Austin Aviation Accident Lawyer

After a private plane or helicopter crash, more than one person or company may be legally responsible, and the official FAA and NTSB investigation is only one part of what a claim depends on. I want to be plain about this: at the Law Office of Robert House in River Place, Austin, Texas 78730, I handle aviation accidents only through referral or co-counsel arrangements. I can help you or your family understand where you stand and, where it makes sense, work with or refer you to experienced aviation counsel. If you lost someone or were hurt, please call me and we can talk it through.

How I Can Help After an Aviation Accident

I do not handle plane or helicopter crash cases on my own. I handle them only through referral or co-counsel arrangements. What I can do is help injured people and families evaluate the situation, explain how a civil claim differs from the official investigation, and, where appropriate, work with or refer you to experienced aviation counsel in a co-counsel arrangement. I will not promise that you have a claim or speculate about what caused a crash.

This page is about private and general aviation. If your flight was something else, such as a commercial or international flight, different rules may apply, so please call me.

Plane and Helicopter Crashes Near Austin

Small aircraft fly in and out of Austin-area airports and over the Hill Country and Lake Travis. The flights that can be involved include private flights, charter flights, tours, flight training, and flights for work. People hurt or killed may be passengers, pilots, or people on the ground.

Who Can Be Responsible for an Aviation Accident?

Depending on what caused the crash, the people and companies who may be responsible include:

• The pilot, or the pilot’s estate
• The owner or operator of the aircraft
• A charter company or flight school
• A maintenance or repair shop
• The maker of the aircraft or of a part
• A fuel or ground-service provider
• In some cases, an airport operator
• In rare cases, the government, for example if air traffic services played a role

Which of these apply depends on what caused the crash, and that is often not known for a long time. More than one may be responsible at once. If a defective aircraft or part is suspected, see my Texas product liability lawyer page.

How FAA and NTSB Investigations Work With a Claim

The NTSB generally investigates civil aviation accidents and determines a probable cause. The FAA is the regulator and may take part. Their findings help explain what happened, but a civil claim is separate. It is decided by a court or resolved by a settlement, not by the investigation.

These investigations can take a long time. A preliminary report may come early and a final report much later. The rules on using investigation findings in court are limited, so a claim usually turns on its own evidence. That is why I do not tell families to wait for the report before they protect that evidence.

Evidence That Disappears Fast

Investigators may control the wreckage at first, and records can be lost or overwritten in the meantime. Evidence in an aviation claim may include:

• The wreckage, and where it is stored
• Maintenance logs and repair records
• Flight and training records
• Weather records
• Flight-plan and air-traffic communications
• Cockpit or engine recorders, if the aircraft had any
• Photos and video from the scene
• Witness names and contact information
• Records of the aircraft’s owner and operator

Getting access to this evidence takes an experienced team, and I would want that team involved early. I wrote about the same problem after truck crashes in evidence that disappears fast after a truck wreck. My Austin truck accident lawyer page shows how I think about multi-company claims and records.

Wrongful Death After a Plane or Helicopter Crash

If you lost a family member in a crash, I am sorry. Who can bring a claim depends on the family. My wrongful death lawyer Austin page explains the general Texas rules, and I would be glad to talk through your situation by phone.

What a Claim Can Cover

Depending on the case, the losses that may be claimed include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, long-term care, funeral expenses, and the loss of a person’s support and companionship. I do not put a number on any case before the injuries and the proof are understood. If you survived with a serious head injury, see my Austin traumatic brain injury lawyer page.

Special Rules That Can Apply to Aviation Claims

Aviation claims can involve rules that car crash claims do not. Claims involving the government can follow special notice and procedural rules. Some federal rules can affect claims against manufacturers. Other rules can apply to certain commercial or international flights. These can change who can be sued and where, which is another reason to talk to a lawyer early. This page is about aircraft, not cars; for a car or truck crash, see my Austin car accident lawyer page.

What to Do After an Aircraft Accident

• Get medical care, even if you feel okay at first.
• Keep your medical records and bills.
• Write down what you know about the flight: who was aboard, which aircraft, and which company was involved.
• Do not discuss fault on social media.
• Be careful with calls from the aircraft owner’s insurer, because they may reach out quickly.
• Call a lawyer quickly, so evidence can be preserved.

Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to any insurer before you talk to a lawyer.

Deadlines Are Strict

Injury and wrongful death claims have strict filing deadlines, and in aviation and government cases they can differ from the usual rules. Waiting also risks losing evidence. I explain the general rules on my Texas personal injury statute of limitations page. Please call me early so we can confirm what applies to you.

Why Talk to a Board Certified Trial Lawyer First

I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a certification I have held since 2017. I want to be clear that I handle aviation accidents only through referral or co-counsel arrangements. What I can offer is an honest evaluation and help getting the right people involved. You would speak with me directly from River Place in Austin. The consultation is free. Call (512) 872-2264.

Austin Aviation Accident FAQ

Do you handle plane and helicopter crash cases?

Only through referral or co-counsel arrangements. I do not handle aviation accidents on my own. I can help you evaluate the situation and, where appropriate, work with or refer you to experienced aviation counsel.

Who can be held responsible after a small plane crash in Texas?

Depending on the cause, it may be the pilot or the pilot’s estate, the aircraft owner or operator, a charter company or flight school, a maintenance shop, or a manufacturer. More than one can be responsible. Which ones depends on the facts.

Can I sue after a helicopter crash near Austin?

Sometimes. It depends on what caused the crash and who was responsible. Please call me.

Does the NTSB investigation decide who is at fault?

Not by itself. The investigation can help explain what happened, but a civil claim is separate and is decided by a court or a settlement.

Do I have to wait for the FAA or NTSB report before filing a claim?

I would not wait to protect evidence. Investigations can take a long time, and evidence is controlled early.

Can a family bring a wrongful death claim after a plane crash?

Possibly. Who can bring a claim depends on the family. See my wrongful death lawyer page, and please call me.

What if the pilot was at fault or died in the crash?

A claim may still exist. The pilot’s estate and other parties may be involved, depending on the facts.

What evidence should be preserved after an aviation accident?

The wreckage, maintenance and flight records, weather and communication records, any recorders, photos and video from the scene, and witness names. Much of it is controlled by others, so it should be preserved early.

Can I sue the government if air traffic control played a role?

In rare cases that may be possible, but claims involving the government follow special notice and procedural rules.