Plane Crash Lawsuit

In Minnesota, the families of plane crash victims have 6 years after the crash to file a lawsuit against the owner of the plane, an airline company (not the owner of the plane in a lease situation) and other parties legally responsible for the crash, according to Minnesota Statutes, Section 541.05, subd. 1(5). In every case, though, it is best to contact a lawyer as soon after the accident as possible.

Here are some of the many decisions that need to be made to make sure that you receive compensation for your loss:

The applicable aviation laws—international, federal or state
The best venue in which to file suit
Whether to file for individual families or as a class action lawsuit
Who should be sued—the aircraft manufacturer, owner, airplane operator, airport operator, corporate officers and/or component part manufacturers
The best theory of recovery—strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty or statutory provisions
How best to preserve the evidence

Plane Crash Liability

A number of parties may be liable to the families of plane crash vicitms:

The pilot of the plane (if deceased, the estate)
The owner of the plane
The company that maintained the plane
An airline company (somtimes not the owner of the plane)
The manufacturer of the plane and/or a defective part used in the construction or maintenance of the plane
Others

If there was a transporting business involved, the right to recover damages depends on whether the flight was domestic (within the United States) or international.

Domestic carriers are governed by the federal and state regulations that cover all common carriers in the U.S., including buses and trains.
International flights and the domestic portions of international flights are covered by two international agreements, the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Protocol. Under these agreements, passengers do not need to prove negligence to recover damages. However, these agreements limit the amount of liability per passenger ($75,000 under the Montreal Protocol) unless the injured party can prove "willful misconduct" on behalf of the airline. An example of willful misconduct might be failure to comply with anti-terrorist security procedures.

Free Case Consultation

Free Information

Top Settlements and Verdicts

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Wins Millions for Client

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client whose right leg was amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a DUI driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol.

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield. Read about a truck wheel off accident.

Tow Truck Accident

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen obtained a $2,750,000 recovery for a 59 year-old truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the loss of his left eye and significant disfigurement when the tow chain being used to pull the man’s semi tractor-trailer out of a ditch broke loose from a front-end loader to which it was attached.

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death