Orlando Airplane Crash Injury Lawyers Fighting for Catastrophic Injury Victims

Orlando Airplane Crash Injury Lawyers

An airplane crash is one of the most catastrophic events a person can survive—or lose someone to. If you or a family member was injured in a plane crash or lost a loved one in one, you may have the right to pursue a claim against the airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance contractors, or other parties whose negligence or failure to maintain safety standards caused the crash.

Airplane crash cases are complex. They involve federal regulations, multiple defendants, and often life-altering injuries including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, amputations, and wrongful death. CHG Personal Injury Lawyers focuses exclusively on catastrophic injury cases nationwide, including those arising from aviation accidents. We understand the legal and practical challenges crash survivors and grieving families face—and we handle these cases across state lines, not just in Florida.

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Airplane Crash?

Liability in an airplane crash often extends to multiple parties: the airline, the aircraft manufacturer, maintenance contractors, and sometimes pilots or crew members.

Airlines can be held responsible if they failed to maintain the aircraft properly, hired unqualified crew, or violated safety protocols.

Aircraft manufacturers may be liable if the plane had a design defect or manufacturing flaw that contributed to the crash.

Maintenance contractors can be responsible if they failed to inspect, repair, or service the aircraft to required standards.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets and enforces safety standards under 14 CFR Part 121 (commercial airline operations) and 14 CFR Part 135 (charter and on-demand operations). Violations of these regulations can establish negligence in a claim.

In catastrophic-injury cases we handle, determining which party or parties caused the crash often requires expert analysis. We review maintenance records, design specifications, crew training documentation, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation findings.

Understanding NTSB Investigations and Their Role in Your Claim

When a commercial airplane crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—an independent federal agency—conducts a thorough investigation. Here’s what you need to know: the NTSB does not determine fault or liability. That determination happens in civil court. However, the NTSB’s findings about what caused the crash become essential evidence in your personal-injury or wrongful-death claim.

The NTSB investigates: – The aircraft’s condition and maintenance history – Crew performance and training records – Weather conditions – Air-traffic control communications – Structural or mechanical factors

The agency publishes a detailed accident report—often 100+ pages—with findings, contributing factors, and recommendations. This report becomes the foundation for establishing negligence or product defects against airlines, manufacturers, or maintenance contractors.

For example, if the NTSB report identifies inadequate maintenance as a contributing factor, that finding supports your claim that the airline or maintenance contractor was negligent. If the report identifies a design flaw, that supports a product-liability claim against the manufacturer.

You do not need to wait for the NTSB investigation to conclude before filing a civil lawsuit. Once the NTSB report is published, it strengthens your case significantly.

Commercial Airlines vs. Charter and Private Aviation

Liability rules and applicable law differ depending on the type of aircraft and operation.

Commercial airline crashes are governed by federal law, including the Warsaw Convention (for international flights) or the Montreal Convention (which replaced the Warsaw Convention in 2003 for most countries). These treaties limit damages in some cases but also establish clear liability frameworks. The NTSB investigates commercial airline crashes.

Charter flights (Part 135 operations under FAA regulations) and private planes (Part 91 operations) operate under different rules. Liability may rest with the charter company, the aircraft owner, the pilot, or a combination. The NTSB investigates some charter accidents but not all private-plane accidents. State law may apply to charter or private-aviation claims, depending on where the crash occurred and the parties involved.

If you were injured on a charter flight or private plane, the legal landscape is different. You need an attorney who understands those distinctions.

What Types of Injuries Result from Airplane Crashes?

Airplane crashes produce some of the most severe injuries imaginable. The extreme forces involved—rapid deceleration, impact trauma, fire, and structural collapse—cause catastrophic harm.

Survivors often suffer: – Spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia (partial or complete paralysis) – Traumatic brain injuries that can cause permanent cognitive, physical, or emotional impairment – Severe burns when fuel ignites or fires spread through the cabin – Amputations from crush injuries or thermal damage

Many crash survivors face a lifetime of medical care, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and lost earning capacity.

Families also face the devastating reality of wrongful death. When a loved one is killed in a crash, surviving family members may pursue a claim for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship and guidance.

Florida’s Statute of Limitations for Airplane Crash Claims

Time is critical in airplane crash cases. Under Florida law, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal-injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death.

Fla. Stat. §95.11(4)(a) sets this deadline. Missing it means losing your right to sue entirely, regardless of the strength of your case.

If the crash occurred outside Florida, the statute of limitations of that state may apply. This is why prompt legal consultation is essential. If you were injured in an airplane crash in Florida or elsewhere, or if a family member died, contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

How Does Comparative Fault Apply to Airplane Crash Cases?

Florida follows a modified comparative-fault rule. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.

Fla. Stat. §768.81(6) governs this rule. In airplane crash cases, comparative fault rarely applies to passengers—they are generally not responsible for the crash. However, in cases involving charter flights, private planes, or situations where a passenger’s conduct contributed to the accident, comparative-fault questions may arise. An attorney will evaluate whether this rule affects your claim.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Catastrophic airplane crash injuries justify substantial damages. You may recover:

• Medical expenses: emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, and assistive devices
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity: income lost during recovery and lifetime lost earnings if you cannot return to work
• Pain and suffering: compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, and reduced quality of life
• Permanent disability: damages reflecting the permanent nature of paralysis, brain injury, or amputation
• Wrongful death damages: in fatal crashes, funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship (for surviving family members)

Because airplane crashes cause catastrophic, permanent injuries, damages are often substantial. The exact amount depends on the severity of injury, age, earning history, and other factors specific to your case.

Why Airplane Crash Cases Are Complex

Airplane crash litigation involves multiple layers of complexity:

• Federal regulations and jurisdiction: aviation is governed by federal law, FAA standards, and often federal court procedure, not just state law
• Multiple defendants across state lines: airlines, manufacturers, maintenance contractors, and others may be located in different states, requiring nationwide litigation strategy
• Expert testimony: engineers, accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, and aviation experts are typically necessary to establish liability and damages
• Substantial damages: the catastrophic nature of injuries and fatalities means high-value claims that defendants and their insurers vigorously defend
• Insurance and corporate resources: airlines and manufacturers have extensive legal teams and insurance coverage

These cases demand experienced legal representation. You need an attorney who understands aviation law, federal procedure, the medical realities of catastrophic injury, and how to navigate cases that cross state lines.

FAQ

What to Do Now

If you or a family member survived an airplane crash with severe injuries—paralysis, brain injury, burns, amputation—or if a loved one was killed in a crash, you’re facing not only physical and emotional recovery but also urgent legal decisions. The two-year deadline under Florida law moves quickly, and the complexity of aviation cases demands prompt, experienced legal guidance.

Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation. We focus exclusively on catastrophic injury cases and handle airplane crashes nationwide. Let’s talk about what may be possible in your case.