When an aviation accident occurs, the consequences can be devastating. Injuries from plane crashes, helicopter accidents, and other aviation incidents often cause serious harm to passengers, crew members, and people on the ground. If you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident in Oklahoma City, Abel Law Firm is available to help you pursue compensation. With over 50 years of experience handling personal injury cases, our team of Oklahoma City aviation accident lawyer understands the challenges that aviation accident victims face.
Why Choose Us for Your Aviation Accident Case
When your family faces the aftermath of an aviation accident, it is important to work with an attorney who brings both experience and compassion to your case. We have recovered more than $550 million for injured clients throughout Oklahoma. Our team includes multiple Super Lawyers and attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America. Our five attorneys have spent decades handling serious injury cases, wrongful death claims, and litigation involving multiple potentially liable parties.
We understand that aviation accidents differ from many other personal injury claims. These cases often require knowledge of federal aviation regulations, aircraft maintenance standards, and technical factors that may contribute to crashes. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront. We only recover a fee if we obtain compensation for you. We are available 24/7 and committed to giving your case prompt attention during a difficult time.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Aviation accidents rarely result from a single factor. They often involve a combination of human error, mechanical issues, or negligence by multiple parties. Understanding what contributed to your accident is essential to evaluating who may bear legal responsibility for your injuries.
Pilot error is one of the more common factors in aviation accidents. This can include fatigue from excessive flight hours, inadequate training, poor decision-making during emergencies, failure to follow proper procedures, or impaired judgment. Mechanical failure and maintenance issues also contribute significantly to crashes. Aircraft require rigorous maintenance schedules. When airlines, maintenance companies, or repair facilities do not properly inspect, service, or replace critical components, accidents may occur. Manufacturing defects in aircraft design or construction can make planes unsafe even when they are maintained and operated appropriately.
Air traffic control errors can arise when controllers fail to provide accurate guidance, miss critical information, or make errors that lead to collisions or unsafe situations. Weather-related factors, while sometimes unavoidable, can still result in potential liability if pilots do not take appropriate precautions. Fuel contamination, structural or design problems, and violations of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations may also play a role.
Types of Aviation Accidents We Handle
Aviation accidents take many forms, and each presents its own legal considerations. Commercial airline accidents involving large passenger aircraft may result in multiple fatalities and complex litigation involving major carriers, manufacturers, and service providers. Private plane crashes, including accidents involving small aircraft and personal jets, can involve issues such as owner negligence, inadequate maintenance, or pilot error. Helicopter accidents occur in both commercial and private settings and may involve mechanical and operational factors specific to rotorcraft.
Charter flight accidents can involve commercial operators who transport passengers for hire, which may trigger specific liability standards. Business jet accidents may involve corporate operators, flight crews, and manufacturers. Regardless of the type of aviation accident you have experienced, we can investigate what happened and pursue claims against responsible parties.
Injuries and Damages in Aviation Accidents
Aviation accidents can produce severe injuries. Victims may suffer spinal cord injuries that result in partial or complete paralysis, traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive or physical effects, severe burns requiring extensive treatment, and amputations or loss of limbs. Many aviation accident victims do not survive, leaving families to consider wrongful death claims.
The damages available in aviation accident cases can be extensive. Economic damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, costs of ongoing care and rehabilitation, assistive equipment and home modifications, and transportation expenses related to treatment. Non-economic damages may address pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement and scarring, and loss of consortium with a spouse or family members. In some cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages may be available under Oklahoma law to punish wrongful behavior and discourage similar conduct.
Calculating the full value of a claim requires understanding both the immediate costs of your injuries and their long-term impact. We may work with medical professionals, vocational specialists, and economists to document and evaluate your damages.
Who Is Liable in an Aviation Accident?
Determining liability in an aviation accident typically requires careful investigation and analysis of multiple potential defendants. Aircraft manufacturers and designers may be responsible when design defects or manufacturing flaws contribute to crashes. Maintenance and repair companies must follow strict protocols. Negligence in servicing aircraft can result in liability. Airlines and aircraft operators have duties to maintain their fleets, hire qualified crews, and follow safety regulations.
Pilots and crew members may be held liable for negligence, including failure to follow procedures, operating while impaired, or making reckless decisions. Air traffic control facilities operated by the FAA or private contractors may bear responsibility for errors in guidance or failure to provide critical information. Airport operators must maintain reasonably safe conditions and may be liable for negligence in operations or maintenance.
In many aviation accidents, more than one party may share responsibility. A crash might involve pilot error along with inadequate maintenance and a design issue. An investigation aims to identify all potentially liable parties so you can pursue compensation from all available sources, including insurance coverage.
The Aviation Accident Claim Process
Aviation accident claims often follow a process that differs from many other personal injury cases. The initial investigation and evidence preservation phase typically begins soon after an accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) may conduct an official investigation. Its focus is on determining probable cause rather than assigning civil liability. We conduct our own investigation to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and gather information that may support your claim.
Expert witness involvement is common in aviation cases. We may work with aviation specialists familiar with aircraft systems and operations, engineers who can analyze design or manufacturing issues, medical experts who describe your injuries and prognosis, and economists who assess your financial losses.
Determining negligence requires examining how the accident occurred and whether any party failed to meet applicable standards of care. This can involve reviewing maintenance records, pilot qualifications, training records, weather reports, air traffic control communications, and aircraft design information. Calculating damages involves documenting medical treatment, lost income, and other economic losses.
Negotiation and settlement efforts often occur before trial. Insurance companies and defendants may make settlement offers. We review any proposals to see whether they reflect the value of your claim. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we can prepare your case for trial. Throughout the process, you pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis and recover a fee only if compensation is obtained in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an aviation accident claim?
The time limit for filing an aviation accident claim depends on the type of claim and the parties involved. In Oklahoma, many personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury. However, aviation accidents can involve federal claims or claims against government entities that may be subject to different or shorter deadlines. Wrongful death claims also have specific timing requirements. Contact us promptly to evaluate the applicable deadlines in your situation.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault?
Oklahoma follows a comparative fault rule. You may still recover damages if you were partially responsible for the accident, as long as your percentage of fault is less than 50 percent. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your damages total $100,000, your recovery would be $80,000.
How much is my aviation accident case worth?
The value of an aviation accident case depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the amount and duration of medical treatment, your need for future care, your lost income and impact on earning capacity, the strength of the liability evidence, and the number and type of liable defendants and insurance policies. Because aviation injuries are often serious, the potential damages can be significant, particularly in cases involving wrongful death or life-altering injuries. We offer a free consultation to review your circumstances and discuss the potential value of your claim.
Do I need an attorney for an aviation accident claim?
You are not required to hire an attorney, but aviation accident claims are typically complex. They can involve federal aviation regulations, technical evidence, multiple defendants, and significant damages. Insurance carriers and other defendants are often represented by experienced counsel. Working with us can help you understand your rights, gather and present evidence, and negotiate with insurers. Because we work on contingency, you can consult an attorney without paying upfront fees.
Contact Us for Your Free Aviation Accident Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident, consider contacting us to discuss your legal options. The sooner you reach out, the sooner an investigation can begin.
Call Abel Law Firm today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. You can also contact the firm through its website or visit the Oklahoma City office at 900 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. We represent aviation accident victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and we only recover a fee if we secure compensation for you.
