Cleveland Law Firm Serving All of Ohio
Have you been in an aviation accident? We can help.
Call us at 216.621.2300
When you lose a loved one in an aviation accident, you have tough questions amid your grief: what caused the accident, could it have been prevented, and what are your family’s rights?
If the airline company is responsible for the accident, its insurance representatives will try to get you to discuss the crash and may even try to get you to sign documents about the claim while you’re in shock and emotionally vulnerable.
You don’t have to face this alone. The Ohio aviation accident attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy can answer your questions and will protect you. To make sure you and your family get a fair chance at the compensation you’re owed, fill out a free initial consultation form now or call (216) 621-2300.
Table of Contents
Get Help Now
"*" indicates required fields
Recent Results
Our Cleveland Aviation Attorneys Help Clients With Many Case Types
Our firm has represented clients in several different types of aviation accidents. If you’re considering legal actions after your family was affected by a crash, know that our Cleveland aviation attorneys have experience with many types of aviation accidents, including:
These are just a few of the case types we accept. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an aviation accident, our attorneys can meet with you in a free consultation to help you better understand your legal rights.
What Our Clients Are Saying
4.8
Average User Review
I would love to thank Mr. Belcher. He is very professional. Zack is easy to talk to and has the patience of a Saint. Thank you for the opportunity to be represented by your law firm.
Elaine Molina
My experience with Nurenberg Paris has been very positive. They have been notably professional and personable. I recommend this practice as highly qualified and reputable in every way.
GM Mastro
Jordan was great! I felt fully supported and in the know about the case, everybody working here is great. I got the best outcome.
M Sabo
Senior Partner & Aviation Accident Lawyer Jamie Lebovitz
Senior Partner Jamie Lebovitz has built a distinguished career in aviation litigation, earning national recognition for his dedication to victims of aviation accidents. His deep knowledge of aviation law and relentless pursuit of justice have led to major legal victories and significant compensation for clients.
Beyond his courtroom success, Jamie advocates for stronger aviation safety standards to help protect future passengers. Known for his thorough, compassionate approach, he works closely with experts and tailors his representation to each client’s needs, ensuring they receive both skilled legal guidance and personal care.
Defective Aircraft-Related Aviation Accidents in Ohio
Aircraft defects are one of the many factors that can contribute to aviation accidents. That’s why it’s important for all airplanes to be regularly inspected for maintenance issues and defects.
Whether caused by improper design or flight wear and tear, airplane defects can occur in the:
If you think a defect caused the aviation accident that you or your loved one was involved in, call (216) 621-2300 or fill out a free initial consultation form now. An Ohio airplane accident attorney at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy is committed to protecting your rights when another person’s or company’s negligence caused you harm.
Determining Cause and Fault When Defects Are a Factor
There are several people involved in the inspection of an aircraft, from aircraft manufacturers and mechanics, to pilots and ground maintenance crew.
As aviation accident attorneys, it’s our job to determine what caused your accident and who is responsible for your injuries. All airplanes should be routinely checked to prevent accidents from occurring, so when someone fails to notice, report, or properly fix a defect or malfunctioning part in an airplane, he or she should be held accountable.
Other Factors That Cause Aviation Accidents
The mechanics of takeoff, flight, and landing are extremely complex, and even minor mishaps and oversights can result in accidents and crashes. Several other contributing factors that can lead to aviation accidents include:
Unapproved or Defective Aircraft Parts
Aircraft components that are counterfeit, expired, improperly refurbished, or unapproved have led to numerous failures and crashes. These defects often remain hidden until they cause critical malfunction.
Foreign Object Debris (FOD)
Debris left accidentally inside the aircraft during manufacturing or maintenance, or debris on runways, can damage engines or flight-critical systems. Even small objects can trigger catastrophic failure.
Design Flaws and Structural Failures
Flawed aircraft design or materials can lead to in-flight structural failures. Examples include fatigue fractures or software/design issues that can cause a loss of control.
Pilot Error
Despite advanced training, pilots are still susceptible to mistakes such as misjudging altitude, responding incorrectly to cockpit warnings, or miscommunication with crew or air traffic controllers. Because pilots often make split-second decisions in high-stress situations, even small errors can have devastating consequences.
Weather Issues
Severe weather—including heavy turbulence, lightning, wind shear, and low visibility—can dramatically increase the risk of accidents. While modern aircraft are equipped with sophisticated systems to help pilots navigate dangerous conditions, weather remains one of the most unpredictable and hazardous factors in aviation safety.
Air Traffic Control Mistakes
Air traffic controllers play a critical role in managing safe distances between aircraft. Miscommunication, radar errors, or lapses in judgment can create situations where planes are placed on unsafe flight paths, sometimes resulting in mid-air collisions or runway incidents.
Fire and Smoke Hazards
In-flight or ground fires, whether originating from electrical faults, cargo holds, or wiring, can lead to smoke, incapacitation, or structural compromise. These incidents have driven changes in evacuation design and fire suppression systems.
Bird Strikes
Collisions with birds, especially during takeoff or landing, can damage engines or windshields, sometimes resulting in engine failure or loss of aircraft control.
Runway Incursions
A runway incursion occurs when an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle, or even pedestrian enters an active runway, creating the risk of collision during takeoff or landing. These incidents can be caused by miscommunication with air traffic control, pilot disorientation, or ground crew errors.
A Reputation for Success
At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, it’s our goal to maximize your financial recovery as well as implement change in the aviation industry to prevent future accidents from occurring. That’s why our aviation accident lawyers approach every case as if it’s going to trial—we work hard to ensure our clients’ rights are protected and the people responsible are held accountable.
With our years of experience, we have developed skills that enhance our ability to thoroughly and properly investigate and build aviation cases. Our team, which is led by partner Jamie Lebovitz, has a reputation for success, because we’re dedicated to the fight.
If you’ve been involved in an aviation accident or lost a loved one in a plane crash, contact Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. Experience matters, and we’ll put ours to work for you.
We Consult Expert Witnesses in Aviation Cases
Aviation accidents are complicated because so many factors are involved. As aviation accident lawyers, it’s our job to investigate by looking at the overall safety of the aircraft, the people involved in the flight, such as ground crew, pilot, and air traffic controllers, and the weather conditions during the flight.
At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our airplane accident attorneys have access to the most respected expert witnesses in their specialty, who help analyze and explain the circumstances surrounding each accident we investigate and provide their professional opinions on its cause.
Who Is Qualified as an Aviation Expert?
Federal courts and most state courts allow any witness to be qualified as an expert if that witness possesses knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education that might aid the jury or judge to understand the technical issues involved, including piloting, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, weather, aerodynamics, and more.
In addition, we use the most up-to-date technology to demonstrate that another person’s carelessness caused your loved one’s accident.
Types of Aviation Experts
Depending on the cause of your accident, our aviation accident lawyers may consult the following experts to help verify the specific details surrounding your claim:
Accident Reconstructionists
Accident reconstructionists illustrate the circumstances of auto and aviation accident cases to a jury or judge in an easy-to-understand manner.
Many experts in this area have credentials from the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR), as they reconstruct a wide range of accidents. They also typically belong to organizations such as the National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, Accident Reconstruction Communications Network, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), or other regional, state, and local groups. Some are full-time crash reconstructions while others offer such expertise in addition to their main occupations.
Aerodynamics Experts
Aerodynamics experts assist in crashes involving propellers, helicopter rotors, air load or structural calculations, airplane stability and control, jet propulsion, electrical propulsion, and electrical discharges. These experts also can evaluate if weather or speed played a role in the accident.
Aerodynamics experts are often professors, researchers, and consultants in the field.
Air Traffic Controllers
Air traffic control experts can be vital in assisting our team of aviation accident attorneys with analysis as they prepare a case for litigation, and they can be vital in describing to a jury what could—or should—have happened during events leading up to a crash.
Many of these experts are currently or formerly members of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic evaluation and investigations staff, and most are current or former air traffic specialists. Some are also pilots or even flight instructors.
Aircraft Engineers
It may be necessary to have expert engineers advising and/or testifying as to what role, if any, design defects in the aircraft’s engineering contributed to the crash. Engineers will, among other things, assess an aircraft’s design defect, electrical systems, fuel system, and workmanship.
Our aviation accident lawyers utilize aerospace, civil, mechanical, maintenance, materials, electrical and electronic, and even ocean/marine engineers, depending on the circumstances of your case. We might also consult senior scientists, distinguished professors, military personnel, FAA officials, or those with years of experience in aircraft manufacturing, among others.
Airline Employees (including Pilots, Mechanics, and/or Safety Officers)
In any investigation of an aircraft crash, the role of human error has to be considered. At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, the aviation team knows that pilot or other human errors commonly contribute to the accident.
We rely on experts from aviation service companies, airline manufacturing companies, and airports who are familiar with flight procedures and standards and work and interact with others in the industry on a daily basis. We also work with former airline pilots from major airlines.
Experts we rely on can include:
- Workers at the manufacturing plant
- Maintenance workers
- The pilot and crew
- Air traffic controllers
- Weather analysts
- Airport security personnel
- And more
Manufacturers
A design flaw or defect in the aircraft could eventually prove to be a fatal mistake. It takes experts in all phases of aircraft manufacturing to investigate what role manufacturing may have played in the accident.
An aviation manufacturing expert may review avionics, electrical systems design, mechanical systems, and other controls for manufacturing defects, or look for any other defect that might have led to a loss in operational control by the pilot.
Weather Experts
Experts consulted for weather conditions will examine evidence from the crash and recreate the circumstances to see what effect rain, ice, lightning, wind shear, fog, clouds, or other meteorological conditions may have had in your case.
These experts come from various backgrounds and include professionals who are qualified in weather and climate litigation for support and expert witness services. This includes forensic meteorology and climatology professors.
Let Our Cleveland Airplane Accident Lawyers Help
We have years of experience winning high-profile aviation accidents. If you or a loved was involved in a plane crash, helicopter crash, or any other type of aviation accident, we’re here for you.
Contact an Ohio plane crash lawyer at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy today to schedule a free, no-obligation case assessment. Or visit our aviation accident FAQ page to learn more about these cases.
