Experienced Florida Aviation Accident Attorneys
Aviation accidents are among the most devastating and legally complex incidents in personal injury law. Whether involving a commercial airline, private aircraft, helicopter, or charter plane, the consequences of an aviation accident are often catastrophic, leaving victims with life-threatening injuries or tragically claiming lives. At Roselli & McNelis, our trial attorneys have the expertise, resources, and determination to take on these high-stakes cases.
Florida's busy airspace, numerous airports, and active general aviation community mean that aviation accidents occur with disturbing regularity. These cases demand attorneys who understand federal aviation regulations, the role of the FAA and NTSB, and the complex interplay of liability among airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance providers, and government agencies. Our firm brings decades of trial experience to every aviation case we handle.
Types of Aviation Accidents We Handle
Our attorneys represent victims and families affected by all types of aviation incidents, including:
- Commercial Airline Accidents: Crashes, runway incidents, and in-flight emergencies involving commercial carriers operating under FAA Part 121 regulations.
- Private and General Aviation Crashes: Accidents involving small private planes, single-engine aircraft, and general aviation operations, which account for the majority of aviation fatalities in the United States.
- Helicopter Accidents: Crashes involving news helicopters, tour helicopters, air ambulances, and private rotorcraft, often caused by mechanical failures or pilot error.
- Charter and Air Taxi Accidents: Incidents involving charter flights and on-demand air carriers, which are subject to different regulatory requirements than commercial airlines.
- Runway and Airport Accidents: Ground collisions, runway incursions, and airport infrastructure failures that cause injury to passengers, crew, or ground personnel.
- Mid-Air Collisions: Collisions between aircraft, often caused by air traffic control errors, pilot negligence, or failures in collision avoidance systems.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Aviation accidents are rarely caused by a single factor. Our attorneys investigate every potential cause to identify all liable parties:
- Pilot Error: The leading cause of aviation accidents, including navigation mistakes, failure to follow procedures, spatial disorientation, and flying in unsafe weather conditions.
- Mechanical Failure: Defective engines, landing gear malfunctions, hydraulic system failures, and instrument malfunctions that can cause an aircraft to lose control.
- Negligent Maintenance: Improper inspections, inadequate repairs, failure to replace worn components, and use of substandard parts by maintenance facilities.
- Design and Manufacturing Defects: Flaws in aircraft design or manufacturing that make the aircraft inherently unsafe, creating liability for manufacturers under product liability law.
- Air Traffic Control Errors: Miscommunication, improper routing, failure to maintain safe separation between aircraft, and errors in directing takeoffs and landings.
- Weather-Related Factors: While weather itself is not negligence, failing to properly assess weather conditions, inadequate pilot training for adverse weather, or faulty weather instruments can create liability.
Federal Aviation Regulations and Your Case
Aviation is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets strict standards for aircraft design, maintenance, pilot training, and operations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates aviation accidents and issues findings that can be crucial evidence in litigation.
Our attorneys understand how to leverage FAA regulations, NTSB investigation reports, cockpit voice recorder data, and flight data recorder information to build compelling cases. We know how to navigate the intersection of federal and state law that governs aviation accident claims, and we have access to aviation experts who can analyze the technical aspects of your case.
Damages in Aviation Accident Cases
Aviation accidents typically produce severe or fatal injuries. Victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency treatment, surgeries, burn care, rehabilitation, and all ongoing medical costs resulting from aviation injuries.
- Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Past and future lost wages, including long-term loss of earning potential for victims who can no longer work.
- Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Trauma: Physical pain, psychological distress, PTSD, anxiety, and the profound emotional impact of surviving an aviation accident.
- Wrongful Death: Funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, and mental anguish suffered by surviving family members.
- Permanent Disability: Compensation for burns, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other permanent conditions resulting from the crash.
Why Choose Roselli & McNelis for Your Aviation Accident Case?
Aviation accident cases require a unique combination of legal skill, technical knowledge, and substantial resources. Here's why victims and families trust our firm:
- Civil Trial Lawyers: Our attorneys hold the Florida Bar's highest trial certification, demonstrating elite expertise in complex litigation.
- Complex Litigation Experience: Aviation cases involve multiple defendants, federal regulations, and sophisticated technical evidence. We have the experience to handle this complexity.
- Access to Aviation Experts: We work with accident reconstruction specialists, aviation engineers, former NTSB investigators, and other experts to build irrefutable cases.
- No Fee Unless We Win: We handle aviation accident cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aviation accidents often involve multiple liable parties. Depending on the cause of the accident, potential defendants include the airline or aircraft operator, the aircraft manufacturer, engine and component manufacturers, maintenance and repair facilities, the pilot or flight crew, air traffic controllers and the FAA, airport operators, and fuel suppliers. Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations to identify every party whose negligence contributed to the accident, maximizing the potential sources of compensation for our clients.
Aviation accident cases are significantly more complex than typical personal injury claims. They involve federal aviation regulations (FARs), NTSB investigation procedures, international treaties like the Montreal Convention for international flights, and highly technical evidence including flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. These cases often require expert witnesses in aviation engineering, meteorology, human factors, and accident reconstruction. Additionally, aviation cases frequently involve multiple jurisdictions and defendants from different states or countries. Our firm has the experience and resources to handle this complexity effectively.
The statute of limitations for aviation accident cases varies depending on the circumstances. In Florida, personal injury claims generally have a four-year statute of limitations, while wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. However, claims against government entities, such as those involving air traffic control errors, may have much shorter filing deadlines. International flights are governed by the Montreal Convention, which has its own time limits. Because evidence in aviation cases can be lost or destroyed quickly, it's critical to contact an attorney immediately after an accident.