The widow of a passenger killed in an airplane crash in 2011 has filed a lawsuit against the plane’s pilot saying that the crash could have been avoided, NJ.com reports. The deadly crash occurred on Dec. 20, 2011, when New York investment banker, Jeffrey Buckalew, took off in a private plane from Teterboro Airport along with his family and colleague Rakesh Chawla. Minutes after takeoff, Buckalew radioed that he was encountering icing. His turboprop plane fell and crashed on to Interstate 287 in Harding, killing all five on board – Buckalew, his wife, two children and Chawla.
Complaint Names Pilot and Company
The lawsuit, filed by Chawla’s widow, Cathleen Chawla, says Buckalew failed to get a weather briefing before taking off, failed to avoid icing conditions and also failed to declare an emergency once the icing began. She also stated in the complaint that her husband suffered mental anguish and physical pain leading up to his death. The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation for Cathleen Chawla and her three children.
In addition to Buckalew, the lawsuit names Cool Stream, a company owned by Buckalew, alleging that it allowed Buckalew to take off without a more experienced pilot despite rough weather conditions. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Buckalew had completed 1,400 hours of flying time and an annual refresher course on operating the aircraft.
Seeking Damages after an Aviation Accident
As seen in this case, airplane crashes can result in devastating injuries and fatalities. There may be a number of factors involved in a plane crash including pilot error/negligence, mechanical failure, weather conditions, air traffic controller error, defective products, etc. When a fatal aviation accident occurs due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, the deceased victim’s family can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages including, but not limited to, lost future income and benefits, medical expenses, funeral costs, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one as a result of an aviation accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled accident attorneys have a proven track record of helping victims and their families get fair compensation for their losses. Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: NJ.com
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