agent to help
deal with the situation.
South Florida airplane accident lawyer David I. Fuchs will
represent you for injuries that include, but are not limited
to:
- Injuries requiring surgery, sutures, staples
- Traumatic Brain Injury, including those caused by oxygen
deprivation
- Severe burns resulting in significant and permanent
scarring
- Mental anguish and emotional distress, death
After an airplane crash, accident or collision it is imperative
if at all possible under the circumstances to seek immediate
medical treatment. It is then important to seek legal counsel to
protect your legal rights by calling Florida airplane accident
lawyer David I. Fuchs who will take your call and speak with you
immediately about your airplane accident. Florida airplane accident
lawyer David I. Fuchs will then stand ready to fight for you to see
that you get compensation for your pain and suffering, any lost
wages and medical bills.
Call South Florida airplane accident attorney David I. Fuchs
Toll Free at 800-570-2858 for a free consultation to discuss your
airplane accident case. You may also write to South Florida
airplane accident Attorney David I. Fuchs by filling out the form
on the "Contact Us" page."
If you can not come to us South Florida airplane accident lawyer
David I. Fuchs will send a representative to see you. We speak
English and Spanish. Se habla ingles y espanol.
Llame David Fuchs Florida abogado accidentes de aviones.
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