Aviation Accident Attorneys | Airlines | Helicopters | Military
Located in Los Angeles, Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, P.C., is a nationally recognized law firm entrusted with providing experienced legal representation in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits throughout the United States and internationally. We handle aviation accident lawsuits involving commercial airliners, single engine aircraft, passenger jets, helicopters and other aircraft.
Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman has represented aviation accident victims in some of the worst aviation disasters in history.
Our experience has led to successful resolutions on behalf of aviation accident victims and their families in all types of aircraft accidents, including those involving:
- Airport Runway Accidents
- Air ambulance accidents
- Charter plane accidents
- Drone crashes
- Helicopter crashes
- International aviation accidents
- Inflight injury and turbulence incidents
- Mid-air collisions
- Military aircraft crashes
- Planes into houses incidents
- Sightseeing aviation tour accidents
- Small plane crashes
- U.S. airline accidents
An Experienced Team That Can Identify All Causes of an Accident
Our 40 years of experience handling plane crashes and other mass disasters has provided our team with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively investigate and prepare for trial or settlement. We meticulously investigate accident causes and pursue accountability against the airline, aviation company, airport, manufacturer, or other negligent parties.
Examples of aviation accident causes include:
- Corporate negligence
- Crew negligence/human factors
- Design or manufacturing defects
- Maintenance negligence
Over the years, our law firm has handled many major U.S. airline accidents and international air disasters. Learn more about specific airline or helicopter maker’s crash history and cases handled by Baum Hedlund (this list only includes a portion of our case history):
- American Airlines
- Bell Helicopter
- Continental (Now Defunct)
- Delta Air Lines
- Robinson Helicopter
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- US Airways (Now Defunct)
Some of our top settlements and verdicts include:
- $17.5 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major US plane crash
- $14 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major US plane crash
- $12 million settlement for an injured passenger in a helicopter crash
- $10 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major foreign plane crash
- $7.5 million settlement for the death of passenger in a helicopter crash
- 136 aviation cases settled for $1 million or more
- Caused first known public apology from a major airline
Any aviation-related lawsuit may well involve more than one state’s law or court system. Numerous complex choices and decisions may have to be made to maximize recovery or streamline procedures. Baum Hedlund has routinely made these choices and has the extensive experience needed to recognize and resolve complex aviation accident cases.
We have found from our decades of experience handling aviation accident cases, that passengers represented by an attorney receive far more than passengers attempting to resolve claims on their own. Time and time again we have seen that, despite assurances from insurance adjusters and the airlines’ attorneys that they want to quickly and fairly compensate the families for their losses, an insurance adjuster has allegiance only to his or her firm, the airline and its insurance carrier, as they urge a quick settlement or threaten to prolong the process if their offer is refused.
Many people feel that they are victimized twice by the aviation industry: once by the tragic event and then again by being put through the grueling process of proving their damages. We understand the complex issues, the defense tactics, and what it takes to successfully prevail on our clients’ behalf. We work hard do ease our clients through this most difficult time by assisting them in all aspects of their preparation and by standing ready at all times to answer all questions. We make it a priority to hold the negligent parties fully accountable by leveling the playing field and fighting for a full measure of justice.
Ronald L. M. Goldman, Pursuing justice
Our past performance, verdicts or settlements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of future legal matters. Past results obtained or overall performance must be confined to that particular case, its factual and legal circumstances and legal surroundings. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
Baum Hedlund was more than we ever hoped for after previously having a particularly bad attorney. Here we found respect, courtesy and care. Our views were respected, our wishes were followed and our goals were met. What we wanted had not been done before and our attorneys explained why. We let them know that was still our goal and they said, “OK, we’re up for it. We’ll try hard and see where it goes.” Our only acceptable alternative was to go to court, so they began prepping for that as well. They gave us good advice. They allowed us to speak for ourselves in mediation, always helping us to not jeopardize our case. They did not advise us to settle for less than our goal. In the end, we were successful due to BH’s professional skills and personal service. They were attentive to our emotional needs, our family values and needs. I cannot write enough praise here for the services Baum Hedlund gave and continue to give. We will always be thankful for our team. Always. — Tereasa Shepherd – Read more from our clients
Many aviation accident victims or their families hire our firm because of our decades of experience and success in handling airline, other commercial and general aviation accident litigation. Our firm is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and maintains an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, obtained through a rigorous process conducted by the leading international lawyers’ directory. According to Martindale.com, and AV rating is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are “the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century.”*
The Press looks to Baum Hedlund’s extensive experience.
Our attorneys have extensive experience with relevant state, federal and international laws. We are experienced in pursuing claims in the complex area of international aviation law, and have represented personal injury victims and heirs in wrongful death cases in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. We are one of the more experienced aviation accident law firms in the world.
We are proud to have resolved major aviation accident cases against Airbus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Aero Mexico, Asiana Airlines, British European Airways, Boeing, Bombardier, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Airlines, EgyptAir, Honeywell, Korean Air, McDonnell Douglas, Pacific Southwest Airlines, Raytheon, Singapore Airlines, SAS-Scandinavian Airline Systems, Southwest Airlines, SwissAir, TACA Airlines, TWA, United Airlines, US Airways, among others.
Our team has over 40 years of extensive aviation accident litigation experience. Ronald L. M. Goldman started his career in aviation accident law in 1972. Other principles of Baum Hedlund began litigating aviation cases in 1985.
- 230+ aviation crashes/incidents
- 70+ different airline crashes
- 30+ international aviation crashes
- Over $1.6 billion recovered firm wide
- More than 650 passengers and crew represented
- Represented clients from six continents; 21 countries
- Major honors and recognition for our achievements
- Cases handled against 10 foreign airlines and/or Airbus
- Cases handled against all major US airlines that have had a crash since 1985
- Cases handled against the majority of all U.S. aircraft parts manufacturers
- Among our attorneys are two pilots and engineers
- We have successfully negotiated with all the major aviation insurance companies
- Appointed to 14 commercial aviation Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees and leadership positions
- First U.S. law firm to get an official public apology from an airline for a crash
Aviation Accident Support Resources
ACCESS, AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services
Federal Aviation Administration
National Transportation Safety Board
NTSB’s Most-wanted Aviation Safety Improvements
Contact your federal legislative representatives:
Trust in the attorneys and team of Baum Hedlund to provide exceptional legal representation with genuine personal support.
Contact Us to Schedule a Free Consultation Regarding an Aviation Incident
Our law firm has offices in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., and we represent families of fatal crash victims as well as individual survivors with serious injuries in aviation crashes, both nationally and internationally.
For immediate assistance, or to schedule an initial free consultation or case evaluation with an experienced aviation or plane crash lawyer, please contact us online or call 800-827-0087.