Aviation cases cover commercial airline incidents, charter and helicopter crashes, and FAA Part 91 / 135 operations. Below are related catastrophic-injury and wrongful-death resources.
Talk to one of our attorneys: Cameron Yadidi Brock · Artin Fiterz, Esq. · Greg Diarian · Craig D. Rackohn · Lena G. Karaminassian · Isaac Radnia
Injured passengers, surviving family members in wrongful death cases under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, and crew members in some circumstances. Cases against commercial carriers, charter operators, and aircraft manufacturers each have different rules and venues.
Federal Aviation Administration regulations under 14 CFR Parts 91 (general aviation), 121 (commercial airlines), and 135 (charter), plus state tort law for negligence. Cases against foreign carriers may be governed by the Montreal Convention with separate damages caps and procedure.
Commercial airline cases routinely exceed $1 million per claimant in fatal crashes because of Montreal Convention recoveries. General aviation and charter cases vary widely. Burg & Brock evaluates each case based on injury severity, conduct of the operator, and available coverage.
Generally two years from the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 for personal injury. International Montreal Convention claims have a two-year deadline (Article 35). Statute of repose may apply to manufacturer claims under federal General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA).
Possible defendants include the pilot, owner of the aircraft, charter or rental operator, maintenance facility, manufacturer of defective components, fuel provider, and air traffic control. Most cases involve multiple defendants and parallel insurance and product liability claims.
The General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 imposes an 18-year statute of repose on claims against general aviation aircraft manufacturers, measured from the date of delivery. Exceptions exist for fraud, written warranty, and emergency medical aircraft. We evaluate the rolling-replacement-part exception in older-aircraft cases.
NTSB takes possession of the wreckage and conducts the official investigation. NTSB reports are admissible only for factual findings, not conclusions. We preserve maintenance logs, the pilot's logbooks, fuel records, weather data, and ATC recordings through formal subpoena.
Same as standard personal injury: medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and (in death cases) all wrongful death damages. Punitive damages are available under Civil Code section 3294 if the operator's conduct shows malice or conscious disregard for safety.
Yes. Aviation cases involve FAA regulations, Part 91/121/135 distinctions, NTSB procedure, and specialized aviation insurance markets. Burg & Brock has handled aviation cases in California state and federal court.
Commercial airline coverage runs hundreds of millions. General aviation typically carries $500,000 to $5 million in liability coverage. Charter operators usually have $5 million to $25 million. We pursue all available coverage layers.
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