Military Injury Lawyer

Military Lawyer Timothy A. Loranger

​Wisner Baum’s lead military accident lawyer Timothy A. Loranger is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Tim credits his experience as a Marine for preparing him to enter a career in the legal field where service, honor, compassion, perseverance, and dedication are essential traits.

During his time in the Marine Corps, Mr. Loranger worked as an aircraft mechanic at the Marine Corps and Navy Air Stations in El Toro, California; San Diego, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Jacksonville, Florida. The focus of his training and work was on RF-4b, F/A-18, and C-130 aircraft at both the squadron and intermediate maintenance levels.

As a Marine, Mr. Loranger developed a passion for aviation and aviation safety. After his service in the military, he obtained his private pilot’s license and flew for many years. Now as a civilian, that passion is expressed in the courtroom as a transportation attorney and safety advocate.

Schedule a consultation with Timothy Loranger or call (855) 948-5098 to speak with Wisner Baum’s Los Angeles office regarding our experience in handling military accidents.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a military accident and would like to speak with an experienced attorney and marine corps veteran, please fill out our contact form or call (855) 948-5098 today.

Military Aviation Accidents

Every year, our Armed Forces lose brave men and women in preventable military aviation accidents caused by faulty manufacturing, design flaws or maintenance negligence. As aviation attorneys representing members of the military, we have seen planes, helicopters, and other aircraft like the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey (a vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL) crash due to mechanical failure, manufacturing defects, improper maintenance, and other causes in which victims and their families may have legal standing to pursue a lawsuit against non-military entities.

At Wisner Baum, we are committed to holding accountable any responsible parties that needlessly put service members in harm’s way.

Military Helicopter Crashes

One of the most widely used utility helicopters in the military, the UH-60 Black Hawk, has seen an uptick in crashes over the last few years. Between December of 2019 and March of 2023, at least 10 Black Hawk helicopter crashes on U.S. soil resulted in military deaths. The Aviation Safety Network lists 390 total incidents involving Black Hawk helicopters (including variants) since the 1970s. ASN data lists 970 deaths in Black Hawk helicopter crashes.

It is possible that the number of military helicopter crashes is actually higher than the number reflected in public statistics, as some crashes that occur in conflict areas can go unreported. In other circumstances, there is not enough information on the incident for a report to be filed.

Our Military Helicopter Cases

Wisner Baum has experience representing victims and their families who were harmed in military helicopter crashes. Read more about our cases below:

• November 29, 2023 – An Air Force Special Operations Osprey V-22 crashed during a training mission off the coast of Yakushima Island in Japan. The crash killed all eight airmen on board. The incident led to the grounding of Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy V-22 Ospreys. Wisner Baum represents Gold Star families who lost loved ones in this crash.
   
• June 8, 2022 – Five Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed when their Osprey V-22 crashed near Glamis, California. The crash was caused by a dual hard clutch engagement (HCE) in the aircraft’s gearbox, resulting in a catastrophic failure. Wisner Baum represents Amber Sax and her children.
   
• Feb. 27, 2019 – An MH-6M “Little Bird” helicopter from Fort Campbell, Kentucky crashed during a training flight. Two people were injured in the crash.
   
• April 6, 2018 – A Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter from the Army’s 101^st Combat Aviation Brigade crashed during a night training exercise at the Fort Campbell training area (Ft. Campbell, Kentucky). The crash killed both soldiers on board.
   
• April 17, 2017 – A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crashed on the Breton Bay Golf Course near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, killing one person and injuring others. The helicopter was from the 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Davison Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
   
• Jan. 15, 2014 – An MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter used by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment sustained a hard landing during a night training exercise and crashed onto its side. One crew member was killed and two received minor injuries in the crash.
   
• March 16, 2013 – A Kiowa Warrior OH-58D military helicopter crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing two Army soldiers. Wisner Baum represented the families of both soldiers in their case against the manufacturers of defective parts in the helicopter’s engine.
   
• Sept. 19, 2011 – A Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed during a training exercise near Camp Pendleton, California. The crash killed two Marines.
   
• Aug. 8, 2011 – An AH-6M “Little Bird” military helicopter crashed at Fort Benning, Georgia, killing two Army soldiers. Wisner Baum represents the family of one of the deceased, Chief Warrant Officer Steven Redd, a decorated combat veteran.

Military Plane Crashes

Just like general or commercial aviation accidents, military plane crashes are caused by a wide variety of factors, including pilot error, negligent maintenance, aircraft defects (or component part defects), air traffic controller error, or dangerous weather conditions.

While military pilots receive the best possible training, on occasion, they are required to fly aircraft that:

• Could be considered too old to be in service
• Have defective component parts
• Were negligently maintained by a third party civilian contractor

If a mechanical defect should occur during a critical phase of flight, even the best pilots in the world can be pushed to the limits to keep themselves and those traveling with them safe.

While it is true that service members killed or injured in a military plane crash are restricted from taking legal action against the government, a military aviation lawsuit may be filed against the plane’s manufacturer and/or the manufacturer(s) of component parts if they are defective. The same can be said if a third party maintenance company is negligent in performing maintenance on an aircraft or aircraft component or system.

The challenge lies in proving that the plane or its components were “unreasonably dangerous” due to defective design and/or manufacture, or was negligently maintained by a contractor. This is why it is vital to have an experienced attorney who understands the complexities of crash investigations and evidence gathering as your advocate.

Our Military Plane Accident Cases

Our firm has been litigating military plane crash cases since the 1980s. Click on the links below to read more about our cases:

• June 8, 2022 – Five Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed when their Osprey V-22 crashed near Glamis, California. The crash was caused by a dual hard clutch engagement (HCE) in the aircraft’s gearbox, resulting in a catastrophic failure. Wisner Baum represents Amber Sax and her children.
   
• July 10, 2017 – A Marine Corps KC-130T plane experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure and crashed in Mississippi, killing 15 Marines and one Navy Corpsman. Wisner Baum is honored to represent the families of several victims who lost their lives in this tragedy.
   
• Dec. 12, 1985 – A McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF jetliner operating as Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashed near Gander Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. The Army chartered the plane from Cairo, Egypt to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Wisner Baum represented the families of three soldiers killed in the crash.

Military Vehicle Accidents

According to data from the Naval Health Research Center, military vehicle accidents are a major source of non-combat injuries. During Operation Desert Storm, military vehicle accidents accounted for nearly 20 percent of all non-combat hospital admissions.

While the terrain in warzones like Iraq and Afghanistan present challenges for safe driving, military vehicle accidents are also prevalent outside of operational environments. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis found that military vehicles were the leading cause of over 1,100 military personnel fatalities attributable to on-duty, non-aviation accidents.

Oftentimes, military vehicle drivers are young adults who do not have many years of driving experience, which can lead to accidents. Other variables, such as terrain, weather, vehicle maintenance, or mechanical issues can also be factors contributing to military vehicle crashes.

Our Military Vehicle Accident Cases

Wisner Baum has represented both military personnel and civilians who were injured or killed in military vehicle crashes. Investigating these accidents and uncovering evidence can be challenging, which is why it is in your best interest to hire a military attorney with experience litigating these types of cases.

Learn more our military vehicle accident cases by clicking the links below:

• On July 30, 2020, eight Marines and a Navy Sailor were killed when a military amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) took on water and sank off the coast of Southern California. Our military accident attorneys represent the families of four of the young men who lost their lives in this accident.
   
• On Sept. 13, 2017, 14 Marines and a Navy Sailor were injured in an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) fire that broke out during a combat readiness training exercise at Camp Pendleton in California. Wisner Baum is honored to represent a brave service member who was severely burned in this tragic accident.
   
• On April 19, 2013, a woman was killed after a Marine Corps Humvee collided with her vehicle in a head-on collision in an unincorporated part of San Bernardino County, California. Wisner Baum filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the woman’s family, alleging the crash was caused by drowsy driving.

OUR MILITARY CASES AND LAWYERS IN THE NEWS

• Marine Corps Widow Pushes Back After Claims Deadly Osprey Malfunction Is 99% Fixed | Military.com
• In Wake of Fatal Black Hawk Crash, Renewed Scrutiny of the Helicopter's Safety Record | Military.com
• Taking a look into the Harvest helicopter crash investigation process | WAFF 48 TV News
• Marines file federal lawsuit against gas and pipeline companies after Camp Pendleton AAV gas line fire | Marine Corps Times
• Lockheed Martin sued in connection with fatal Black Hawk helicopter crash | Washington Post
• Lawsuit filed over fatal Army helicopter crash in Maryland | The Associated Press
• Families of service members killed in Mississippi disaster want more answers | Washington Post
• Families of helicopter crash victims sue parts maker | Army Times