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Hot Air Balloon Accident

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.


While many people envision a hot air balloon ride as a fun or romantic and beautiful experience, they are almost inherently dangerous vehicles. They have a heated atmosphere in the balloon, a basket in which the passengers stand, and an open fire to control the hot air balloon’s altitude. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, between 1964 and 2014, they reported on and investigated 775 hot air balloon accidents in the United States. If you or a loved one was injured in a helicopter accident, contact us for a free consultation to see if you may be entitled to compensation.

What kinds of accidents and injuries can occur?

Hot air balloon accidents may be due to pilot error, where the balloon’s pilot makes a mistake or decision that causes the vehicle to crash. A pilot may fail to light the open fire sufficiently and cause the balloon to descend too quickly and/or too far. The pilot may also end the ride in a rough landing, which can cause a type of “rollover accident,” or falling accidents. Also, there may be inclement weather that makes a safe ride on the balloon very unlikely, such as a thunderstorm or harsh winds.

There may be obstacles such as trees or buildings as well, which could result in a crash which can also be worse given the open fire in the hot air balloon. 

Lastly, there may be defects of malfunctions in the balloon which cause accidents. For instance, a hole may pop in the balloon and cause a loss of control, the fire may extinguish suddenly, and more. Also, the hot air balloon should be maintained, repaired, and inspected for their safety. Without these measures, a deadly flaw may go undetected in the balloon and can cause an immediate and deadly accident.

Who is liable?

Negligence is the basis of these types of accident lawsuits. Negligence occurs when one party breaches the duty of care that they owe to others on the road and injuries directly result from the accident. If the hot air balloon accident was due to pilot error, the pilot would be liable for the damages. They may also be liable if there were inclement weather conditions that caused an accident. Otherwise, if there was a company in charge of scheduling and regulating their hot air balloon rides, the company can be liable for allowing a ride on a dangerous day.

For accidents where there are trees or buildings in the way, the pilot may be liable if it was a matter of pilot error. But, the company may be liable if it was a matter of allowing the hot air balloon path in a dangerous area where these risks would be present anyway.

If the accident was due to a defect or lack of inspections, then the manufacturer of the hot air balloon and/or its parts can be held liable for releasing a product for use that is inherently dangerous in its design.

We are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to another’s negligence. We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at the work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at Mike Agruss Law, we put People, First.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 950 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 130 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, email us at [email protected] or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.

Submitted Comments

Daniel
9 months ago
I am one of the most experienced balloon pilots in the world. I have worked in 6 countries, and flown the largest balloons which are now common in the ride industry. I flew in Napa Valley, and Sonoma County for years. I was chief pilot for Serengeti Balloon Safaris for years. Now retired, I am offering my services as an expert witness. I know well the often inaccurate excuses pilots make to cover their mistakes and am able to eloquently to bring out the truth. I am now in Pittsburgh PA and am not conflicted with any companies since I am retired. Please feel free to look at my LinkedIn bio. where you will also find details of my Commercial Airplane experience. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-claudon-06a0772a/ Please keep my details on file for any future needs as an expert witness. Daniel Claudon

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