Internationally Renowned For Success In Aircraft Accident Cases

Our team of aviation attorneys at Nolan Law Group represents victims of aviation accidents in Illinois, the United States and around the globe.

Though we are based out of Chicago, our reputation spans worldwide. For more than 40 years, we have helped survivors and the loved ones of deceased victims hold negligent perpetrators accountable for their actions and recover compensation for their damages.

Our firm has handled claims involving:

• Commercial planes: Commercial airline accidents involve scheduled passenger flights operated by major or regional airlines.
• Private planes: Private aircraft accidents often involve smaller planes used for personal travel or recreation. 
• Corporate and business jets: Corporate and business jets are commonly used for executive travel and charter services. 
• Military aircraft: Military aircraft accidents can involve service members or civilians on the ground. While some claims are limited by federal law, there may still be legal options for civilian victims. 
• Helicopters: Helicopter accidents frequently involve medical transport, news gathering, tourism or private travel. 
• Airports: Airport‑related accidents can happen on runways, taxiways, terminals or maintenance areas. 
• Air cargo: Air cargo accidents may involve freight planes or improperly secured cargo on passenger aircraft. 
• International aviation incidents: These accidents raise additional legal challenges involving foreign laws, international treaties and jurisdictional issues. 

We work tirelessly to investigate the incident and build a successful claim, placing the highest importance on serving the needs of victims and their families.

The Experience Necessary For Complex Cases

Aviation cases are immensely complicated and involve unique factors such as jurisdiction, venue, regulations, technology and avionics. Accidents on this scale also often involve multiple sources of fault, ranging from the pilot to the aircraft manufacturer to the regulatory agency.

Because our plane crash lawyers have such breadth and depth of experience, we understand how these factors influence each accident and how to build a successful claim. Our team has a proven track record of success in handling complex aviation cases, as demonstrated by our recent settlements:

• In the Air Philippines Flight 541 case, we negotiated a $165,000,000 settlement on behalf of 47 plaintiffs. The flight slammed into a hill on Samal Island while on approach to landing in Davao City, caught fire and disintegrated, resulting in the deaths of 131 passengers and crew.
• We secured a $115.75 million verdict ($5,000,000 preimpact fright) for the families of the victims of a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft crash on takeoff from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on April 29, 2013. (Layug v. AAR Aircraft & Engine Group, Inc., et al.)

These cases demonstrate our ability to navigate the intricate web of factors involved in airplane accidents, from technical aspects to regulatory issues. With over 40 years of experience, our legal team has consistently helped plane crash victims pursue justice and secure meaningful compensation.

Common Types Of Recoverable Damages In Aviation Accidents

Since an aviation accident can change your life in an instant, Illinois and U.S. law have set compensation for numerous damages. Our firm helps pursue economic damages, which can compensate you for measurable financial losses such as:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation and long‑term treatment.
• Lost wages: The wages lost during recovery. 
• Loss of earning capacity: Permanently unable to work or advance in your career. 
• Property damage: Personal property damaged or destroyed, including luggage. 
• Funeral and burial expenses: In case of wrongful death, surviving family members may seek compensation for funeral and burial costs.

Additionally, our lawyers help recover noneconomic damages, which are compensation for nonmonetary losses such as: 

• Pain and suffering: Severe injuries often involve significant physical pain and long‑term discomfort. 
• Emotional distress and mental trauma: Aviation accidents can lead to anxiety, depression, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fear of flying.
• Loss of consortium: Spouses and other family members may seek damages for loss of companionship, support and intimacy from their loved one.
• Disfigurement and disability: Permanent scarring, amputations or disabilities can alter a person’s quality of life forever. 

Noneconomic damages are often difficult to calculate and, in many cases, are undervalued by insurance companies and defendants. That is why you need experienced aviation accident lawyers from Nolan Law Group to present compelling evidence and ensure these damages are correctly valued.

In some cases involving reckless conduct or willful safety violations, an Illinois court may add punitive damages to punish liable parties and deter similar misconduct in the future.

Global Leaders With A Reputation For Excellence

Internationally, we are renowned for our acumen and capability in aviation litigation claims. We are known as leaders in aviation accident litigation for our unwavering commitment to handling crashes involving powerful corporations or government entities.

Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in almost every major air disaster in recent history in nearly every part of the world. In just three recent injury claims, we recovered more than $150 million in verdicts for the victims of aircraft accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aircraft Accidents

We receive similar concerns from Chicago residents and aviation accident victims statewide seeking representation. Below, our lawyers have given clear answers. 

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury. You should file the claim with the Circuit Court of the county where the accident happened, where you reside as an Illinois resident or where the airline has its headquarters.

Can I sue the aircraft manufacturer or just the airline?

The liability for aircraft accident damages is not limited to only the manufacturer or airline. When the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates the accident, it can give clear details on who might be liable for the damages. The liable parties may be: 

• Airline: For negligent training or failure to maintain safety protocols.
• Pilots/crew: For negligence or error that caused the accident.
• Manufacturers: For a defect in design or manufacturing that leads to the crash.
• Maintenance providers and aircraft owners: For faulty maintenance.
• Air traffic controllers: For erroneous or delayed instructions that caused the crash. 
• Airport: For negligent ground operations. 

In addition to seeking NTSB and FAA information, our attorneys can help conduct more investigations to identify all liable parties.

Who is liable in a mid-air collision?

Liability in a mid-air collision may typically rest on one or more parties, such as: 

• Pilots and crew for errors. 
• Air traffic controllers for erroneous instructions. 
• Airline companies for inadequate training of pilots or failure to follow safety protocols.
• Aircraft manufacturers for defects in the design or manufacturing of the aircraft or its components. 

Our experienced attorneys can handle these complex cases to help ensure you get full compensation.

Get Our Acclaimed Aviation Law Representation – Free Consultation

We understand the catastrophic results of aircraft accidents, and we understand how to help you. Contact our law office to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your rights and options following an aircraft accident.

To begin, please call 312-820-2071 or send us an email.