The nation was shocked when a Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia on April 17, 2018, after an engine blew up. Shrapnel took out a window and damaged the fuselage. At 30,000 feet, the Boeing 737 that was headed toward Dallas, was in serious trouble. This Southwest Airlines tragedy caused Jennifer Riordan, a married mother of two from New Mexico, to lose her life. Seven others were injured.
According to an article provided by CBS, John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation and Safety Board, stated that the NTSB will investigate what happened with the engine in the Southwest Airlines tragedy. This will include looking at Southwest’s maintenance records for that engine. Goglia stated, “There’s a ring around the engine that’s meant to contain the pieces when this happens. In this case, it didn’t. That’s going to be a big focal point for the NTSB – why didn’t [the ring] do its job?”
Goglia went on to state that engine failures do occasionally happen with Boeing 737s. “We’re pushing the engines to produce as much power as possible. We’re right on the edge. Sometimes they fail, and that’s why the containment ring is there.”
The Southwest Airlines flight bound for Dallas had a tragic outcome, but it raises an important point. What should you do if you or someone you love is involved, hurt, or killed in an airplane accident like this Southwest Airlines tragedy?
First, it’s important to start with what you can do to improve your chance of survival. Pay attention and follow the safety rules that are presented at the beginning of the flight. Review the seat-back card to ensure that you know what to do if an airplane accident occurs. Seat belts should be worn when you’re seated, but make sure that you know how to properly tighten your seat belt (as tight as you can stand it to be) and how to unclasp your seat belt if necessary. Make sure that your seat belt is down on the upper part of your pelvic bone and not running across your abdomen where there are soft tissues and organs.
After the accident, consider getting medical attention right away. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, turbulence, shrapnel, and cabin pressure can cause injuries that you may not notice right away. Simple injuries can get much worse if they’re not treated. Internal injuries may not initially present with symptoms. Waiting to get medical care can cause any injury to worsen. Emergency medical care can save your life.
Call an airplane accident lawyer. Like any other business, airlines want to make a profit. An incident, such as what we all witnessed on the Dallas-bound Southwest flight that left a mother of two dead, could leave the airline company scrambling to settle with victims and their families as fast as possible. They may not want to take full responsibility and insinuate that they don’t think a passenger followed the presented safety protocol and should be at least partially responsible for their injuries.
An injury or a death that happened because of an aviation accident does more than creating unexpected expenses. It can create a lifetime of fear and anxiety. It can cause a family to be without an income and to be without their precious family member. While there’s no amount of money in the world that can ease the pain for survivors or the families of those who die in an aviation accident, an airplane accident lawyer can help you protect your potential legal rights.
If an airline company reaches out to you and offers a settlement agreement, don’t sign it without calling Thompson Law at 844-308-8180. Signing a settlement agreement may limit your financial recovery. You could be signing away your right to future medical care, funeral or burial expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. You could even sign away your right to sue the airline after an aviation accident like the Southwest Airlines tragedy.
An airplane accident lawyer can help victims and families by acting as a buffer between the airline and their lawyers. At Thompson Law, we help accident victims and their families get the money they’re entitled to receive. Don’t wait. Call us now at 844-308-8180 to discuss your potential case, or CALL THE FOURS locally at 214-444-4444. The call and consultation are confidential and free.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
