Ohio  Aviation Accident Lawyers

Aircraft and Crashes Our Aviation Team Handles

Aviation cases are not all alike. A crash involving a major airline is handled differently than a small plane going down over Lake Erie.

Our team has handled the full range of aircraft cases, including:

• Commercial Airliners: Passengers hurt in a runway accident, severe turbulence, or a crash on a scheduled flight
• Regional and Charter Flights: Smaller carriers and charters, some of which operate under different federal rules than major airlines
• Private and Small Planes: General aviation accounts for most aviation crashes in the country, and these cases hinge on the pilot, owner, and maintenance.
• Helicopters: Medical, tour, news, and law-enforcement flights that carry higher risk and require careful investigation
• Medical and Air-Ambulance Aircraft: Flights meant to save lives that instead cause harm when equipment or crews fail

Northern Ohio sees steady air traffic at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport, as well as general aviation flights at Cuyahoga County Airport and Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport.

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

Most aviation crashes stem from multiple failures. A single mistake rarely brings down an aircraft. More often than not, a chain of problems lines up at the worst moment.

Common causes include:

• Pilot Error and Fatigue: Poor judgment, inadequate training, or exhaustion can lead to fatal cockpit mistakes.
• Mechanical or Design Defects: A flawed engine, control system, or component can fail even when a plane is flown correctly.
• Improper Maintenance: Skipped inspections, rushed repairs, and worn parts put every flight at risk.
• Air Traffic Control Errors: Miscommunication or a controller mistake can put two aircraft on a collision course.
• Dangerous Weather: Storms, icing, and low visibility turn deadly when a crew flies into conditions they should have avoided.

Each of these causes points to a different party who may be responsible. Sorting out that responsibility is where an aviation claim begins.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Plane Crash

After a crash, the responsible party is not always obvious. Liability can rest with one company or several, and identifying every at-fault party takes a thorough investigation.

Depending on the facts, those responsible may include:

• Airlines and Charter Operators: The companies that hire the crews, schedule the flights, and set safety policy
• Aircraft and Parts Manufacturers: A defective engine, a faulty part, or a bad design can support a product liability claim against the maker.
• Maintenance Providers: Contractors who signed off on inspections or repairs that were never done right
• Pilots and Flight Crews: The people at the controls, whose decisions and training are often central to what went wrong
• Government Agencies: Air traffic control and other public entities, though claims against them follow special rules and shorter deadlines

In a private plane crash, liability often comes down to who owned the aircraft, who was flying it, and whether it was properly maintained.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates most aviation accidents and issues a report on the probable cause. That federal investigation is separate from any civil lawsuit.

NTSB findings can guide a case and point to what failed, but under federal law the board’s probable-cause report generally cannot be used as evidence in court. Your legal team builds an independent case with its own aviation experts.

Ohio also applies a comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, an injured person can recover damages only if they are not more than 50% at fault, and their share of blame reduces any award. In most passenger injury cases, fault rests with the operators and manufacturers, not the people on board.

Injuries Common in Aviation Accidents

The forces involved in a crash are extreme, and survivors often face long, difficult recoveries. Many aviation injuries qualify as catastrophic injuries that require lifelong care.

Common examples include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A blow or violent jolt can cause lasting traumatic brain injuries that affect memory, mood, and the ability to work.
• Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: Damage to the spine can cause partial or complete paralysis and a lifetime of care.
• Severe Burns: Fires and fuel exposure cause burns that lead to permanent scarring and repeated surgeries.
• Broken Bones and Internal Injuries: Fractures and organ damage from the impact can require months of treatment and rehabilitation.
• Emotional Trauma: Survivors and families often live with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress long after the crash.

Compensation After an Aviation Accident

People often ask what the average aviation settlement is. There is no average, because every case turns on its own facts.

Compensation generally falls into two categories:

• Economic Damages: Measurable losses such as medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity
• Noneconomic Damages: The human toll of the crash, including pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life

A claim’s value depends on the severity of the injuries, the cost of future care, the strength of the evidence, and how many parties share responsibility. You may be entitled to compensation for both types of losses, though no lawyer can promise a specific result.

Losing a Loved One in an Aviation Crash

Some aviation accidents leave no survivors. If you lost a family member in a plane or helicopter crash, Ohio law gives you a way to seek accountability through an Ohio wrongful death claim.

A wrongful death claim is brought by the personal representative of the person who died, on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other next of kin. It can seek compensation for the loss of financial support, companionship and guidance, and the grief the family carries. No amount of money undoes that loss, but a claim can hold responsible parties accountable and provide stability for those left behind.

Ohio’s Deadline to File an Aviation Accident Claim

Time limits matter in aviation cases. In Ohio, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, and two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.

Some deadlines are shorter. If a government agency owned the aircraft or employed the air traffic controllers involved, special notice rules and shorter windows may apply, and federal law may govern where you must file. Because these deadlines are strict and a full investigation takes time, it helps to talk with a lawyer as soon as you can.

Why Injured Ohioans Choose Nurenberg Paris

Handling aviation cases is rare for a regional personal injury law firm, but we have done it successfully for decades.

Senior partner Jamie R. Lebovitz built the firm’s national aviation practice, and our team has helped represent families in major aviation disasters, including cases arising from the crashes of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 and USAir Flight 427.

If you choose our team to handle your aviation accident case, you’ll work with our team, including partner Jordan D. Lebovitz, who prepares every case as if it will go to trial. That preparation is what airlines, manufacturers, and their insurers take seriously.

We also stand behind our work with the No Fee Guarantee®. You don’t pay us anything unless we get money for you. It is part of how we continue fighting for the injured, as we have since 1928.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about aviation accident claims in Ohio.

How Is Fault Decided in a Private Plane Crash?

Fault in a private plane crash usually comes down to who controlled the aircraft and who maintained it. Investigators look at the pilot’s decisions, the maintenance history, and whether any part failed. More than one party can share responsibility, and Ohio’s comparative negligence rule allows fault to be divided among them.

What Role Do NTSB Findings Play in an Aviation Lawsuit?

The NTSB determines the probable cause of a crash, but its report is separate from your civil case. Under federal law, the board’s probable-cause findings generally cannot be entered as evidence in court. Your attorney uses independent experts to prove what happened and who is responsible.

Can I File a Claim if I Lost a Family Member in a Plane Crash?

Yes. Ohio’s wrongful death law lets the family of a person who died in an aviation crash seek compensation through a claim brought by the estate’s personal representative. It can cover lost financial support, companionship, and more. The deadline is generally two years from the date of death.

How Long Do I Have to File an Aviation Accident Claim in Ohio?

In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury for a personal injury claim and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. Shorter deadlines can apply when a government entity is involved. Acting early protects your right to recover and gives your legal team time to investigate.

What Might My Aviation Accident Claim Be Worth?

There is no set value, because every case depends on its own facts. The severity of the injuries, the cost of future care, lost income, and the number of responsible parties all affect a claim’s value. An experienced aviation accident lawyer can review your situation and explain your options.

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Commercial Airline Crash?

Responsibility for a commercial crash can fall on the airline, the aircraft or parts manufacturer, maintenance contractors, or government agencies such as air traffic control. Often several parties share the blame, and a full investigation is the only way to identify everyone who may owe you compensation.

Do Aviation Accident Cases Go to Trial?

Some do, and some settle. We prepare every case for trial, because that readiness often leads to stronger settlement offers. Whether the case is resolved through negotiation or in the courtroom, the goal is full accountability.

Contact Our Ohio Aviation Accident Lawyers Today

An aviation crash leaves families with hard questions and little time to answer them. You do not have to sort it out alone.

The team at Nurenberg Paris Injury Lawyers can investigate what happened, identify who is responsible, and pursue the compensation you may be owed, all while you focus on healing.

There is no cost to talk with us, and you owe us nothing unless we recover money for you. Contact our team today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Fighting for the Injured Since 1928. That’s what you expect, and that’s what you deserve.