The last few years have seen an alarming increase in aviation accidents. As an experienced Southern California aviation accident lawyer with local expertise, our law firm is dedicated to helping victims throughout the state. We understand the complexities of California-specific aviation laws and encourage you to seek prompt legal consultation to protect your rights.
While major incidents involving commercial airliners dominate the news—especially at major hubs like Los Angeles International Airport—smaller incidents involving private planes happen much more frequently in California. For example, a June 2025 crash near San Diego killed six people, adding to the growing toll of these tragic incidents.
Unfortunately, survivors or families of those killed in plane crashes often struggle to hold airlines or manufacturers accountable. If you were hurt or a family member died in one of these incidents, contact us immediately for a free case evaluation.
Dordick Law Corporation is a law firm with a proven track record in aviation accident cases. We have the resources, experience, and drive to help you find justice after a plane crash. Whether the accident involved a commercial airliner or private aircraft, our aviation industry knowledge makes us ideally suited to recover fair compensation for you. We’ve recovered billions for our clients during our nearly 40-year career representing injured people in California. As aviation accident lawyers in Southern California, we offer a free consultation to victims.
We’ll handle all the legal work for you, providing comprehensive legal services to those affected by aviation accidents. You don’t owe us any fees unless you recover compensation; our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay if we win your case. Call (310) 551-0949 now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.
Why You Need an Aviation Accident Attorney in Southern California
Plane crashes are some of the most complex cases in personal injury law. Our experienced Southern California aviation accident lawyers have extensive expertise in aviation law, allowing us to handle the unique challenges these cases present. For one thing, you’re not just dealing with one potentially negligent party. A pilot, airline, flight attendants responsible for maintaining safety, parts manufacturer, maintenance crew, or air traffic controllers could all be liable. In many aviation cases, more than one party may share legal responsibility for an accident. Each party may have both a legal team and an insurance company you must deal with.
On top of that, aviation accidents involve state law, federal aviation regulations, and (sometimes) international treaties. As your dedicated aviation accident lawyer, we understand the urgency and complexity of these cases. Sorting through these layers while trying to recover from severe injuries or the loss of a family member is a huge burden. It is crucial that all crew members, including pilots and flight attendants, are properly trained to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, you must move quickly to preserve evidence, overcome jurisdictional issues, and build a strong case before key deadlines expire.
Why You Should Hire Dordick Law Corporation
At Dordick Law Corporation, we know what’s at stake in these cases. As one of the leading law firms in this field, we provide strong legal representation to guide you through the entire claims process. We’re here to tell your story and simplify the legal process. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully handling aviation cases. We can collect maintenance logs, flight records, black box data, and witness statements to find out exactly what happened. We also work with aviation experts who understand aircraft systems, FAA regulations, and industry safety standards.
Once we complete our investigation, we’ll identify all the liable parties and determine liability through a thorough investigation. Our team handles every part of your claim so you can focus on healing. From investigating the crash to negotiating with insurers or taking your case to court, we’re ready to fight for justice and fair compensation.
We are committed to holding all negligent parties, including companies responsible for plane crashes, fully accountable for the harm they cause.
What to Do After a California Aviation Accident
Immediate medical attention is crucial after an plane crashes. Once you’ve seen a doctor, follow these steps to set your claim up for success:
Gather and Organize Your Records
Collect all your medical records, test results, treatment plans, and billing statements. These documents help prove the severity and cost of your injuries, and are essential for establishing when and how the injuries occurred, whether during a crash, in-flight incident, or other aviation-related event.
Keep a Recovery Journal
Record how the accident has affected your daily life. Be thorough when describing the physical, emotional, and financial impact. Include details about your pain levels, missed work, and personal struggles.
Avoid Speaking with Insurance Representatives Alone
Don’t give recorded statements or accept any offers without seeking legal advice first. Remember that the insurance companies are likely trying to minimize your claim.
Don’t Post About the Accident Online
Stay off social media when discussing your injuries or the crash. An airline, insurance company, or other party involved in the case can use your posts or photos against you.
Identify All Involved Parties
If possible, make a list of the airline, pilot, aircraft owner, and any manufacturers or maintenance providers tied to the aircraft.
Consult an Aviation Accident Attorney
Accident victims can receive a free consultation from experienced accident attorneys to discuss their case. Early legal consultation is crucial to building a strong plane crash case, as attorneys can help you determine who caused the accident, deal with federal and state laws, and build a strong case for compensation. Aviation claims usually involve tight deadlines for filing. The sooner you get legal help, the better your chances of success.
Common Types and Causes of Aviation Accidents
Aircraft are complicated machines, and running them takes teams of well-trained mechanics and pilots. Aviation safety is paramount, and proper maintenance plays a critical role in preventing mechanical failures and accidents. These factors make it challenging to identify the causes of aviation accidents, but there are some patterns in these cases.
Common Causes of Plane Crashes
Some common causes of aviation accidents include:
Pilot Error
Mistakes in judgment, poor communication, or failure to follow flight procedures often cause crashes or hard landings.
Mechanical Failure
Engine problems, faulty landing gear, or other equipment breakdowns can make pilots lose control or create in-flight emergencies. Proper maintenance is essential to prevent these failures, and defective aircraft design can also contribute to such accidents.
Poor Maintenance
Skipped inspections, missed repairs, poor training, or careless work can lead to undetected maintenance defects that put everyone on board an aircraft at risk. Failure to perform proper maintenance can establish liability in an airline accident.
Weather Conditions
Fog, high winds, heavy rain, or sudden storms can interfere with takeoffs, landings, and visibility, making accidents more likely.
Runway Incursions
Accidents frequently occur when aircraft, vehicles, or people mistakenly enter an active runway and cause pilots to swerve suddenly.
Bird Strikes
Collisions with birds can damage aircraft engines or windows. These incidents often happen during takeoff or landing.
Fuel Exhaustion or Mismanagement
Running out of fuel or pumping the wrong type of fuel can cause engine failure mid-flight for planes or helicopters.
Air Traffic Control Errors
Miscommunication or oversight by controllers, including air traffic controller error and human error, can cause midair collisions or near misses that lead to accidents.
Hard Landings
A sudden or uncontrolled descent can injure passengers on a plane or helicopter and damage the aircraft. These cases often signal deeper issues with the aircraft’s operation, crew, or equipment, and may be classified as a plane accident. Victims may be entitled to compensation for lost wages as part of their damages.
Airplane Crashes
Airplane crashes remain a significant safety concern, ranging from major airline disasters to smaller general aviation incidents, and are a common basis for legal action or damages claims.
Fatal Accidents
Fatal accidents, though rare, have a profound impact on victims and their families, highlighting the importance of ongoing improvements in aviation safety.
Types of Aviation Accidents
Some common types of aviation accidents include:
Helicopter Accidents
Helicopter accidents, including helicopter crashes, are more frequent due to low-altitude flying, sudden gusts, or rotor failure, and present unique risks compared to fixed-wing aircraft. Our firm has extensive experience handling helicopter crash cases and securing favorable outcomes for clients.
Private Plane Accidents
Many small-plane crashes stem from issues involving inexperienced pilots, outdated equipment, or overloaded aircraft. Accidents can also involve private jets, a private jet, and charter plane operations, as well as other aircraft such as jets and helicopters, each with their own safety and regulatory concerns.
Commercial Flights
Accidents involving commercial flights, including commercial aircraft, while rare, can have catastrophic consequences and often involve complex investigations due to the number of passengers and regulatory oversight. Commercial airline accidents attract significant attention due to the risks and potential for fatal outcomes.
Military Aircraft
Military aircraft are also involved in plane crashes, which may result from training exercises, equipment failure, or operational hazards unique to military operations.
Airplane Accidents
Airplane accidents can result from a variety of causes, including pilot error, poor maintenance, and defective aircraft design. Both commercial aircraft and other aircraft may be involved, and these incidents often lead to legal claims and investigations.
Airline Accidents
Airline accidents, including high-profile crashes, can be caused by maintenance negligence, design defects, crew errors, or corporate misconduct, and often result in significant legal settlements.
Determining the causes of plane crashes often requires accident reconstruction specialists, thorough gathering evidence, and reviewing maintenance records to establish liability and uncover the true sequence of events. A thorough investigation is especially critical in any airplane accident case to determine liability in airline accident claims, particularly when fatal accidents have occurred and the consequences for victims and their families are severe.
Who’s Liable for an Aviation Accident?
Successful flights depend on the thousands of parts and the many people involved in aircraft operations. Unfortunately, the complex nature of air travel means you need industry experts to help determine who’s liable for an accident. Investigating the circumstances surrounding a plane crash is crucial to determine liability and ensure that all responsible parties are identified. The potentially liable parties in these cases include:
Pilots
Even minor mistakes can have deadly consequences in the air. An airplane or helicopter pilot may be liable for errors in judgment, failure to follow procedures, or reckless actions that cause an accident.
Aircraft Owners
The owner of a plane or helicopter is responsible for maintaining the aircraft properly and making sure it’s safe to operate. If they ignored repairs or allowed an unqualified pilot to fly, they could be accountable for a resulting accident.
Airlines or Charter Companies
Commercial carriers or charter services may be liable for accidents resulting from hiring unfit pilots, improper maintenance, or similar negligence.
Maintenance Providers and Crew Members
Improper inspections, careless work by maintenance crews, or operational errors by crew members can cause catastrophic system failures. These companies or individuals may be liable for accidents linked to poor upkeep or mistakes during flight operations.
Aircraft Manufacturers and Airline Manufacturers
If an accident resulted from a defect in the aircraft or one of its parts, the aircraft manufacturer or airline manufacturer may be responsible. For example, Boeing has come under intense scrutiny for errors in the design of some of its recent planes.
Air Traffic Control Staff
Mistakes by air traffic controllers, such as giving wrong instructions or failing to prevent midair conflicts, frequently cause or contribute to crashes.
Airport Authorities
Airport operators may be liable for accidents involving unsafe runway conditions, poor lighting, or other negligence. These cases can be particularly complicated when the airport authority is a government agency, which presents unique legal challenges and often involves strict deadlines for filing claims.
Flight Schools or Instructors
In training flight accidents, liability may fall on the instructor or school for failing to supervise the student or maintain the aircraft.
After identifying potentially liable parties, it is important to note that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates plane crashes, and legal action should be considered before the NTSB concludes its investigation and issues its report.
In many aviation accidents, multiple parties may share responsibility, and determining liability requires a thorough investigation into the actions of all involved. Regulatory oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration plays a significant role in aviation safety and accident prevention, and their standards are often central to these cases. Establishing liability often involves gathering evidence and expert analysis to identify negligent parties. Our firm is committed to holding negligent companies responsible and pursuing justice for victims of a plane accident.
Deadlines in Aviation Accident Cases
The deadline for taking legal action after a plane crash varies depending on the parties involved. For example, the usual deadline to file California personal injury lawsuits is two years from the accident date. In personal injury cases, it is especially important to act promptly, as missing the statute of limitations can bar your claim entirely.
However, some of these cases involve California government entities. (The City of Los Angeles runs LAX, for example, and Long Beach Airport is another location operated by a government agency.) In these cases, you must submit your notice of a claim within six months of your injuries.
Some plane crashes involve agencies or employees to whom federal law applies, such as most air traffic controllers. These cases may involve even more complicated rules and deadlines under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). In addition to personal injury claims, wrongful death cases arising from plane crashes may also be filed, allowing surviving family members to seek compensation for funeral expenses and loss of support.
The bottom line is that taking swift action is crucial to protect your right to compensation. Talk to an aviation injury attorney in Southern California right away to preserve your rights and ensure you do not miss important deadlines in your aviation accident case.
Compensation in Aviation Accident Claims
Your compensation in an aviation accident claim usually correlates with the severity of your injuries. When pursuing compensation in an plane crash case, it is important to understand the types of damages you may recover. Based on the facts of your case, your claim could include compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost wages for time missed from work
- Reduced future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Damaged personal property
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Financial support
Our firm is dedicated to helping clients seek compensation, pursue justice, and secure a fair settlement. We aggressively advocate for your rights to ensure you receive maximum compensation for all your losses.
In a wrongful death case, surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages specific to wrongful death cases. We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and obtaining justice for the families of victims.
Contact a Southern California Aviation Accident Lawyer Now
If you were involved in an aircraft accident, you may be facing serious injuries, insurmountable medical expenses, and other losses. Don’t fret, contact our team of attorneys. The personal injury attorneys in Southern California from Dordick Law Corporation can provide the comprehensive legal support you need. Our law firm can help you recover the compensation you need after a plane crashes. Call (310) 551-0949 now or complete our contact form for a free case consultation.
