Nolan Law GroupNolan Law Group2026-06-25T20:32:48Zhttps://www.nolan-law.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1504658/2025/09/cropped-favicon_site-icon-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[What causes ground collision airplane crashes?]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=488182026-03-26T17:58:11Z2026-03-26T17:58:11Z previous post discussed how air traffic controller negligence can create risks for accidents. As we continue to learn more about the events at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, it is also important to discuss common causes of these types of accidents so that families can begin to understand what may have gone wrong.
Common causes of ground collision plane accidents
Ground collision crashes occur when an aircraft strikes terrain, structures, other aircraft, fixed objects, or, as was the case in the LaGuardia incident, other vehicles. After the crash, investigators quickly begin to gather evidence to determine what went wrong. This often includes a review of the following potential issues:
Crew situational awareness
Communication issues potentially including readback errors
Fatigue or time pressures for crew both on the ground and in the aircraft
Weather effect on braking, visibility, crosswind control or possible runway contamination
Inadequate training or weak standard operating procedures
Maintenance errors such as braking or lighting issues
Airport design, signage, markings, lighting, ramp congestion or vehicle control lapses
As investigations begin to point to a cause, discussion on liability will also unfold. Legal exposure increases when documentation shows prior similar events, red flags during previous audits, corrective action delays or known hazards without mitigation. Accidents like the tragic crash at LaGuardia are rarely the result of a single mistake. Although investigators continue to look for the cause of this accident, they have stated that it was a “series of failures” that included both staffing and technology issues.
Options for grieving families
As discussed in our prior post, grieving families have legal rights and can take action to hold responsible parties accountable for their errors. This action not only helps your family in their journey towards recovery but also serves to better ensure similar mistakes are not made in the future. These cases are complex as they often involve private parties as well as government agencies. As such, it is wise to seek legal counsel from attorneys with experience in this niche area of the law to help navigate investigations, specialized regulations and multiple potentially responsible parties. An attorney familiar with aviation litigation can help preserve evidence, work with technical experts, and deal with inquiries from agencies such as the FAA while protecting the grieving family’s rights throughout the process. ]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[How air traffic controller negligence creates risks for accidents]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=488172026-03-26T15:54:57Z2026-03-26T15:54:57ZThe responsibilities of an air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the overseers of movement on the ground and in the sky. They are responsible for managing the safe flow of aircraft to prevent collisions. Because their tasks are high-risk, they must strictly abide by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic Control Procedures to minimize errors. Failing to adhere to these established standards may constitute air traffic negligence.
Errors in the control room often stem from several critical factors:
Understaffing
Fatigued controllers
Lack of clear communication between controllers and pilots
Failing to monitor the radar
Improper handoffs between sectors
Failing to account for weather and turbulence reports
These may be seemingly minor lapses, but they can cause a chain of fatal events. For instance, if miscommunication occurs, an aircraft can collide with vehicles on the runway or in the taxi bay.
Your rights as a grieving family member
Because air traffic controllers are federal employees, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) governs any legal action regarding their negligence. However, this comes with strict procedural hurdles. You must file an administrative claim with the FAA first and wait for their response. They have six months to review the claim, offer a settlement or issue a denial.
If the FAA denies your claim or fails to act within six months, you have the right to submit a formal lawsuit in U.S. District Court.
Seeking accountability with legal support
Aviation litigation against the government can be complex. While the FAA may argue the Discretionary Function Exception, courts hold that a controller’s operational errors do not fall under this protection.
Timing is critical for tort claims. You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file an administrative claim. Once the FAA issues a formal denial, you have six months from the date of that mailing to file a lawsuit in federal court. Missing these deadlines will permanently bar your recovery.
Before you take action, consider seeking legal counsel from an aviation law attorney. They can review your case and guide on meeting the two-year statute of limitations for tort claims.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[Understanding cargo plane accidents: Causes, risks, and legal implications]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=487372025-11-20T20:55:41Z2025-11-20T20:55:41Z plane accidents can have significant consequences. These accidents not only impact those involved in the accident but also raise complex legal issues. It is important that anyone impacted by these devastating accidents have a basic understanding of the common causes, risk factors, and liability involved.
What are cargo plane accidents?
Cargo plane accidents refer to incidents involving aircraft primarily used for transporting goods rather than passengers. These accidents can range from minor incidents on the ground to catastrophic crashes. The nature of cargo flights, often involving heavy loads and long distances, presents unique challenges and risks.The recent UPS crash in Louisville provides an example of how devastating these accidents can be. The accident caused the death of the three pilots as well as 11 people on the ground at the time of the crash. It also led to countless injuries from exposure to smoke and chemicals released in the surrounding area due the crash.
How do cargo plane accidents happen?
Several factors can contribute to cargo plane accidents. Common causes include:
Mechanical failure: Malfunctions in aircraft systems or components can lead to accidents.
Human error: Mistakes by pilots or ground crew can result in mishaps.
Weather conditions: Severe weather can affect flight safety.
Improper loading: Incorrectly loaded cargo can destabilize the aircraft.
Each of these factors can play a role in an accident, often in combination, making investigations complex.Cargo flights face specific risk factors that can increase the likelihood of accidents. The weight and distribution of cargo can affect aircraft stability. These flights often occur at night, which further increases the risk of a crash due to pilot fatigue. Cargo planes generally fly to less accessible locations, where infrastructure may be lacking.
Who is liable in cargo plane accidents?
Determining liability in cargo plane accidents involves multiple parties and legal considerations. Key aspects include:
Operator responsibility: Airlines are responsible for maintaining aircraft and ensuring safe operations.
Manufacturer liability: If a mechanical failure is due to a defect, the manufacturer may be liable.
Third-party involvement: Ground handling companies or maintenance providers can also be held accountable.
In many cases, several parties often share liability, requiring thorough investigation to hold responsible parties accountable for their failures. In the UPS case noted above, lawsuits are moving forward attempting to hold UPS, the Boeing Company, and General Electric Company responsible. This highlights how what appears to be a mechanical failure can result in a legal action against multiple corporate behemoths. Although complex to navigate, the incident serves as a reminder that those who are injured in these accidents can use the legal system to hold the corporations and other responsible parties accountable. ]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[What is a surgical never event?]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=482302025-07-13T21:34:38Z2025-07-13T21:34:38ZA never event should never occur
Not every surgical error is a never event. Sometimes, a slip of the wrist is sufficient to impact a patient's health or undermine the success of treatment. Never events are far more than minor mistakes.
They are egregious errors that should never occur in a well-run medical facility. There are many types of never events, but three categories of never events are among the most common.
Wrong procedure errors occur when surgeons perform a procedure on the wrong patient or make mistakes regarding the procedure required by a patient. Wrong-site surgeries involve surgeons operating on the wrong part of the body. Frequently, these errors involve operating on the wrong side of the body.
Finally, retained foreign bodies are another common never event. Surgeons may close incisions with gauze, clamps and other surgical equipment left inside the patient's body. Those mistakes can have devastating consequences for the patient's health and finances.
Identifying a surgical never event is the first step toward holding a surgeon or their employer accountable. Medical malpractice lawsuits can help compensate those harmed by egregious mistakes during surgical procedures.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[How brain injuries can impact speech]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=482282025-07-08T00:14:10Z2025-07-08T00:14:10ZTypes of brain injuries that affect speech
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from accidents are a common cause of speech problems. Strokes, brain tumors and infections like meningitis can also damage areas of the brain linked to language.
When these areas are damaged, a person may develop conditions such as aphasia (difficulty understanding or producing language), dysarthria (slurred or slowed speech due to muscle weakness) or apraxia of speech (trouble planning and coordinating speech movements).
Treatment options for speech problems
Speech therapy is often the main form of treatment. A speech-language pathologist will work with the individual to improve communication. Therapy may include exercises to strengthen speech muscles, practice with word-finding or use of alternative communication tools like picture boards or speech-generating devices.
In some cases, medications may help with related symptoms, such as muscle stiffness or mood changes. Ongoing support from caregivers is also important for progress.
Recovery depends on the cause, location and extent of the damage. Some people regain speech within weeks or months, while others may continue to need therapy long-term. Early treatment often leads to better outcomes.
In certain cases, speech problems can be permanent. However, with consistent therapy and support, many people learn new ways to communicate and adapt to their challenges. If you have suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s actions or negligence, seeking legal guidance can help you get the financial compensation to which you’re entitled.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[Was pilot negligence the cause of your aircraft crash?]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=481452025-06-24T10:52:20Z2025-06-24T10:52:20ZCommon aircraft accident causes involving potential pilot negligence
Certain recurring issues often point to pilot-related failures. The following factors may indicate negligence and are frequently investigated in aircraft accident cases:
Inadequate preflight preparation or planning: Failure to inspect the aircraft properly, review weather conditions or plan the route can create avoidable hazards. Forensic investigators often look for lapses in the pilot’s preflight responsibilities.
Failure to maintain flying speed or control: Stalls and loss of directional control often stem from improper handling during takeoff, landing or mid-flight turbulence.
Improper in-flight decisions: Pilots must make rapid decisions under pressure. Choosing to continue into bad weather or mismanaging altitude and fuel can signal poor judgment.
Ignoring visible obstructions or other aircraft: Failing to avoid objects, terrain or nearby aircraft despite clear visibility may indicate a lack of alertness or disregard for safety protocols.
Mismanagement of aircraft systems: Mistakes involving flight controls, fuel systems or onboard instruments can lead to critical failures. These errors may also involve incorrect responses to equipment anomalies.
Establishing pilot negligence is often a key element in aircraft accident cases. When pilots fail to uphold their duty of care, the consequences can be life-altering for everyone on board. If you or a loved one was affected by an aircraft crash, seeking legal guidance can help you understand whether pilot negligence may be to blame.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[Using black box data to build a case after a plane crash]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=481442026-02-12T08:52:38Z2025-06-10T15:15:17ZAfter a plane crash, one of the most potentially consequential sources of evidence available is the black box of the aircraft in question. This term refers to two key flight recording devices: the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR). Together, these components can offer invaluable insights into what happened in the minutes leading up to a crash. The flight data recorder captures technical information about the aircraft’s performance. This includes speed, altitude, engine status, heading and other metrics recorded every second throughout a flight. The cockpit voice recorder, on the other hand, captures sounds inside the cockpit—including pilot conversations, alarms and communications with air traffic control. These recordings can reveal pilot reactions, equipment malfunctions and procedural errors.In the wake of a crash, investigators and legal teams generally work to retrieve and analyze this data to reconstruct the sequence of events. Even if a plane is heavily damaged, black boxes are designed to withstand extreme impact and fire, making them highly reliable tools when it comes to accident analysis. Once recovered and decoded, this information can help determine whether pilot error, mechanical failure, poor maintenance and/or another factor caused or contributed to the crash at issue.
We found the black box. Now what?
From a legal standpoint, black box data can prove to be instrumental when it comes to establishing liability. In many personal injury cases stemming from aviation accidents, victims or their families must prove that negligence or misconduct led to the crash that resulted in actionable harm. If the CVR reveals that the crew missed critical warnings, or if the FDR shows the aircraft deviated from standard flight procedures, for example, these details can support claims against an airline, manufacturer and/or maintenance provider.Ultimately, black box data gives a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. It can help to ensure that facts—not speculation—guide any pursuits of accountability and compensation. For families left reeling after a tragedy, this evidence can be the key to understanding what happened and securing the justice they deserve.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[Birth injuries can significantly alter a family’s life]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=481412025-06-09T13:22:48Z2025-06-09T13:22:48ZWelcoming a new baby should be a joyful event for the family. That’s usually how it happens, but there are times when a birth doesn’t go as planned. While some birth injuries are true accidents, others could have been prevented.
It’s critical that staff members who are caring for a woman in labor ensure they’re handling monitoring properly. This can help to prevent many issues because there are often signs that things are going awry.
Improper monitoring during labor
Throughout labor, healthcare providers are expected to closely monitor both the baby’s and the mother’s condition. This includes tracking fetal heart rate, contractions and maternal vital signs. If signs of fetal distress go unnoticed or are ignored, the baby may be deprived of oxygen, which is a condition known as hypoxia. This can result in brain injuries such as cerebral palsy or developmental delays.Proper monitoring allows medical teams to take timely action, like performing an emergency cesarean section. When providers fail to respond appropriately, it can lead to preventable injuries that affect the child’s quality of life for years to come.
Problems during delivery
Shoulder dystocia is a delivery complication that occurs when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the head is delivered. This is an emergency and requires fast, skilled intervention. Delays or improper techniques can lead to serious injuries.One common injury from shoulder dystocia is brachial plexus damage, which affects the nerves controlling the arm and hand. In severe cases, this can cause permanent weakness or paralysis. Other risks include fractured collar bones or even oxygen deprivation if delivery is delayed too long.Medical providers should be able to recognize risk factors for shoulder dystocia, such as gestational diabetes or a large baby, and plan accordingly. When they don’t, and a preventable injury occurs, it may be grounds for legal action.One of the first things parents should do when their child suffers injuries is ensure their baby receives the medical care they need. From there, they may opt to pursue a compensation claim against the medical professional who handled the delivery in a negligent manner. ]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[4 common causes of diagnostic errors]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=481342025-05-26T21:51:54Z2025-05-26T21:51:54ZDiagnostic errors represent one of the most serious forms of medical malpractice, affecting millions of patients annually and contributing to thousands of preventable deaths. Unlike other medical errors that have received extensive attention, diagnostic mistakes often go unrecognized until significant harm has already occurred, making them particularly dangerous for patients seeking medical care.
Understanding the common causes of diagnostic errors helps patients recognize when medical negligence may have contributed to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
1. Cognitive bias and flawed reasoning patterns
Healthcare providers frequently rely on mental shortcuts called heuristics to make quick diagnostic decisions, but these shortcuts can lead to serious errors. Availability bias occurs when doctors are influenced by recent cases they have seen, causing them to misdiagnose current patients based on past experiences rather than present symptoms. Anchoring bias involves sticking to an initial diagnostic impression despite new information suggesting a different diagnosis.
2. Communication breakdowns and poor teamwork
Inadequate communication between healthcare providers frequently contributes to diagnostic errors, particularly in complex medical environments like hospitals and emergency departments. Critical information may be lost during shift changes, specialist consultations may be delayed or miscommunicated and test results might not reach the appropriate physician in a timely manner. Poor teamwork can result in fragmented care where no single provider takes responsibility for accurate diagnosis.
3. Inadequate follow-up systems and test result management
Many diagnostic errors occur when healthcare systems lack reliable processes for managing test results and following up with patients. Laboratory results may be misplaced, abnormal findings might not be communicated to patients or critical follow-up appointments may be missed. Primary care practices without robust systems for tracking pending test results create dangerous gaps in patient care. Cancer diagnoses are frequently delayed due to these system failures, where abnormal screening results are not properly pursued through appropriate diagnostic testing.
4. Over-reliance on technology
Blind obedience to test results without considering clinical context can lead to diagnostic errors. False negative test results may cause physicians to dismiss serious conditions, while over-reliance on consultant recommendations without independent clinical judgment can perpetuate initial diagnostic mistakes.Seeking legal guidance can help you determine whether diagnostic errors in your case resulted from medical negligence and what compensation might be available for resulting harm.]]>On Behalf of Nolan Law Group<![CDATA[One-third of NFL players may have CTE from concussions]]>https://www.nolan-law.com/?p=481332025-05-13T21:00:43Z2025-05-13T21:00:43ZA recent study asked former NFL football players if they believed they were suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, often known as CTE. This is a degenerative brain disease that happens due to the cumulative effect of sustaining numerous concussions.
In the study, roughly 33% of the players surveyed said that they believed they had CTE. A total of 1,980 people responded to the survey, and 681 made this claim. Additionally, 176 of them said they had been diagnosed with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. On top of that, over 230 reported having suicidal thoughts, which are sometimes connected to CTE and this specific type of brain damage.
Why they are likely right
One of the issues with CTE is that it can only be diagnosed accurately by examining a person’s brain after they have passed away. So it is impossible to determine definitively if the players in the above study actually have CTE.However, 376 players have been examined postmortem, and researchers discovered CTE in 345 of those cases. That is a rate of 91.76%. In the vast majority of cases where CTE is suspected, that’s exactly what researchers find. This doesn’t mean it will apply to all players in the study, but their rate of self-reporting is vastly lower than the rate at which researchers actually find CTE. It’s likely that many of the players in the study who claimed they didn’t believe they had CTE were actually wrong.It’s also not just the NFL that is an issue. Anyone who has suffered repeated concussions is at risk and needs to know exactly what legal options they have.]]>