Aviation Accident Lawyer in California

California is home to two of the country’s busiest airports: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). In addition to daily commercial flights, celebrities, business leaders, and elected officials also charter jets to and from LA, Silicon Valley, and other parts of the Golden State.

When commercial aircraft, private jets, or helicopters get into accidents, the consequences are often catastrophic. Crash survivors or surviving loved ones can seek damages if the aviation disaster was caused by negligence within the industry. Danko Meredith can hold these corporations accountable for you.

For a free and confidential consultation, contact our California aviation accident lawyers today. You can also reach our law office in Redwood City by calling (650) 453-3600.

How Long Do I Have to File an Aviation Accident Lawsuit?

According to California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you have two years from the date of the aviation accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Once this statute of limitations has passed, you will not be able to file a claim or lawsuit in order to seek compensation.

Different Deadline for Claims Against a Government Entity

If the claim is being filed against a government agency, you have a much shorter deadline to file.

According to California Code, GOV 911.2, you have six months to file a claim following an aviation accident that caused injury or death. This gives the government a chance to settle the claim out of court.

If the claim is denied, California Code, GOV 911.8 notes that you have just six months to seek a court action after your initial claim was denied.

How Long Does It Take to Resolve an Aviation Accident Case?

It varies, but in our experience, most aviation accident cases resolve 18 months to three years after we file them.

Considering this timeframe, we can resolve aviation lawsuits before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) even issues its probable cause report.

Speak with Our California Aviation Accident Attorneys Today

After a catastrophic air travel accident, the last thing a family wants to do is start talking with lawyers. Experience shows, however, that an aviation lawyer should be retained promptly—within two to three weeks of the incident if possible.

A California aviation accident attorney can help you understand the best option for your situation. Your lawyer will begin interviewing witnesses and making sure important evidence (such as the aircraft wreckage) is preserved. The more time that passes, the harder it will be for the attorney to prepare the case properly.

Get the process started—contact Danko Meredith today to speak with a California aviation disaster lawyer for free.

Why Choose Danko Meredith for Your Aviation Accident Case

The California aviation accident lawyers of Danko Meredith have handled cases on virtually every type of general aviation aircraft disaster. That includes accidents involving ultralights, light sport aircraft, vintage aircraft, technologically advanced aircraft (such as the Cirrus), private jets, helicopters of all sorts, and even hot air balloons.

Legal Representation by an Active Jet Pilot

Trial attorney Mike Danko is an active jet pilot with more than 4,000 hours as pilot-in-command. He is keenly aware of the safety issues affecting jet travel and has represented clients in major air disasters, both foreign and domestic, for more than three decades.

More Than 120 Years of Combined Experience

With more than 120 years of combined experience, the trial lawyers of Danko Meredith have what it takes to negotiate or litigate any airline disaster in California or abroad. We’ve represented the families of various airline disasters, including:

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 (improperly lubricated horizontal stabilator jackscrew)
American Airlines Flight 587 (design-induced pilot error)
TWA Flight 800 (explosion of vapor in center fuel tank due to improper wiring)
Adam Air Flight 574 (pilot disorientation-fixation on automation)
Air France Flight 4590 (tire explosion on takeoff)
Air Philippines Flight 541 (aircraft design defect)
Comair Flight 3272 (defectively designed de-icing system)
EgyptAir Flight 990 (mechanical failure of the aircraft’s elevator control system)

Our Bay Area attorneys have been called upon to testify as experts on U.S. aviation law before the courts of foreign countries.

Successful Results on Multiple Aviation Accident Cases

As our representative cases demonstrate, we are among Northern California’s top trial lawyers. We have obtained millions of dollars in favorable results in aviation accident cases, including a $2.9 million helicopter crash jury verdict and a $12 million fatal helicopter crash settlement. Some of Danko Meredith’s additional aviation case results include:

$32 million settlement for families who lost loved ones in the crash of a foreign airliner
$14.9 million jury verdict against an aircraft engine manufacturer for injuries a passenger sustained in the crash landing of a single-engine aircraft
$14 million settlement for families of those lost in a crash following controlled flight into terrain
$13.3 million jury verdict for the family of a 67-year-old pilot killed in the crash of a single-engine Cessna
$11 million settlement for a passenger injured in a private jet crash
$10 million jury verdict for the widow of a pilot killed in a helicopter crash
$9.75 million settlement for family involved in the crash of a tour helicopter
$1.55 million settlement for a passenger injured in a plane crash at Lake Tahoe

A Willingness to Go to Trial Against Corporations

Domestically, we’ve taken aviation cases to trial here in California as well as courts from Massachusetts to Hawai’i. We’ve been the choice of judges and attorneys for legal representation, including a lawyer for a former President of the United States.

Our trial record shows that we can take your case to court and win, even when we’re outnumbered by high-priced defense teams. We can out-lawyer the other side, and that reputation means you have more bargaining power during settlement negotiations.

Free Consultations and Contingency Representation

Your first consultation with us is free of charge. This allows you to get sound legal advice without any financial hurdles. In addition, we operate on a contingency fee basis. We charge nothing up front, and you will pay nothing for our services unless we can obtain a favorable settlement or win damages for you in court.

Were You in an Aviation Accident? Contact Danko Meredith for a Free Consultation

With Danko Meredith on your side, you have strong advocates for you and your family. Since we do not charge for legal services unless we are successful, you have nothing to lose while we put in the work.

If you were seriously injured while riding in an airliner, jet, or helicopter, contact our California aviation disaster attorneys today. We’re ready to help.

An Increased Risk of Commercial Airline Accidents

After a long period of unprecedented safety, airline travel has become increasingly risky. Crew members have become overly reliant on cockpit automation. Novel aircraft designs present new failure modes. Air traffic controllers are subjected to ever-increasing workload.

Perhaps most importantly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has abdicated its duty to regulate aircraft manufacturers, allowing these corporations to self-regulate and self-certify themselves. This is especially true of Boeing.

Airline Accidents Involving Boeing’s 737 MAX

Boeing has been at the center of multiple incidents over the years. The most high-profile Boeing aviation accidents include:

Lion Air Flight 610 – During a flight in Indonesia, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the Java Sea just minutes after taking off. The crash killed all 189 people on board. Investigators learned the crash was caused by the newly developed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software, which forces the nose of a plane down when it ascends at too steep an angle. Boeing never mentioned the MCAS software to pilots, nor did Boeing provide any training or instructions for pilots about MCAS.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 – During a flight from Ethiopia to Kenya, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed near the town of Bishoftu. The crash killed all 157 people on board. Like the Lion Air flight, the crash was caused by the MCAS software forcing the plane’s nose down. The pilots managed to disable MCAS and take manual control of the plane, but by then it was too late.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 – During a flight from Oregon to California, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 had to make an emergency landing minutes after takeoff when an emergency exit door detached. Thankfully there were only three minor injuries among all passengers and crew on board. Investigators learned that the door plug was missing four bolts to keep it in place, and that Boeing knew these bolts were missing when they delivered the aircraft to Alaska Airlines.

Airline Manufacturers Putting Profit Over People

For the two fatal crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a video report by Vox concluded that Boeing’s poor judgement was driven by corporate competition with Airbus. Rather than disclose the new MCAS system and create training materials for pilots to use, Boeing claimed their new 737 MAX model was identical to the previous model and that no additional training was needed.

For Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and other recent safety issues, there have been accusations of Boeing cutting corners in production, safety, and quality control in order to please shareholders. An anonymous Boeing employee and a whistleblower both told KIRO 7 News that the company rushes employees to complete and sign off on substandard work.

The bottom line: putting safety over profits could have saved hundreds of lives. Danko Meredith is here to hold Boeing and other airline companies accountable for putting lives at risk.

Request a Free Consultation with Our CA Aviation Accident Lawyers

Now more than ever it falls upon the civil justice system—judges and juries—to hold the airline industry accountable. At Danko Meredith, we have a passion for aviation safety. If you or a family member was injured in an airline accident, contact our California aviation accident lawyers today. We are here to listen and ready to fight for you.

Other Types of Aviation Accidents

Commercial airline accidents tend to get many headlines given the danger to everyday air travelers and the number of lives put at risk. Yet there are other aviation accidents to consider, including incidents with helicopters, military aircraft, and general aviation. (General aviation includes any aviation operation other than military flights or transportation for hire.)

Below are some of the other aviation accident cases we work on apart from airline crashes:

Common Causes of General Aviation Accidents

Some potential causes of general aviation accidents include:

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) – This is when a manually piloted craft accidentally strikes the ground, a body of water, or any other obstacle.
Scud Running – Scud running is when a pilot lowers altitude to avoid cloud cover and maintain visual. This is a dangerous practice, however, and makes CFIT more likely.
Improper Maintenance – Poor aircraft maintenance or repair makes mechanical error and system failures more likely.
Improper Equipment or Lack of Crew Training – Not having the right tool or the right training could be disastrous in adverse weather or emergency situations.
Defective or Bogus Aircraft Parts – When parts fail, there’s a serious risk of an aviation accident even if the pilot is experienced and properly trained.
Air Traffic Controller Error – Air traffic controllers are often stressed given the hypervigilance required to do the job. Mistakes on their end, however, could be deadly.
Defective Aircraft Design – As with commercial airliners, flaws in design or manufacturing of an aircraft could spell disaster for the pilot and any crew on board.
Contaminated or Improper Fuel – Using the wrong fuel or contaminated fuel can cause engine failure and could contribute to a crash landing.

Potential Injuries from Aviation Accidents

Aircraft crash survivors frequently suffer catastrophic personal injury, such as broken bones, loss of limbs, nerve damage, disfigurement, and severe injuries to the internal organs. Other injuries from aviation accidents include:

Second-Degree and Third-Degree Burn Injuries – Burns from fuel and electrical burns can both seriously harm skin and soft tissue, requiring skin grafts and other surgical procedures for treatment.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Closed and penetrating brain injuries can do serious and long-lasting harm to a person’s cognitive function, psychological well-being, motor skill control, and overall quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis – Injuries to the back, spinal cord, or neck could result in partial paralysis, paraplegia, or quadriplegia, with severe impact on a person’s mobility, livelihood, and future quality of life.

Loss of Life in Fatal Aviation Disasters

Crashes involving airliners, jets, helicopters, and other aircraft are sometimes fatal. If a crash victim does not lose their life during the accident itself, they may succumb to their severe injuries after the crash.

In either case, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim after a fatal accident to hold the negligent party accountable.

Discuss Your Aviation Accident with Our Attorneys in Northern California

Our California aviation accident attorneys understand the causes of aviation accidents and long-term repercussions they have on people’s lives. This helps us maximize a client’s compensation, noting past and current medical needs as well as long-term health care costs and physical rehabilitation. To set up a free consultation, contact our aviation accident lawyers in Redwood City, CA.

Reasons to File a Lawsuit Before the NTSB Completes Its Report

Sometimes it makes sense to wait for the National Transportation Safety Board to finish its work before deciding whether to file suit. Yet most of the time, waiting for the NTSB to finish is not in the client’s best interests and extends the length of a case.

Here are some compelling reasons to avoid the wait and speak with an aviation disaster lawyer ASAP.

The NTSB’s Findings Are Seldom Unbiased

The NTSB has neither the engineering expertise nor the financial resources to investigate an accident on its own, so it enlists the aircraft manufacturers and other big industry interests for technical assistance.

For example, if a case involves an engine failure, the NTSB will ask the manufacturer of the engine why it failed. The manufacturer seldom blames itself. For this reason, the NTSB’s final reports almost always favor the big industry players.

The NTSB Doesn’t Answer the “Why” Questions

NTSB reports describe what happened without really saying why. But the “why” questions are what matter.

For example, an EMS helicopter crashed and all aboard were killed. The NTSB’s final report concluded that the helicopter’s rotor blades came apart in flight, which was obvious from the outset. It was only our lawsuit that showed that the blade came apart because, months before the accident, a mechanic had botched a repair to the blade, weakening its internal structure.

The NTSB never even interviewed the mechanic involved. Rather, the NTSB was satisfied that it had determined the “cause” of the accident when it figured out that the rotor blade failed. Once it determined that the blade failed, the NTSB felt that its work was done.

NTSB Conclusions Aren’t Legally Binding

By federal statute, the NTSB’s conclusions are inadmissible in court, so an aviation accident lawyer can’t simply rely on the NTSB to do their work for them. Instead, aviation disaster attorneys must instead conduct their own investigations.

Many clients are surprised to learn that the NTSB has no power to punish sloppy operators or take away their licenses, regardless of what it concludes caused the crash. For most operators, unless there’s a lawsuit, it’s “business as usual.”

NTSB Reports Take Years to Complete

After the accident, the NTSB often says that it will take a year or less to complete its report. In fact, it usually takes the NTSB two to four years, and sometimes even longer. As we mentioned earlier, the NTSB is so slow that if the family begins a lawsuit right away, it often can be settled and sometimes even tried to verdict before the NTSB publishes its findings.

On the other hand, when a family decides to wait for the NTSB’s report before allowing the attorney to start the case, witnesses scatter and important documents are destroyed. The wreckage may end up being scrapped. Worst of all, the statute of limitations may run out on the family’s claim, preventing a lawsuit regardless of the cause of the accident.

Don’t Wait for the NTSB: Contact Our Aviation Accident Attorneys in California

Our aviation accident attorneys in California know from experience that waiting for the NTSB report before deciding whether to file a lawsuit puts the family’s attorney behind.

Do not delay. To speak with experienced attorneys about your aviation accident, contact Danko Meredith today. You can also request a free consultation by phone at (650) 453-3600.