Experienced Aviation Accident Lawyers

Experiencing an aviation accident can be life-altering. Whether you were injured in a plane crash, hurt during turbulence, or suffered due to pilot negligence, knowing your rights and legal options is essential. At The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, PLLC, we specialize in representing victims of aviation accidents and their families, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Our firm was involved in several high-profile aviation accident cases, including the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy, in which we represented 14 families against Boeing, the maker of the defective 737-MAX aircraft that claimed the lives of 157 people onboard.

Learn more about how our aviation accident attorneys in Houston can help you. Contact us online or call 1-833-438-6627 today.

Aviation accidents are often subject to specific, intricate laws.

It is imperative that you talk with an aviation accident lawyer in Houston who not only understands these laws but also has demonstrated experience in successfully helping victims of airline and aircraft manufacturer negligence secure compensation.

Our team of attorneys can investigate the cause of your accident and mount a powerful case against any negligent parties.

Keep in mind that you have a limited amount of time to bring your case to court; we encourage you to reach out to our firm right away to learn how we can help. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to file a lawsuit against the liable party.

By working with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney from The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, you put yourself in the best possible position for success. Our Houston aviation accident attorneys know how to navigate the legal system and fight for the maximum recovery you and your family are owed.

“Aviation accidents” is a term used to refer to all types of accidents involving various aircraft. This includes deadly plane crashes, helicopter accidents, as well as other types of aircraft-related incidents leading to injury or death.

Some examples of aviation accidents include:

Airplane Accidents

Airplane crashes often cause massive injuries and devastation to those who are involved. These types of accidents can result from human error, mechanical malfunctions, and more. Other types of airplane accidents involve onboard incidents leading to injuries, such as slips and falls, or injuries caused by unsafe conditions or hazards.

Helicopter Accidents

Although flying is far safer today than it was decades ago, helicopter accidents still happen every year. These accidents often carry traumatic injuries or cause the loss of life. Helicopter components and controls are complicated and require proper maintenance and training to operate them.

Eligibility for compensation may be available if a helicopter accident resulted from:

• Failing to operate according to specifications
• Operating in unsafe weather conditions
• Maintaining the helicopter improperly
• Inadequate training
• Malfunctioning or defective parts
• Quality control oversight
• Failing to follow the reported flight path
• Improper monitoring and control
• Other types of negligent actions

To make matters worse, in the event of a failure, a helicopter does not glide like a plane. A malfunction on any part of the aircraft can result in a helicopter crash with severe injuries or fatalities.

Operator Negligence

Many aviation accidents are caused by a pilot’s mistake or another type of operator error. Some of these accidents result from misjudgments or poor training. Even experienced pilots struggle to fly in bad weather conditions, including rain, snow, lighting, and wind.

Commercial & Private Aviation Accidents

Liability after an aviation accident may depend on whether it was a commercial or private flight. On a commercial flight, you are most likely able to file a lawsuit against the airline company.

You may also have a third-party claim or civil lawsuit against the pilot or other individuals directly responsible for your damages.

With private flights, liability may be more complicated. You may need to file a claim against the pilot or operator’s insurance provider, the manufacturer of a defective part, or some other entity.

We speak more on private jet accidents below.

Offshore Helicopter Transport Accidents

Some of the leading causes of helicopter crashes include dangerous weather conditions, operator error, and negligence. These risks are significant enough for many oil companies to demand that workers undergo accident survival training. Unfortunately, this does not stop offshore helicopter transportation accidents from happening, nor does it guarantee the safety of those involved in such incidents.

Onboard Accidents

Although plane and helicopter crashes are the types of aviation accidents most likely to make the news, other types of aviation accidents can also lead to bodily injury or fatalities.

Unsafe conditions aboard aircraft may lead to serious accidents, such as falls, which could result in severe injury, illness, or death.

When negligence plays a role in your injury or loved one’s death, you can rely on our firm to fight for you. Our entire team is committed to providing you with compassionate legal support during this time. As your Houston aviation accidents lawyers, we will stand by your side regardless of the challenges you face.

An aviation accident can leave you feeling powerless. However, understanding your rights can help you regain control and start the path to recovery. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Right to Compensation

Victims of aviation accidents have the right to pursue compensation for:

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Our attorneys will work tirelessly to ensure you receive fair compensation for all damages.

2. Right to Legal Representation

Navigating aviation law is no easy task. You have the right to hire an experienced aviation accident attorney who understands the complexities of these cases, including federal aviation regulations and liability laws.

3. Right to Access Information

As a victim, you’re entitled to access critical information about the accident, such as:

• Maintenance and inspection records
• Pilot and crew training logs
• FAA investigation reports
• Black box data (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder)

4. Right to Hold Negligent Parties Accountable

Depending on the circumstances, you may file a claim against:

• The airline
• The pilot or crew members
• Aircraft manufacturers
• Maintenance providers
• Air traffic controllers

Our team will investigate every possible avenue to maximize your compensation.

5. Right to Emotional Support

Recovering from an aviation accident is not just physical but emotional as well. You deserve access to counseling and support services to cope with trauma and loss.

The value of your claim depends on the specifics of your case. However, aviation accident victims may recover several types of damages, including:

Economic Damages

These cover measurable financial losses, such as:

• Medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications)
• Lost wages for missed time at work
• Reduced earning potential due to long-term injuries

Non-Economic Damages

These compensate for more subjective losses, such as:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Loss of companionship or consortium (for family members)

Punitive Damages

In cases where the defendant acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct, you may be awarded punitive damages to deter similar behavior in the future.

Not every aviation-related injury stems from a catastrophic crash. If you were hurt while flying or at an airport – perhaps during severe turbulence or by a falling suitcase from an overhead bin – you may be unsure whether you have any legal recourse. The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja wants you to know that even these types of injuries can merit a claim. In fact, airlines and airport operators have a duty to keep you safe throughout your travel, not just during takeoff and landing.

Examples of Airport and In-Flight Injury Cases We Handle:

• Turbulence-Related Injuries: Sudden, severe turbulence can throw passengers or crew around the cabin, leading to concussions, broken bones, or other serious injuries. Even without a crash, these mid-air injuries can disrupt your life and warrant accountability.

• Falling Luggage from Overhead Bins: Improperly secured overhead compartments or careless stacking can cause heavy luggage to fall on passengers. A suitcase falling on someone’s head or shoulder can cause concussions, neck injuries, or back injuries. Airlines must ensure bins are latched and bags are stowed safely to prevent these accidents.

• Boarding and Deplaning Accidents: Injuries often occur while getting on or off the aircraft. You might slip on a wet jet bridge, trip on defective airplane stairs, or get knocked down by a rush of other passengers. These incidents can result in sprains, fractures, or worse – and they may be the airline or airport’s responsibility under the law.

• Wheelchair Assistance Failures: Air travel should be safe for everyone, including passengers with disabilities. Unfortunately, there are cases where airline or airport staff fail to provide proper wheelchair assistance – for example, not securing a wheelchair, letting it tip over, or dropping a passenger during transfer. The result can be broken bones, head injuries, or serious trauma for a vulnerable passenger who trusted the staff for help. We take these cases seriously to ensure disabled travelers are treated with the care and respect they deserve.

• Slip and Falls in Airport Terminals: Busy airport terminals can present hazards – spilled drinks, loose cables, uneven flooring, or poorly maintained escalators. If you slipped, tripped, or fell in an airport due to unsafe conditions, you could be left with injuries ranging from a torn ligament to a head injury. Airport operators (or sometimes airlines, depending on who manages the area) may be liable under premises liability law if they failed to keep the property reasonably safe.

These situations can cause serious physical and emotional harm. Importantly, do not assume you have no case just because a crash wasn’t involved. Injuries during air travel – whether in the plane or in the terminal – may still be covered under aviation law or premises liability law. Airlines, airport authorities, and their insurance companies can be held accountable for negligence that leads to passenger injuries.

Our aviation injury attorneys understand the regulations and standards that apply to these scenarios. We will listen with compassion to your story, investigate what happened, and explain your options. You deserve to be safe when you travel, and if someone’s carelessness caused your injury, we’re here to help you pursue justice and proper compensation.

There are several ways that an aircraft can injure someone, whether it is in motion or not. Depending on the severity of the accident, these injuries can be catastrophic and may even lead to death.

Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in aviation accidents include: 

• Head, neck, and spine injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord and nerve damage
• Burn injuries
• Electrocution
• Soft tissue damage
• Broken bones
• Amputations

Treating serious aviation accident-related injuries, or navigating the loss of a loved one, can be incredibly expensive. At The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, PLLC, we believe that you should not have to pay for the damages that another party caused you.

By identifying the liable party, we can help you seek fair financial compensation for your medical bills, lost income, lost quality of life, pain, suffering, and other damages.

Handling an international aviation accident claim is often more complex than a domestic case. If your loss occurred on a flight overseas or on an international route, you are not only dealing with immense grief but also a maze of different laws and jurisdictions. It’s overwhelming to navigate foreign legal systems and international rules while mourning a loved one or recovering from trauma.

The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja has the experience to guide you through this daunting process with care and expertise, so you don’t have to face it alone.

One key difference in international aviation accidents is the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that governs cross-border airline liability. The Montreal Convention essentially sets the rules for airline responsibility when passengers are injured or killed during international travel.

For flights between countries that have signed the treaty, it standardizes how and where claims can be brought, and it can impose specific limits or conditions on compensation. For example, under this treaty an airline is strictly liable for proven damages up to a certain point, and different rules apply beyond that threshold.

What this means for you as a victim or family member is that the process for claiming compensation might be different than it would be for a purely domestic U.S. flight. There may be shorter time frames to file a claim, jurisdictional requirements (such as needing to sue in certain countries or courts), and capped damages in some situations. Navigating these provisions can be confusing – especially when you should be focusing on healing and family.

Our firm is well-versed in the Montreal Convention and other international aviation laws, so we can ensure your case meets all necessary legal requirements while maximizing your right to recovery.

Our team has first-hand experience with high-stakes international aviation litigation. We were at the forefront of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy in 2019, where we represented 14 families in their claims against Boeing. This was the devastating crash of a Boeing 737 MAX that took 157 lives and involved victims and jurisdictions from around the globe. Through that case, our attorneys gained deep insight into handling lawsuits that span multiple countries and involve complex global issues. We have confronted large multinational corporations and navigated international treaties to get justice for our clients.

When you come to us with an international aviation accident case, you can trust that we know how to handle every complexity it presents. We coordinate with experts worldwide – from accident investigators to local counsel in other countries – to build a powerful case for you. We will determine the best jurisdiction to file your claim, whether under the Montreal Convention or other applicable laws, and we’ll cut through the red tape that airlines and their insurers put up.

Most importantly, we do all of this with empathy and respect for what you’ve been through. Our goal is to shoulder the legal burdens so you can focus on what really matters: honoring your loved one’s memory or healing from your injuries. With our experienced team by your side, you’re not fighting this battle alone, no matter how global or complex the fight may be.

An aviation accident can be devastating whether it involves a major commercial airliner or a small private plane. We understand that when you or a loved one has been hurt in a private jet accident, the impact on your life is just as severe and traumatic as any large-scale crash. Private jet travel is often seen as safer or more exclusive, but in reality, accidents do happen – and when they do, the legal challenges can be every bit as complicated.

The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja handles private plane accidents with the same level of dedication and tenacity as we do commercial airline cases. We know that victims of private aircraft crashes deserve justice and compassionate support, too, and we are here to provide exactly that.

Accidents involving private jets often have unique factors and require understanding the nuances of private aviation. For example, the pilot of a chartered private jet might not have the same rigorous training or experience as a commercial airline captain, and the maintenance standards for privately owned planes aren’t always enforced as strictly as those for commercial fleets.

Poor decision-making, such as flying in unsafe weather to meet a tight schedule, can also play a role in private plane crashes. In our experience, common causes of private jet accidents include pilot negligence or error, improper aircraft maintenance, and inadequate flight planning regarding weather. Any one of these factors can lead to a tragic outcome.

Determining what exactly went wrong in a private jet crash can be complex – sometimes these aircraft lack certain safety technologies (like robust “black box” recorders), and the oversight of private aviation isn’t as comprehensive as the commercial industry. But no matter how challenging the investigation, our legal team knows how to get to the truth.

When we take on a private jet accident case, we dive into the details that matter. We will thoroughly investigate the background of the pilot and crew, the maintenance logs and safety record of the aircraft, and the decisions made before and during the flight. Our attorneys collaborate with aviation experts who understand private aircraft operations, so we can pinpoint failures such as a faulty part or a violated safety protocol.

Most importantly, we tailor our approach to the specific nuances of private aviation law. Whether the liable party is a negligent charter company, a part manufacturer, or another entity, we will identify them and hold them accountable.

Throughout the process, we never lose sight of the human side of what you’re going through. We know that you are likely dealing with pain, trauma, or the loss of a loved one, and our team approaches every conversation with empathy and respect.

Whether your case involves a commercial airline or a private jet, our mission is the same: to fight for your rights and help you secure the compensation you need to rebuild your life. You can be confident that our firm understands the intricacies of private jet accident cases and will advocate tirelessly on your behalf, just as we have done for countless aviation accident victims before.

One thing that makes aviation accident cases so challenging to navigate is the fact that multiple parties may share liability. In other words, there may be more than one person or party at fault.

When you hire the aviation accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, we will carefully examine the cause of your accident to identify all responsible parties, including third parties, who are legally responsible for paying for the losses they caused you.

Depending on the results of both state and federal investigations by the authorities, as well as our own private investigation into the incident, one or more of the following parties may be liable: 

• The pilot or co-pilot
• The airline or air carrier
• Certain third-party contractors
• Air traffic controllers
• Airport personnel
• An aircraft manufacturer

Another element that makes aviation accidents challenging to negotiate is the fact that aircraft vehicles typically cross state or country borders.

Whether your flight resulted in injuries in Texas or elsewhere, our team knows to take appropriate legal action so that your claim starts on the right foot. We will consider jurisdiction and inform you if your claim should be filed in Houston or elsewhere.

Negligence is a descriptive legal term, referring to the reckless or careless actions or inactions taken by the liable party. Negligence is one of the cornerstones of your case. Proving negligence requires admissible evidence and a strong command of personal injury and insurance laws.

Proving negligence in your aviation accident case involves establishing the following: 

• An airline, operator, or manufacturer owed you a general duty of care
• The identified defendant failed to meet that duty by acting unsafely, negligently, or wrongfully
• The defendant’s acts or omissions resulted in your accident
• The accident led to subsequent injuries or the wrongful death of a family member
• Your injuries or the death of your family member caused you financial harm

Often, the insurance company will argue that the defendant did not act negligently or wrongfully. They may also question whether the defendant’s acts or omissions truly caused the incident that led to your injuries or the death of your loved one. The insurer and adjuster will have their own version of events, which may go against yours.

However, a comprehensive investigation by your legal team may reveal that the situation is not as objective as it seems. As we discover any new findings that speak to the cause of your injuries, our aviation accident attorneys will document evidence that we can submit on your behalf when making a demand.

Along with mechanical failure, human error is one of the leading causes of aircraft accidents. Tragically, operator error frequently leads to devastating and deadly crashes, resulting in extreme loss of human life. Survivors of such incidents are likely to experience catastrophic, life-changing injuries.

At The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, we represent victims of aviation accidents caused by operator error.

Our team is adept at investigating these claims and determining whether a pilot, co-pilot, or another individual was responsible for the incident that led to your injuries or the loss of your loved one. We can help you pursue a claim against a:

• Commercial airline operator: In general, commercial airlines are subject to the laws and regulations set forth by the Federal Aviation Act (FAA). The FAA requires airline operators to maintain and meet a duty of care to keep you and other passengers safe. If they fail to do so and cause your injuries, you have the right to file a compensation claim.
• Private aircraft operator: Airline operators who carry fewer than 20 passengers on a plane are subject to the rules of the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA). There are timelines by which you have to file a claim, which means that you should contact an airline operator negligence lawyer right away to ensure that you don’t lose your right to file a lawsuit.

Our Houston aviation accident attorneys have extensive experience navigating complex state and federal aviation laws. We are well-versed in the personal injury and civil litigation court systems and know how to effectively protect your rights against the interests of large corporations, powerful manufacturers, and other major entities.

In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits, including aviation accidents, must be filed within two years of the injury or when the injury was discovered. For wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations is typically two years from the date of death, with rare exceptions.

Our team can confirm whether the statute of limitations has expired and ensure you file your lawsuit before the deadline. Even if you believe you missed the deadline, contact The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja, PLLC. Some exceptions may still allow you to take legal action.

Attempting to handle your case alone can result in you receiving an unfair settlement or even having your claim denied.

We believe that you deserve a fair legal award for the damages someone else has caused you. That is why The Law Offices of Omar Khawaja will provide empathetic, compassionate, and responsive representation, allowing you to concentrate on your physical and emotional recovery.

We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any upfront legal fees when you hire our firm. Instead, we only collect attorney fees and litigation-related costs if and when we win your case.