
Los Angeles Aviation Accident Attorney
Experienced & Compassionate Legal Representation
Aviation accidents can result from a myriad of factors, ranging from pilot error and mechanical failure to air traffic control mistakes and design flaws. These incidents often lead to catastrophic consequences, causing devastating injuries, loss of life, and extensive property damage. In such situations, it's crucial to seek the guidance of a seasoned aviation accident attorney who possesses the expertise and resources to pursue justice on your behalf.
At Wisner Baum, we have a proven track record of success in handling complex aviation accident cases. Our team comprises dedicated legal professionals with a deep understanding of aviation law and a relentless commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.
We have extensive experience representing clients in a wide range of aviation accident cases, including but not limited to:
- Commercial Airline Crashes: We represent passengers, crew members, and their families who have been injured or lost loved ones in commercial airline accidents, holding airlines and other responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
- General Aviation Accidents: We handle cases involving private and charter aircraft, including crashes caused by pilot error, mechanical failure, and other factors. Our goal is to pursue justice for victims and their families and prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
- Helicopter Accidents: Whether involving tour helicopters, medical helicopters, or private aircraft, helicopter accidents can have devastating consequences. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to effectively advocate for helicopter accident victims and their families.
- Airport Accidents: We represent individuals who have been injured in accidents at airports, including slip and fall accidents, baggage handling injuries, and other incidents caused by negligence or unsafe conditions.
Call (855) 948-5098 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you and your family.
Common Types of Aviation Accidents
An aviation accident refers to any incident involving an aircraft, ranging from commercial airliners to private planes and helicopters, that results in damage to the aircraft, injuries to passengers or crew, or loss of life. These accidents can occur during various phases of flight, including takeoff, landing, and cruising, as well as during ground operations such as taxiing and parking. Aviation accidents can have a wide range of causes, including mechanical failure, pilot error, adverse weather conditions, air traffic control mistakes, and design flaws.
Common types of aviation accidents include:
- Aircraft Crashes: Aircraft crashes are perhaps the most devastating type of aviation accident, often resulting in catastrophic consequences. These crashes can occur due to a variety of factors, including mechanical failure, pilot error, and adverse weather conditions. Commercial airliners, private planes, and helicopters are all susceptible to crashes, which may happen during takeoff, landing, or while cruising at altitude.
- Runway Incursions: Runway incursions occur when an aircraft, vehicle, or person illegally enters an active runway without authorization, posing a significant safety risk to other aircraft operating in the vicinity. Runway incursions can lead to near-misses or collisions between aircraft, as well as accidents involving ground vehicles and pedestrians.
- Mid-Air Collisions: Mid-air collisions occur when two or more aircraft collide while in flight, often resulting in catastrophic consequences. These collisions can happen due to a variety of factors, including pilot error, air traffic control mistakes, and miscommunication between pilots. Mid-air collisions are relatively rare but can have devastating consequences when they occur.
- Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT): CFIT accidents occur when an aircraft unintentionally collides with terrain, such as mountains, hills, or buildings, while under the control of the pilot. These accidents often result from spatial disorientation, pilot error, or inadequate navigation equipment. CFIT accidents are particularly common in poor visibility conditions, such as fog or low clouds.
- Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I): LOC-I accidents occur when an aircraft becomes uncontrollable due to factors such as aerodynamic stall, spatial disorientation, or mechanical failure. These accidents often result from pilot error or improper aircraft handling and can lead to loss of life and extensive property damage.
- Bird Strikes: Bird strikes occur when an aircraft collides with one or more birds during flight, potentially causing damage to the aircraft's engines, wings, or fuselage. Bird strikes can pose a significant safety risk to aircraft and passengers, particularly during takeoff and landing when aircraft are flying at lower altitudes.
- Gear-Up Landings: Gear-up landings occur when an aircraft's landing gear fails to deploy properly before landing, resulting in the aircraft making contact with the runway without its landing gear extended. These accidents can cause extensive damage to the aircraft's underside and pose a significant safety risk to passengers and crew.
- Fuel Exhaustion/Starvation: Fuel exhaustion or starvation accidents occur when an aircraft runs out of fuel during flight due to inadequate fuel planning, fuel leaks, or mechanical problems. These accidents can lead to forced landings, loss of control, and in some cases, fatal crashes.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Aviation accidents can occur due to a variety of factors, ranging from human error and mechanical failure to environmental conditions and regulatory issues. Identifying the causes of aviation accidents is crucial for improving safety standards and preventing future incidents. Here are some of the common causes of aviation accidents:
- Pilot Error: Pilot error is one of the leading causes of aviation accidents worldwide. It encompasses a wide range of mistakes made by pilots, including misjudging weather conditions, improperly executing maneuvers, and failing to follow proper procedures. Fatigue, distraction, and inadequate training can contribute to pilot error.
- Mechanical Failure: Mechanical failure, such as engine malfunction, electrical system failure, or structural damage, can lead to catastrophic accidents. Issues with aircraft design, manufacturing defects, or inadequate maintenance practices can all contribute to mechanical failures.
- Adverse Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions, such as thunderstorms, fog, or strong winds, can significantly impact flight safety. Pilots must be trained to navigate adverse weather conditions safely, but even experienced pilots can encounter difficulties when weather conditions deteriorate rapidly or unexpectedly.
- Air Traffic Control Errors: Mistakes made by air traffic controllers, such as providing incorrect instructions or failing to maintain safe separation between aircraft, can lead to mid-air collisions, runway incursions, and other dangerous situations. Communication breakdowns and understaffing can contribute to air traffic control errors.
- Loss of Situational Awareness: Loss of situational awareness occurs when pilots become disoriented or fail to accurately assess their surroundings, leading to errors in navigation, altitude control, or collision avoidance. Spatial disorientation, distraction, and workload saturation can all contribute to loss of situational awareness.
- Fuel Management Issues: Fuel management issues, such as inadequate fuel planning, fuel exhaustion, or fuel contamination, can result in engine failure and forced landings. Pilots must carefully monitor fuel levels and adhere to fuel management procedures to prevent accidents caused by fuel-related issues.
- Improper Aircraft Maintenance: Inadequate maintenance practices, including failure to perform routine inspections, repairs, and component replacements, can compromise the safety and airworthiness of an aircraft. Mechanical failures resulting from poor maintenance practices can lead to accidents and fatalities.
- Bird Strikes: Bird strikes occur when aircraft collide with birds during flight, potentially causing damage to engines, wings, or other critical components. Airports located near bird habitats are particularly susceptible to bird strike incidents, which can pose a significant safety risk to aircraft and passengers.
- Regulatory Compliance Issues: Non-compliance with aviation regulations and safety standards can increase the risk of accidents. Airlines, maintenance facilities, and flight crews must adhere to strict regulatory requirements to ensure the safe operation of aircraft and prevent accidents caused by regulatory compliance issues.
- Human Factors: Human factors, such as fatigue, stress, and inadequate crew coordination, can significantly impact aviation safety. Crew resource management training, fatigue management programs, and psychological assessments can help mitigate the impact of human factors on aviation safety.
How We Can Help
If you or a loved one has been affected by an aviation accident in Los Angeles, don't hesitate to seek legal representation from Wisner Baum. As leading aviation accident lawyers, we have the skills, resources, and dedication to help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Here's why you can trust us with your case:
- Experience: With nearly 40 years of combined experience, our attorneys have litigated numerous aviation accident cases, earning a reputation for excellence in the legal community.
- Expertise: We possess a comprehensive understanding of aviation regulations, industry standards, and accident investigation procedures, allowing us to effectively advocate for our clients' rights.
- Resources: We have access to a vast network of experts, including aviation engineers, accident reconstruction specialists, and medical professionals, who assist us in building strong cases on behalf of our clients.
- Compassion: We understand the emotional and financial toll that aviation accidents can take on victims and their families. That's why we provide compassionate guidance and support throughout the legal process, ensuring that our clients feel heard and empowered every step of the way.
- Results: Our firm has a proven record of securing substantial verdicts and settlements for aviation accident victims, helping them rebuild their lives and secure their futures.
Contact us today at (855) 948-5098 to discuss your case with our legal team.
Our Case Results

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$2.0 Billion Verdict Personal Injury
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s.
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$289.2 Million Verdict Personal Injury
On Aug. 10, 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto to pay $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages to Mr. Johnson, a former groundskeeper who alleged exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused him to develop terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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$265 Million Settlement Fatal Train Crash
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
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$105 Million Settlement Pharmaceutical Settlement
Wisner Baum obtained $105 million on behalf of multiple clients involved in a pharmaceutical negligence case.
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$80 Million Verdict Personal Injury
Wisner Baum attorneys served on the trial team in the case of Hardeman v. Monsanto Company, which resulted in an $80 million jury verdict for the plaintiff, Edwin Hardeman.
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$63 Million Settlement Paxil Pediatric Class Action
$63 million pediatric class action re false promotion of Paxil. Judge approves final terms of improved national pediatric paxil class action settlement – consumers get a better deal.

Client-Focused Representation
REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS
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Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work.
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Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change.
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The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.
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