Indianapolis Aviation Accident Lawyer

Consult Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers for a consultation with a Indianapolis, IN aviation accident lawyer.

If you or a family member has been injured in an aviation accident, you are facing one of the most complex types of personal injury cases in civil law. Aircraft crashes involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and technical evidence that most law firms are not equipped to handle.

Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers has the litigation experience and resources to take on aviation accident cases against airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and maintenance providers. Our Indianapolis, IN aviation accident lawyer has represented injured clients and their families for over three decades. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Aviation Accident Lawyer Indianapolis

What sets aviation accident claims apart from other injury cases?

An aviation accident claim arises when a person is injured or killed as a result of a plane crash, helicopter incident, or other aircraft-related event caused by negligence, mechanical failure, or regulatory noncompliance. These cases differ from typical motor vehicle claims in several critical ways. Federal aviation regulations, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, govern virtually every aspect of aircraft design, operation, and maintenance. The National Transportation Safety Board conducts independent investigations of all civil aviation accidents in the United States.

Because of these overlapping regulatory frameworks, an aviation accident attorney in Indianapolis must be prepared to work with federal agencies, review technical maintenance records, analyze cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and retain aviation engineering consultants. 

Types of Aviation Accident Cases We Handle in Indianapolis

Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers represents individuals and families harmed in aviation accidents across Indianapolis, IN, and throughout the state. Aviation cases require a different level of investigation and technical knowledge. We bring that preparation to every case we take.

• Private and general aviation crashes. Small aircraft accidents account for the majority of aviation fatalities in the United States each year. Causes include pilot error, mechanical failure, adverse weather, and inadequate pre-flight inspection. Indiana has dozens of municipal and private airfields, and general aviation activity in the Indianapolis area is significant.
  
• Helicopter accidents. Helicopter crashes present unique liability questions because these aircraft are used in so many contexts: medical transport, law enforcement, news coverage, construction, and tourism. Mechanical complexity and demanding flight conditions make helicopters particularly susceptible to component failure.
  
• Commercial airline incidents. While commercial air travel remains statistically safe, when accidents do occur, the injuries are often catastrophic or fatal. These cases may involve claims against the airline, the aircraft manufacturer, component suppliers, and maintenance contractors.
  
• Charter and air tour crashes. Passengers on charter flights and sightseeing tours are entitled to the same duty of care as commercial airline passengers. Operators who cut corners on maintenance or training put their passengers at serious risk.
  
• Air ambulance accidents. Medical helicopter and fixed-wing air ambulance crashes are particularly devastating because the victims are often already in a medical emergency. Liability may extend to the air medical service, the aircraft operator, and equipment manufacturers.
  
• Defective aircraft components. When an aviation accident is caused by a faulty engine, propeller, avionics system, or structural component, the manufacturer may be strictly liable for the resulting injuries. Product liability claims in aviation cases frequently involve extensive engineering analysis and recall history review.
  
• Airport ground accidents. Not every aviation injury occurs in flight. Ground crew workers, passengers on the tarmac, and individuals struck by airport vehicles or exposed to hazardous conditions on airport property may also have valid injury claims.
  

Why Choose Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers for Aviation Accident Cases in Indianapolis, IN?

Trial-Tested Advocacy Across Decades

Aviation accident cases rarely settle quickly. They demand attorneys who are willing to invest significant time and resources into building a case against well-funded defendants. Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers has that track record.

Charles P. Ward has practiced personal injury law in Indiana since 1989, after clerking for Justice Richard M. Givan at the Indiana Supreme Court. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been named to Super Lawyers every year since 2005, and is recognized among the Best Lawyers in America for personal injury litigation. His experience includes complex, multi-party cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

Donald W. Ward founded the firm and has been a licensed attorney in Indiana since 1954. Don served as a Deputy Trial Prosecutor in Marion County and as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Indianapolis. He is a past President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and a longtime member of the American Association for Justice. He was recognized with the Indiana Bar Foundation Legendary Lawyer Award in 2015.

Our firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars across a wide range of injury cases. As a personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, IN, we represent victims and their families exclusively.

Aviation Accident Case Overview

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Aviation Accident Cases

Aviation accident cases often produce damages that far exceed typical motor vehicle claims. Survivors frequently face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and multiple fractures. The severity of these injuries, combined with the technical complexity of proving liability, makes these among the highest-stakes cases in personal injury law.

Victims and their families may be entitled to recover economic damages such as medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of consortium, are also recoverable. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can seek compensation for funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

Liability in aviation accident cases can be complex. Potentially liable parties include the pilot or flight crew, the aircraft owner or operator, the manufacturer of the aircraft or its components, the maintenance provider, air traffic control, and, in some cases, the Federal Aviation Administration itself. Strict liability under product liability law may apply when a defective aircraft component caused or contributed to the crash.

Important Aspects in Your Aviation Accident Case

Aviation cases require immediate action. Evidence must be preserved before it is lost, altered, or withheld.

• Flight data and cockpit voice recorders must be secured promptly. These devices contain critical information about what happened in the final moments before an accident.
• Maintenance logs, inspection reports, and airworthiness directives should be obtained as early as possible. Airlines and maintenance providers are not always forthcoming with this documentation. Failing to act quickly is one of the most common filing mistakes in complex injury cases.
• Weather records, air traffic control communications, and radar data help reconstruct the circumstances leading up to the crash.
• Federal agencies, including the NTSB and FAA, will conduct their own investigations, but their findings are not always admissible in civil litigation. Your attorney needs to conduct an independent investigation on your behalf.

Aviation Accident Case Timeline

Aviation accident cases typically take longer to resolve than other types of injury claims. The complexity of the investigation, the number of parties involved, and the stakes of the case all contribute to a longer timeline.

• Immediate response. Evidence preservation begins within days of the accident. The NTSB typically takes the lead on site investigation, and private attorneys must coordinate with the federal investigation.
• Investigation phase. This can last months or longer. It includes retaining aviation engineers, metallurgists, and other technical consultants, reviewing maintenance records, and analyzing recovered flight data.
• Filing the claim. Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations under IC 34-11-2-4 applies to most aviation accident injury claims. However, if a federal entity is involved, the timeline for filing may be shorter under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
• Litigation and discovery. Aviation cases often involve extensive discovery, including depositions of airline employees, mechanics, and corporate representatives. Cases against manufacturers may include evidence of prior incidents or safety complaints.
• Resolution. Some cases settle after discovery reveals the strength of the evidence. Others go to trial. Our firm prepares every case for trial from the start.

What to Bring to Your Aviation Accident Consultation

If you are considering an aviation accident claim, bring as much information as possible to your initial consultation.

• Any correspondence from the airline, aircraft operator, or insurance companies
• Medical records and bills related to injuries from the accident
• Photographs or documentation of the accident scene, if available
• Ticket information, boarding passes, or charter agreements
• The NTSB or FAA preliminary report, if one has been issued

We will review the circumstances of the accident, explain the legal process, and give you our honest assessment of your case. There is no fee for this initial meeting.

Indiana Legal Resources for Aviation Accidents

Aviation accident law involves both federal and state legal frameworks. The following resources can help you understand the regulatory landscape.

• The FAA accident database provides preliminary and final reports on civil aviation accidents and incidents across the United States.
• The NTSB investigation page publishes accident reports, probable cause findings, and safety recommendations for all modes of transportation, including aviation.
• The NTSB accident statistics dashboard provides downloadable datasets on U.S. civil aviation accidents dating back to 1962.
• The Indiana General Assembly publishes Title 34 of the Indiana Code, which covers civil law, statutes of limitations, and comparative fault.
• The Indiana Judicial Branch provides court procedures and filing information for Marion County and courts throughout Indiana.
• IC 34-11-2-4 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury. Indiana’s comparative fault system under IC 34-51-2 bars recovery if the claimant bears more than 50 percent of the fault. Federal preemption may apply in cases involving federal agencies or international air travel.

Reach Out to Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

If you have been injured in an aviation accident or if you have lost a family member in a plane or helicopter crash, Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers can help you evaluate your legal options. We offer free consultations to aviation accident victims in Indianapolis, IN, and throughout Indiana. Our firm handles these cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact our aviation accident lawyers in Indianapolis today.