Aviation accidents are devastating. In most cases, there are no survivors in plane crashes. For families in Louisiana, the grief, shock, and financial stress following the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one can be unbearable.
At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we represent families facing these tragedies, providing them with legal assistance and emotional support as they seek justice and compensation.
While survival of a catastrophic aviation accident is rare, some people may survive less severe accidents resulting from severe turbulence, mechanical failures, or in-flight assaults. Survivors often face life-changing injuries, long-term medical treatment, and severe psychological trauma. Our lawyers provide survivors with the legal support they need to cover medical costs, lost income, and ongoing care.
If you survived an aviation or helicopter accident or lost a loved one in a plane or helicopter crash, contact our team today. We are here to help you through this unimaginable experience and fight for the compensation you need.
Who We Help After an Aviation Accident
Our aviation accident lawyers help people during the most traumatic and life-changing events of their lives. We help survivors and families by handling the complex legal process on their behalf.
More specifically, we represent:
- Families grieving the death of a loved one after a crash
- Survivors of non-crash aviation incidents
- Spouses, children, and dependents facing sudden financial hardship
- People seeking answers about why an accident happened and who is liable
Aviation Accidents in Louisiana
Louisiana is home to major airports such as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, and other regional airports, as well as helicopter tours, medical transport, and commercial helicopter services. Thousands of flights take off and land safely in our state every year.
Although aviation and helicopter accidents are rare, when they happen, the consequences can be profound and long-lasting. Even a single tragic crash or in-flight emergency can impact countless lives.
The far-reaching impact of an aviation crash is not lost on us when we represent aviation accident clients, and we fight aggressively for families with that in mind.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Investigating aviation accidents requires deep knowledge of federal regulations and safety standards. It also requires understanding the common causes of accidents and how to prevent them in the future.
Common causes of aviation accidents include:
- Pilot Error: Misjudgments during takeoff, landing, or in-flight maneuvers can lead to catastrophic results.
- Mechanical Failures: Faulty engines, rotor systems, or other critical components can cause accidents.
- Weather Conditions: Sudden storms, fog, or turbulence may contribute to accidents or injuries during flights.
- Bird Strikes: During takeoff or landing, planes can collide with birds, damaging engines or causing loss of control.
- Air Traffic Control Mistakes: Miscommunications or errors from ground control can create dangerous situations.
- Maintenance or Manufacturing Defects: Airlines or manufacturers may be liable if mechanical issues were preventable or improperly addressed.
Even when a full-fledged crash does not occur, turbulence, abrupt maneuvers, or malfunctions can leave passengers injured and terrified.
Injuries and Loss in Aviation Accidents
For most families, a plane crash means they’ve lost a loved one. When people do survive aviation accidents, they may experience:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal injuries requiring long-term care
- Psychological trauma, including anxiety and PTSD
Our team investigates all possible angles to ensure families and survivors receive the compensation they deserve for their medical care and ongoing psychological support.
Liability in Aviation Accidents
Determining fault in aviation accidents is highly complex. Multiple parties may be liable:
- Airlines: For failing to maintain aircraft, employ certified or properly trained staff, or follow safety procedures
- Pilots or Crew Members: For negligent actions during flight (pilot error is the most common cause of aviation accidents.)
- Manufacturers: For defective parts or design flaws
- Maintenance Providers: For improperly serviced or inspected aircraft
- Air Traffic Controllers: For communication errors that contribute to accidents
Louisiana families often face the added complexity of federal aviation laws, which dictate the processes, deadlines, and venues for filing claims. An experienced aviation lawyer can handle all those details.
Compensation Available After an Aviation Accident
After an aviation accident, families and survivors often face complex financial challenges. Our team works to identify every potential source of compensation and fights aggressively to help you recover maximum compensation.
Compensation for survivors may include:
- Hospitalization and all medical treatment
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Lost income, benefits, and future earning potential
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
Compensation is also available for wrongful death claims stemming from aviation accidents:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of a loved one’s income and all future earnings
- Loss of companionship
- Medical expenses before the death of a loved one
Steps to Take After an Aviation Accident
Experiencing an aviation accident is truly unthinkable, whether you’re a survivor or a family member of someone who was hurt or killed.
Nobody expects you to think on your feet in the aftermath of such a tragedy, but knowing what to do immediately after an accident can protect your health, preserve critical evidence, and protect your legal rights.
Taking the following steps can make a significant difference for survivors and families when recovering and pursuing compensation:
- Seek immediate medical care. Survivors may have injuries that are not immediately obvious, although most are clearly injured.
- Preserve evidence. Collect documentation, flight records, photos, and witness statements if possible.
- Avoid speaking to the airline’s insurer. Some of the statements you make can be used to limit your compensation.
- Contact an aviation accident lawyer. Early connection with a lawyer is critical in meeting deadlines, navigating federal regulations, and proving complex liability.
How Dudley DeBosier Supports Louisiana Families
Our team has seen the devastation families experience after such a traumatic event firsthand. Whether you lost a loved one in an aviation accident or you were injured in one, we’re here to provide Louisiana families with the following legal support:
- Investigation: We secure flight records, maintenance logs, and witness statements to establish liability.
- Negotiation: We communicate directly with insurers, airline representatives, and federal agencies.
- Trial Representation: If necessary, we take cases to trial to ensure families receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
Our law firm is experienced in aviation accidents involving both commercial airplanes and helicopters. Families seeking support for helicopter-related incidents may also explore our helicopter accident page for more details.
Why Choose Dudley DeBosier
At Dudley DeBosier, we bring both legal knowledge and compassion to every aviation accident case. Families in Louisiana trust us because we understand the challenges that follow a crash, and we treat every client like family.
The unimaginable pain survivors and families experience in these cases remains at the forefront of our minds, and we always think about how we’d want to be treated if the roles were reversed. Empathy is at the heart of our firm, and we let it guide everything we do.
We also help clients by:
- Handling Complex Federal Aviation Law and NTSB Procedures: Aviation cases involve strict federal regulations, deadlines, and investigative protocols. We make sure every requirement is met, and every avenue of compensation is pursued.
- Investigating Multiple Responsible Parties: Airlines, pilots, manufacturers, maintenance providers, and tour operators can all share in the responsibility. We identify all liable parties and build a strategy to hold them accountable.
- Providing Emotional and Logistical Support: Beyond legal guidance, we help families and survivors manage the stress of paperwork and insurance communications, and we help coordinate medical or funeral arrangements.
- Fighting for Victims Without Adding Financial Stress: We operate on a contingency basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and our fees are contingent upon the outcome of the case. This is how we help families focus on the healing process rather than legal bills.
Contact Louisiana Aviation Accident Lawyers Today
The moments and days following an aviation accident can feel like a nightmare, whether you’re coping with the loss of a loved one or you’re a survivor recovering from injuries. Dudley DeBosier aviation accident lawyers are here to investigate thoroughly, explain your legal options with complete transparency, and fight on your behalf for compensation, justice, and answers.
Contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no obligation. This is just an opportunity for you to tell us your story and see how we can help.
