Miami Aviation Accident Lawyer

Plane crashes and other aviation accidents are rare, but when they happen, the injuries are often catastrophic and the losses are life-changing. Spencer Morgan Law represents passengers, pilots, and families harmed in small plane crashes, helicopter accidents, and injuries aboard commercial flights. Our Miami aviation accident lawyers investigate what went wrong, identify every party that may be responsible, and pursue full compensation for injured victims and grieving families.

Types of Aviation Cases We Handle

South Florida’s airspace is some of the busiest in the country, with major commercial airports, executive and general aviation airports, flight schools, charter operators, and tour helicopters all operating in the region. We handle claims involving:

• Small private and single-engine plane crashes
• Charter flights and private jets
• Helicopter crashes, including tour and medical transport flights
• Flight training accidents
• Passenger injuries on commercial flights, such as severe turbulence injuries or bags falling from overhead bins
• Injuries during boarding, deplaning, and on jet bridges and airport property

Spencer Morgan Law has particular experience pursuing compensation for victims of aviation accidents, including those involving single-engine planes.

Who Can Be Responsible for a Plane Crash

Pilot error is often blamed for aviation accidents, but it is rarely the whole story. Depending on the facts, responsibility may rest with:

• The pilot or the aircraft’s owner or operator
• A charter company or flight school that failed to train or supervise its pilots
• Maintenance providers who missed or caused a mechanical problem
• Manufacturers of the aircraft, engine, or component parts
• Air traffic control, which raises special rules for claims against the federal government
• Airport operators responsible for runways, lighting, and ground operations

When a defective part or design is involved, a claim may proceed under product liability law, and our firm also handles other defective product cases. Federal law limits some claims against manufacturers of older general aviation aircraft and parts, so identifying the right defendants early is critical.

How Aviation Accidents Are Investigated

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates civil aviation accidents in the United States, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also plays a role. These investigations can take a year or longer to complete. The NTSB’s findings on the probable cause of a crash generally cannot be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit, so an injured person or family needs its own independent investigation.

We work to preserve wreckage, maintenance logs, pilot records, flight data, and communications before they are lost, and we consult with aviation experts to reconstruct what happened. Starting early protects evidence that the other side may not want found.

Injuries on Commercial Flights

Not every aviation case involves a crash. Passengers can be seriously hurt by severe turbulence, falling luggage, beverage cart collisions, or accidents while boarding and leaving the aircraft. On international flights, passenger injury and death claims against the airline are generally governed by an international treaty called the Montreal Convention, which has its own rules on liability, where a case can be filed, and a two-year deadline to bring suit. Falls and other injuries inside the terminal may instead be handled as premises liability claims, which can involve special notice rules when a government agency runs the airport.

Compensation After an Aviation Accident

Aviation accidents often cause traumatic brain injuries, severe burn injuries, spinal cord damage, and other catastrophic harm. Depending on the case, injured victims may recover medical expenses, future care costs, lost income and earning capacity, and pain and suffering. When a loved one is killed, Florida law allows the estate’s personal representative to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving family members.

Why Families Choose Spencer Morgan Law

Spencer Morgan Law is a boutique Miami injury firm led by Spencer G. Morgan, who began his career defending insurance companies and corporations and has represented only injured people since 2001. That experience helps the firm anticipate how aviation insurers and manufacturers defend these claims. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for you, and our team is available 24/7, speaks Spanish, and will meet you or your family wherever is most convenient.

Miami Aviation Accident FAQs

How long do I have to file a plane crash claim in Florida?

For most negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023, Florida allows two years to file a lawsuit, and wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Claims under the Montreal Convention and claims against the federal government have their own deadlines and procedures, so you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

Should I wait for the NTSB report before hiring a lawyer?

No. NTSB investigations can take a year or more, and the agency’s probable cause findings generally cannot be used as evidence in a lawsuit. Waiting can allow important evidence to be lost and can eat into the time you have to file.

Can I bring a claim if I was hurt by turbulence on a flight?

Possibly. Whether an airline is responsible depends on the circumstances, including whether the flight was domestic or international, what warnings were given, and whether the seat belt sign was on. A lawyer can review the facts and explain which rules apply.

Who pays when a private plane crashes?

Compensation may come from the aircraft owner’s or operator’s insurance, a charter company, a maintenance provider, or a manufacturer, depending on the cause. Many aviation cases involve more than one responsible party.

Does it cost anything to talk to Spencer Morgan Law about an aviation accident?

No. Consultations are free and confidential, and the firm handles aviation cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Speak With a Miami Aviation Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one was hurt in a plane crash, helicopter accident, or injury aboard a flight, call Spencer Morgan Law at 305-423-3800 for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, we speak Spanish, and there is never a fee or cost to you unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf.