Few things are more terrifying and life-changing than an airplane accident. With a GJEL aviation accident lawyer, you’ll be in good hands with a firm that has a 99% success rate. Let us stand by your side and help you through this stressful time.
Have Your Case Reviewed by Our Aviation Accident Attorney for FREE
If you or a loved one has been in an airplane accident, get a free consultation from our aviation accident attorney. With over $980 Million recovered for our clients so far, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact UsWe are an Award-Winning Plane Crash Law Firm
We are a personal injury law firm that specializes in plane accidents, wrongful death, and serious injury cases.
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a plane crash, talk to an aviation accident attorney today to learn how we can help you during this very difficult time.
What Should You Do If You are in an Airplane Crash?
At the Aviation Accident
If you are involved in an accident, move away from the wreckage if you can. Try to help other victims and call 911 if you have phone service.
While plane crashes are terrifying, try to observe and remember the details if you can. Any detail may prove important, be it strange background noises, a sudden change in the weather, or some other seemingly trivial event.
If you can do so safely, take photos and record videos of the crash site and any injuries. This will provide a visual recording which will help investigators try to determine the accident’s cause.
After Aviation Accident
Before speaking with the insurance company or investigators, you should first talk to an aviation accidents attorney. Anything you say or do may be used against you in court by opposing attorneys. Multiple parties may be liable for your pain and suffering, but each has a legal team seeking to minimize their client’s liability for the accident.
How Our Airplane Accident Lawyer Handle Your Case
After the first free consultation, we immediately begin moving forward with your case and taking measures to preserve your rights and ensure you receive all compensation that you are entitled to from all liable parties.
Step 1: Investigate Your Claim
Our team of experts investigates all the details of the case. We collect evidence and research every available piece of information. We are thorough because we know every detail can have a major impact on the course of the litigation.
Step 2: Reconstruct the Accident
Not only do we go through all the information that you provide — we reach out to other parties involved in the aviation accident to get as much information as possible on the events leading up to the incident.
Step 3: Determine Liability
A highly skilled aviation accident lawyer will determine all parties who are liable for the accident and will quickly take all necessary steps to ensure that the responsible parties are notified and held accountable for their error or negligence.
Step 4: Fight For Compensation
Our experienced team estimates your damages and seeks compensation for your present and future pain and suffering. Airplane accidents can lead to huge medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income and earning potential, loss of support, emotional distress, and other damages.
We work to see that you get everything you deserve for your loss.
Types of Damage for Financial Compensation
According to California law, if a member of your family was injured or killed due to a plane crash you are entitled to financial compensation. Some of the compensation you may be eligible for includes:
- Lifelong loss of income
- Emotional distress
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Read more GJEL ReviewsWhy You Need a Plane Crash Lawyer
Although airplane crashes are rare when they do happen the results are devastating. Aviation litigation is complex and it is very hard to manage an airplane accident case alone. You need highly experienced aviation accident lawyers to sue airlines and ensure that your rights to just compensation are protected.
You May Be Contacted By Investigators
After you or a loved one have been involved in an airplane crash, you may be contacted by federal agencies, investigators, or other parties seeking information about the accident. Accident investigations are an important part of determining the cause and the responsible parties. Anything you say will be used in any litigation or settlement, so it is in your best interests to consult with an airplane accident lawyer before providing any statement about the accident.
Different Rules for Commercial Plane, Private Plane, and Military Plane Accidents
The rules and regulations that apply to commercial plane, private plane, and military plane accidents are all quite different and should be handled by an aviation accident attorney who is qualified to represent such cases.
At Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen & Lucey our attorneys will provide you with knowledgeable, aggressive legal representation and precise legal advice during the entirety of your case.
How Much Compensation Can Be Claimed After a Plane Crash
In 1958 the Federal Aviation Act and Regulations were enacted to establish essential safety standards for airplanes, which included the manufacturing of the airplane, flight operation, and the behavior of pilots.
In most cases, airlines are allowed to place a tariff on airline passengers which limits the amount that they may sue for in the event of an accident or injury to up to $75,000. With the representation of an experienced lawyer who has knowledge of Federal Aviation Law, and if it can be proved that the airline was intentionally negligent, you may be able to recover more than $75,000 in damages.
Different Classes of Aviation Claims
Different sectors of aviation each have different specific regulations and standards that may affect your case and your possible compensation. An airplane crash lawyer will know these rules and know what steps to take in your aviation accident case.
Commercial Aviation Accidents
A commercial aviation accident involves a plane that is providing air transport services for passengers and/or freight. Commercial flights fall under the legal definition of a “common carrier” and must adhere to stricter standards than other flights.
In cases involving commercial airline crashes, a deep understanding of complex FAA rules and regulations is necessary. GJEL aviation accident attorneys have extensive experience dealing with commercial accident cases and can make sure your case is handled appropriately.
General Aviation Accidents
General aviation accidents involve charter planes, private jets, and private plane crashes. Because there is little regulation of pilots, charter plane accidents often involve pilot error.
An experienced charter plane accident attorney knows how to handle these cases and who to hold liable. If you’ve been in a private plane accident, a GJEL private plane accident attorney can help.
Airport Accidents Accidents
Even before your plane takes off, you may be injured at the airport due to poor equipment and shoddy airport terminal maintenance. Slips and falls while boarding a plane can lead to serious, life-changing accidents. An airplane injury attorney will know who is liable for these accidents.
Helicopter Accidents
The top reason for helicopter accidents is a mechanical malfunction. Helicopter components and controls are complex and while an airplane can fly on one engine or even glide into a landing, a helicopter with a dead rotor engine will fall from the sky like a stone. These failures often result in serious injuries and wrongful deaths.
In-flight Aviation Accidents
Unexpected turbulence can lead to passengers being injured during a flight, as can luggage falling from overhead bins or altercations with an unruly passenger. An airplane injury lawyer can help you recover medical costs, lost wages, and other damage claims.
State and Federal Law May Apply
In many cases, an airplane accident will involve state, federal, or even international law. While federal law regulates support for the families of those injured in American airplane crashes, other regulations may come into play and influence your final compensation. If you live in California, you will need a California plane crash attorney.
Common Plane Crash Reasons
Before we can determine who is liable for an aviation accident and who will pay compensation, we must first determine the cause of the plane crash.
Plane crashes may be caused by a variety of reasons, such as:
Pilot errors
Pilot errors are still the top reason for aviation accidents. Flying a plane is a delicate affair, and even a small mistake can have enormous consequences. Making the wrong decision, or making the right decision too late, can have life-changing consequences for everybody unfortunate enough to be involved in the subsequent crash.
Weather conditions
Wing icing due to snowstorms, downdrafts caused by thunderstorms, and heavy fog that limits visibility are some weather conditions that can lead to accidents. Pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground crew members are responsible for reporting hazardous weather conditions immediately and for taking steps to avoid catastrophes.
Sabotage
An aviation accident may happen due to sabotage by terrorists or a disgruntled employee. While saboteurs typically have few assets to compensate victims, parties that fail to detect the sabotage ahead of time or are government complicit in the attack may be held liable and have their assets seized to make survivors and their families whole.
Mechanical failure
Modern airplanes are remarkable works of engineering, but they have many failure points. Electrical failures, engine malfunctions, and jammed landing gear are just a few of the things that can go wrong. In this situation, liability may rest with the manufacturer or with a negligent ground crew that fails to spot problems or provide required maintenance.
Defective design
Poorly designed airplane parts may pass numerous inspections yet fail in flight. If an aviation accident is caused by a failure of a faulty component or device, the doctrine of strict liability holds the company that produced the defective item liable for any injury or loss of life whether or not negligence or malfeasance is involved.
Contact GJEL for Airplane Crash Verdicts & Settlements
GJEL has handled many wrongful death and serious injury cases that resulted from airplane crashes. Since 1971 we have recovered over $10 Million Dollars for clients who have been seriously injured or killed in airplane accidents.
We invite you to call 1-855-508-9565 or email lawfirm@gjel.com to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney at GJEL if you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident. We provide free consultations, and we’re paid only when we win your claim. You’ll pay no fees if we don’t obtain a verdict or settlement for you.
Please visit the Contact Us page to find our local office nearest to you.
If you or someone you know suffered from a plane crash, contact GJEL’s airplane accident attorney today for a no-obligation free case review at 1-866-292-9907.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Liable In An Aviation Accident?
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, multiple people may be liable. Ground control, the pilot, the plane’s owner, the manufacturer, and the aircraft maintenance crew may all play some role in an aviation accident. For example, in some accidents, both the ground control and the pilot might be responsible.
An experienced aviation accident attorney can find the parties liable for your airplane accident and make sure that you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
How Much Compensation Do You Get for a Plane Crash?
Most airlines place a tariff on airline passengers limiting lawsuits for accident or injury to $75,000. In the aftermath of an aviation accident, you will need a skilled attorney to make sure you receive maximum compensation benefits. If your attorney can prove that the airline was intentionally negligent, you may be able to recover more than $75,000 in damages.
How Hard Is It To Sue An Airline?
Suing an airline is a complex process that will require the assistance of a highly skilled personal injury lawyer. The departure, arrival and crash sites will all affect jurisdiction and compensation, and there may be multiple liable parties. To protect your rights and see that you get just compensation, you need an experienced airplane injury lawyer in your corner.
Can You Sue An Airline For Emotional Distress?
Yes, you may be able to sue an airline for emotional distress if you experience severe emotional trauma that interferes with your daily quality of life due to an avoidable airline mishap. Emotional distress can be as debilitating as physical injury, and the airline may be liable for medical and therapeutic bills as well as pain and suffering.
