When a plane crash occurs, there are resources that can help families of victims move forward, aviation accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter explains.
A recent Los Angeles Times report discusses the plight of families of victims of a 1952 plane crash, who have waited decades for answers about what happened to their loved ones. The bodies of 17 members of the military who perished in the 1952 crash on a mountain in Alaska were discovered more than 60 years after being hidden in wreckage covered by layers of ice and snow.
Los Angeles Times Report Source: 62 years after Alaska plane crash, some families get closure
“…two years ago a helicopter crew spotted some wreckage from the plane, a Douglas C-124 Globemaster that had been flying from McChord Air Force Base in Washington to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. So far, the military has recovered and identified remains of 17 of the men who were aboard…”
To read the article further, please visit http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-1952-plane-crash-alaska-20140623-story.html.
Although the aforementioned case is not typical, many families of victims of aviation accidents are forced to wait for answers they need after suffering such a loss for much longer than their grief can handle. The circumstances surrounding even modern day airline accidents such as the crash of Asiana Flight 214 last year, can take years to investigate, even with advanced technologies in place. In the Asiana commercial plane crash, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error, nearly a year after it occurred.
Associated Press Source: NTSB faults pilot ‘mismanagement’ in Asiana flight
Asiana Flight 214’s pilots caused the crash last year of their airliner carrying more than 300 people by bungling a landing approach in San Francisco, including inadvertently deactivating the plane’s key control for airspeed, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded Tuesday.
To read the article further, please visit http://www.newspressnow.com/news/technology/article_fc3b2457-37bc-55b8-bcab-cdd5d5564709.html.
The waiting period for investigators to make a determination about what factors may have caused an accident, or for commercial airlines to provide families with answers to their pressing questions does nothing to bring them closure in these circumstances. Aviation accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter has outlined the following tips for families seeking help for moving forward after losing a loved one, even when they have yet to have their questions appropriately addressed by airlines or investigative agencies.
- Seek support for grief – Grief counseling and support groups are available to help the surviving loved ones of plane crash victims surviving who are having difficulty dealing with their grief.
- Don’t be overwhelmed by preliminary findings – Preliminary findings do not always provide a clear picture of what occurred in an aviation accident.
- Don’t fall to pressures from commercial airlines – Commercial airlines may approach surviving family members about multiple issues including taking a settlement offer, before enough time has passed for one to process what has happened. Families of victims are under no obligation to adhere to any requests or demands made.
- Obtain an assessment of one’s legal options – It is often a good idea to get a professional legal assessment of what one’s legal options are in the event that a loved one has died or been injured in an aviation accident to ensure that their rights are protected.
- Contact a commercial airline accident lawyer if necessary – A commercial airline accident attorney can help families of victims assess their legal rights as well as provide referrals for other sources of support in moving forward from such a devastating loss.
For more information about the Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC or to speak with a legal representative about a specific aviation law matter contact the firm today at 646) 863-8172
