Aviation Accident Lawyer Los Angeles | Plane & Helicopter Crash Claims

If you need an aviation accident lawyer in California, Mesriani Law Group is here to help. Plane crashes, helicopter accidents, and in-flight injuries can leave victims and their families facing catastrophic medical costs, loss of income, and grief — while airlines, insurers, and manufacturers work quickly to limit their exposure.

California aviation accident claims are among the most legally complex personal injury cases. They involve federal jurisdiction, FAA and NTSB investigations, multiple potential defendants, and in some cases international treaties. Mesriani Law Group has spent over 30 years navigating exactly this kind of complexity for injury victims throughout Los Angeles and California.

Why You Need an Aviation Accident Lawyer in California

Unlike a car accident where California state law typically governs the case, aviation accidents operate under a layered legal framework:

• Federal jurisdiction: The FAA regulates all U.S. airspace and aviation safety standards. Federal law often preempts state law in commercial aviation cases.
• NTSB investigations: The National Transportation Safety Board investigates all significant aviation accidents. Their findings are influential but not automatically admissible in civil litigation — a distinction that requires careful legal strategy.
• Montreal Convention: For international flights, the Montreal Convention governs liability and caps compensation in some circumstances. Knowing whether it applies — and how to navigate it — is critical.
• Multiple defendants: Liability can fall on the airline, the aircraft manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, the airport authority, air traffic control, or a combination of all of them.
• Compressed deadlines: If a government entity is involved, you may have as little as six months to file a government tort claim before the lawsuit deadline applies.

This is why retaining an experienced aviation accident lawyer in Los Angeles as quickly as possible after an incident is not just advisable — it is essential.

Types of Aviation Accidents We Handle

Mesriani Law Group represents victims and families in all types of aviation accident claims, including:

• Commercial airline crashes — accidents involving major and regional carriers operating scheduled passenger flights
• Private plane accidents — crashes involving small aircraft, Cessnas, Pipers, and other general aviation aircraft
• Helicopter crashes — including tour helicopters, medical transport, news and police helicopters, and private charters
• Charter and corporate jet accidents — incidents involving private charter flights and corporate aviation
• In-flight injuries — injuries caused by severe turbulence, falling luggage, slip and falls during boarding, or flight crew negligence
• Airport accidents — injuries occurring on airport grounds, jetways, or during ground operations
• Drone accidents — injuries caused by commercial or recreational drone collisions

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

Our legal team works with aviation investigators and expert witnesses to determine the root cause of every crash or incident. Common causes we investigate include:

• Pilot error: Failure to follow procedures, poor decision-making in adverse conditions, fatigue, or inadequate training
• Mechanical failure: Defective aircraft components, engine failure, faulty instruments, or manufacturing defects covered under products liability law
• Negligent maintenance: Improper inspections, failure to follow airworthiness directives, or falsified maintenance records
• Air traffic control error: Incorrect routing, failure to warn of traffic conflicts, or communication failures by FAA controllers
• Runway incursions and airport negligence: Accidents caused by poor airport design, inadequate lighting, or ground crew errors
• Weather-related negligence: Flying into known dangerous weather conditions despite warnings, or inadequate deicing procedures

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Aviation Accidents

Aviation accidents frequently result in catastrophic and life-altering injuries. Victims we represent have suffered:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and skull fractures
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Severe burns from post-crash fires
• Crush injuries and amputations
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
• Broken bones and complex fractures
• Lacerations and permanent scarring
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological trauma
• Wrongful death

If a loved one died in an aviation accident, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Aviation Accident?

One of the most important steps in any aviation accident case is identifying every party whose negligence contributed to the crash. Depending on the facts, liable parties may include:

• The airline or aircraft operator — responsible for pilot training, maintenance standards, and operational safety
• The aircraft manufacturer — liable if a design defect, manufacturing flaw, or failure to warn contributed to the crash
• Maintenance contractors — third-party mechanics or MRO providers who performed negligent repairs or inspections
• The FAA or government agencies — air traffic control errors by federal employees may give rise to a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) lawsuit
• Airport authorities — liable for unsafe runway conditions, inadequate lighting, or negligent ground operations
• Fuel suppliers or ground handlers — if fuel contamination or improper loading contributed to the accident

California follows a comparative negligence standard, meaning fault can be apportioned among multiple defendants. Working with an experienced aviation accident lawyer in California ensures every responsible party is identified before deadlines expire. Our attorneys pursue every responsible party to maximize your recovery.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Victims of aviation accidents and their families may be entitled to significant compensation. The full value of a claim depends on the severity of injuries, long-term care needs, lost income, and the circumstances of the crash.

• Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, specialist care, and rehabilitation
• Future medical care: Long-term care, physical and occupational therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications
• Lost income: Wages lost during recovery and, in cases of permanent disability, reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement: Additional damages for permanent visible injuries
• Wrongful death damages: Funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium
• Punitive damages: In cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, courts may award additional damages to punish the defendant

Aviation Accident Filing Deadlines in California

Acting quickly is critical. Aviation accident cases have strict deadlines that vary depending on who is responsible:

• General personal injury claims: Two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1
• Claims against government entities: A government tort claim must typically be filed within six months of the incident before a lawsuit can proceed — this applies when FAA air traffic controllers or government-operated aircraft are involved
• International flights under the Montreal Convention: Two years from the date of arrival or the scheduled date of arrival
• Wrongful death claims: Two years from the date of death, which may differ from the crash date if the victim survived for a period afterward

Important: Evidence in aviation cases — flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, maintenance logs, and ATC communications — can be lost, overwritten, or destroyed quickly. The sooner you retain an attorney, the better positioned you are to preserve critical evidence.

What to Do After an Aviation Accident

If you or a loved one was involved in an aviation accident, the steps taken in the immediate aftermath can significantly impact your claim:

1. Seek immediate medical attention — even if injuries seem minor. Internal injuries and concussions may not present symptoms immediately, and a medical record establishes your injury timeline.
2. Preserve any evidence you have — photographs of the scene, injuries, and aircraft if safe to do so; boarding passes; luggage tags; and any communications with the airline.
3. Report the incident — to airline staff, airport authorities, and law enforcement where applicable. Request a copy of any incident report.
4. Do not accept early settlements — airlines and their insurers often contact victims quickly with settlement offers designed to minimize liability before the full extent of injuries is known.
5. Do not give recorded statements — to the airline, its insurer, or investigators without first speaking to an attorney.
6. Contact Mesriani Law Group immediately — our aviation accident lawyers in California can begin the investigation, secure evidence, and protect your rights from day one.

Why Choose Mesriani Law Group as Your Aviation Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?

Aviation litigation is not a practice area where general personal injury experience is sufficient. The federal regulatory framework, the involvement of expert witnesses, and the resources that airlines and manufacturers deploy in their defense require a legal team with specific depth.

• Over 30 years representing personal injury victims in California
• Hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for clients
• Deep experience with complex multi-defendant litigation
• Network of aviation investigators, engineers, and medical experts
• No Win, No Fee — you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Farsi