Chicago Aviation Accident Attorneys

Jeffrey M. Goldberg is a pilot with many years of experience representing individuals in aviation-related accidents, including private planes, commercial airline carriers, sightseeing, and training, in cases ranging from serious injuries to death.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an aviation accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The aviation accident attorneys at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices will investigate the circumstances of your accident and advise you on your legal options. Over the past 45 years, our law firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injury victims and their families.

To learn more about how we can help with your aviation accident case, call the lawyers at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices at (312) 236-4146. Consultations are free, and we won’t charge you attorney fees unless we help you recover financially.

Aviation Accidents Occur Regularly

Aviation safety has improved over the past two decades and flying commercially is one of the safest modes of travel that exists today. There are still almost six aircraft accidents for every 100,000 flight hours, however. In the United States, there are roughly two fatalities for every 100,000 flight hours. Commercial jetliner accidents happen less frequently than crashes involving smaller private airplanes, helicopters and corporate jets, but any aviation accident can have catastrophic consequences.

Why Aviation Accidents Occur

A variety of factors may contribute to aviation accidents. The most common causes of these crashes include:

Mechanical Failure: It is common for aviation accidents to stem from structural design flaws, engine failures, or problems with digital, hydraulic, or electrical systems. If defective equipment contributed to your aviation accident, the manufacturer and the people responsible for inspecting the plane may be held liable for your losses. If negligent maintenance caused the parts to fail, you may be able to recover compensation from the owner of the aircraft and/or those responsible for maintaining it.
Pilot Error: Judgement or navigational errors, failing to follow proper takeoff or landing procedures, descending prematurely, failing to refuel, or flying while impaired can cause catastrophic aviation accidents. If pilot negligence caused your plane to crash, the pilot and the commercial airline (if applicable) can be held liable for your injuries.
Bad Weather: Aviation companies and/or pilots can be held liable if they fail to monitor the weather before takeoff or they don’t follow proper procedures in fog or during a storm.
Air Traffic Controller Negligence: If an air traffic controller fails to notify the pilot of impending danger or guides the pilot to take actions that cause a crash, he or she may be held responsible for the injuries or deaths that result.

Recovering Compensation After an Aviation Injury

Aviation accidents often end in the tragic loss of a loved one. Even when victims survive, their injuries are frequently extensive, impacting them emotionally, physically, and financially. While recovering compensation will not bring back a loved one who was killed in an aviation accident, and it won’t erase the injuries of those who are hurt, it can provide financial relief from the burdens that typically accompany such a tragedy.

If you file an injury claim or lawsuit and your case is successful, you could recover compensation for:

Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Medical costs
Emotional distress
Wrongful death

The Aviation Accident Attorney You Choose Makes a Difference

If you were injured or your loved one was killed in an aviation accident, the attorney you choose to represent you makes all the difference in the outcome of your case. Since these types of cases often involve multiple layers of domestic and international laws and regulations, and a wide range of technical issues including piloting, engineering, equipment maintenance, and air traffic control systems, lawyers who are unfamiliar with aviation accident cases are at risk of bringing less than satisfactory results for their clients.

When you retain the aviation accident attorneys at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices, you’ll receive representation from some of the top aircraft injury lawyers in the state who are familiar with FAA regulations, the two-tier liability system known as The Montreal Convention, and the resources and steps it takes to bring your accident case to a just resolution.

Aviation Accident FAQs

How long do I have to file an aviation accident claim in Illinois?
Generally, for incidents that occur in Illinois, you would have two years to file for injury or death. It must be noted that there are many exceptions due to where the incident happens, where the plane and its components were manufactured, etc. There may be different time requirements depending on the facts, which is why it’s important to contact an attorney immediately.
Who investigates airplane accident cases in the United States?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) play a significant role in the investigation of airplane crashes in the United States. When aviation accidents happen outside of the United States, the country the airplane was in when the crash occurred generally investigates the accident.
Where do I file my aviation accident injury lawsuit?
It depends. When an airplane crashes in the United States, an injury lawsuit can be filed in the state in which the victim resides, in the state where the ticket was purchased, in the destination state, or in the state where the accident occurred. To determine where to file the lawsuit, injury attorneys consider the laws and damage caps that may apply in each state, the location of witnesses, and the location that affords the case the best chance of success.

When an airplane accident occurs over the ocean or outside of the United States, the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention may apply, allowing victims to file injury lawsuits against foreign carriers where they maintain their primary residency.