Aviation Crashes

Fatal Private Plane and Airliner Crash Lawyers

Aviation Wrongful Death Specialists

Aviation accidents and fatal plane crashes occur in a number of different situations. Most commonly, crashes involve commercial airliners, but many fatalities also occur in private airplanes and helicopters.

At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, our aviation crash wrongful death specialists include a former Navy pilot who has special skills in the area of aviation, and more than 30 years experience in the trial of fatal airliner, private plane and helicopter accidents.

Fatal collisions, whether of small planes, commercial jet liners, commuter planes or helicopters may occur for many reasons: sometimes by pilot error, sometimes by improper maintenance, contaminated fuel, mechanical or product flaws and even air traffic controller negligence.

Regardless of the reason for the disaster, our aviation litigation team has represented survivors in a host of situations.

Our wrongful death aviation crash lawyers offer our clients a proven track record of success in obtaining compensation for those left behind when an aviation crash takes the life of a loved one. Our wrongful death litigation team has experience in almost every aspect of liability including defective replacement parts, pilot negligence, air traffic controller error, negligent maintenance, failure to follow safety procedures, and even crashes caused by defective maps, counterfeit replacement parts and fuel contamination.

Our aviation wrongful death litigators have experience in working hand in hand with government investigators of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as well as with local and state investigators. Because government-based investigations often takes years or more to be completed, we often commission an independent investigation on behalf of our clients as soon as possible after the crash, and we move swiftly to identify potentially liable parties. If you have lost a loved one in a plane crash, or an aviation disaster of any kind, the Walkup wrongful death aviation team headed by a former military pilot is ready to help.

Examples of Our Success

Helicopter Crash - $3,100,000 Wrongful Death Settlement

Our aviation litigation team negotiated a settlement in the amount of $3,131,000 on behalf of the heirs of a 41-year-old helicopter ski guide who was killed when the helicopter in which he and three clients were riding crashed in the Ruby Mountains near Elko, Nevada. Our aviation wrongful death attorneys were able to prove that the crash was caused by a flameout in the helicopter's jet engine as a result of defective design of its air inlets. Our wrongful death team also proved that the company which chartered the helicopter was negligent in its maintenance procedures and its failure to install proper engine inlet covers whenever the helicopter was grounded in snowy conditions. Our clients were the surviving wife and 2-year-old son of the deceased.

Private Plane Crash - $3,000,000 Wrongful Death Settlement

Our aviation litigators obtained a $3,000,000 settlement on behalf of the widow and two surviving children of a 45-year-old missionary who died in a plane crash in Mexico. While traveling on a missionary relief effort, the cam shaft gear broke in the plane which the decedent was piloting. The Walkup wrongful death litigators successfully brought a wrongful death claim against the manufacturers of the engine, demonstrating that the engine contained both design and manufacturing flaws.

Commercial Air Crash - $2,000,000 Wrongful Death Settlement

Our airline wrongful death litigation team obtained a settlement in excess of $2,000,000 on behalf of the grandparents of a 7-year-old child who died on Alaska Airlines Flight #261 when the plane crashed en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San Francisco. Our wrongful death lawyers, working in conjunction with attorneys for other plaintiffs in the case, proved that Alaska did not take all necessary measures to perform required maintenance, overlooked signs of potential problems, and thereby assumed responsibility for the deaths.

Contact our wrongful death lawyers today. Make an appointment for a free consultation. toll-free 1.888.732.8897.

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The wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger represent the families of wrongful death victims in California and Nevada including the cities of San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Fresno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Rafael, Napa, Redwood City, Stockton, Modesto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Carson City, and Tahoe.