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Chicago Aviation Accident Attorney

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Airplane or helicopter accidents usually result in serious injuries or death. Smith LaCien LLP has the experience needed in any aviation case and can help you win the compensation you deserve for your injuries or the loss of a loved one.

Understanding Your Options for a Chicago Aviation Accident

Aviation law is a broad practice area that covers many types of claims. First and foremost, it includes those who are injured in crashes. It also deals with those who were injured from falling luggage, beverage cart injuries, and trip-and-falls on a plane. If you or a loved one has been involved in an aviation accident, you have legal options.

These cases are especially difficult because airlines often have access to many professionals, such as those at their insurance company, who will fiercely defend their clients and try to offer the lowest possible settlement. We can analyze your case and discuss all potential solutions. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys will not back down from a challenge. No matter where you are in the legal process, lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP will act as your strongest possible advocate every step of the way.

Who is Liable in an Aviation Accident in Chicago?

Any party whose negligent actions either cause or contribute to a plane crash can be held legally liable for the accident. Parties that normally share in that responsibility include:

  • The aircraft owner or operator
  • The aircraft design engineers
  • The plane manufacturer
  • The pilot
  • Maintenance companies and parts providers
  • The grounds or airport management
  • The Federal government, if a federal employee’s actions caused the crash.

If your aviation accident resulted in the death of a family member or a loved one, please reach out to our wrongful death lawyers in Chicago. 

Elements of Negligence in Illinois

In a claim based on negligence, an injured victim must prove all the elements of negligence to win the case.

A duty of care. The defendant must be a person or entity that owed the victim a duty of care to keep them safe from harm from the moment they step into an airport or aviation facility. In law, a duty of care is the required standard of care that a person must meet to avoid causing foreseeable harm to others.

Breach of the duty of care. The defendant’s actions did not meet the required standard of care expected to prevent foreseeable harm. A breach of a duty of care could be the failure to service and maintain the aircraft or aviation property, the failure to properly train aviation staff, and even the failure to implement adequate safety procedures.

The overall goal of personal injury law is to make the injured person whole, meaning to restore them as much as possible to the condition they were in before the accident occurred. Financial compensation to the victim is not a gift. It is based on the actual damages which the victim can prove that they suffered as a result of their injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you attain the maximum amount of damages recoverable by law.

Proving Your Aviation Accident Claim in Chicago

In aviation accident cases, getting access to the information you need to prove your case can be difficult even for the most experienced lawyers. The aviation industry is a highly regulated industry, and the operation and maintenance of aircraft are very technical and complex. These claims usually require the input of aviation experts.

Expert witnesses are specialists in a particular field who are used in nearly every complex, high-stakes legal case to help determine causation. They review information about a case and form an opinion to help lawyers prove that the accident was foreseeable and that the defendant failed their duty of care to avoid it.

At Smith LaCien, our Chicago accident lawyers have decades of experience working with the best experts when needed, and our exceptional results for clients show the results.

Our Chicago Airplane Accident Attorneys Are Waiting to Talk

Our experienced, dedicated Chicago product liability attorneys promptly and thoroughly investigate our aviation cases to preserve evidence, determine fault, and assess liability on behalf of injured individuals and the families of those killed in airplane crashes. Smith LaCien’s lengthy history of representing victims of personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death has resulted in more than $2.5 billion in verdicts and settlements and over 100 cases of results of at least $1 million.

Smith LaCien offers free, no-obligation consultations to accident victims and their families. We also handle cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay us anything unless we obtain results. To learn more about how we can help, call us at (312) 509-8900 or contact us using our online form.

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