Helping Aviation Crash Survivors and Families Recover
A Texas aviation accident lawyer represents pilots, passengers, crew, and surviving family members in civil claims after aircraft crashes. These cases involve federal aviation law, Texas personal injury law, and often product liability — and they require accident reconstruction experts, NTSB report analysis, and litigation against well-funded airlines, manufacturers, and insurers.
The Amaro Law Firm has spent decades fighting for Texas accident victims. If you or a loved one was hurt or killed in an aviation crash, our team is ready to investigate, file your claim, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Call 1-866-445-5645 or request a free case review — both are 100% confidential and cost nothing.
What Is an Aviation Accident?
An aviation accident is any crash, collision, or incident involving an aircraft that causes injury, death, or property damage. Under federal law, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates all civil aviation accidents in the United States.
Aviation accidents covered by our firm include:
- Commercial airline crashes
- Private and chartered plane crashes
- Helicopter crashes, including medevac and offshore transport
- Corporate jet accidents
- Air taxi and tour flight incidents
- Agricultural aviation (crop duster) crashes
- Runway collisions and ground incidents
Each type of accident involves different aircraft, different operators, and different legal frameworks. That’s why we maintain dedicated practice pages for the most common case types:
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Texas Aviation Accident?
Any party whose negligence contributed to a crash can be held liable under Texas law. Aviation cases often involve multiple defendants because most crashes have more than one cause.
Common liable parties include:
- Pilots and flight crew — for errors in judgment, communication, or operation
- Airlines and charter operators — for inadequate training, scheduling, or supervision
- Aircraft manufacturers — for design or manufacturing defects
- Maintenance companies and mechanics — for improper repairs or skipped inspections
- Air traffic controllers — for miscommunication or FAA regulation violations
- Airport operators — for runway conditions or ground safety failures
- Component manufacturers — for defective parts, engines, or avionics
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001). You can recover damages as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
What Damages Can You Recover?
Compensation in an aviation accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, and the nature of the negligence involved. Texas law allows victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
|---|---|
| Medical bills (current and future) | Pain and suffering |
| Lost wages and earning capacity | Mental anguish |
| Property damage | Loss of companionship |
| Funeral and burial expenses | Permanent impact on quality of life |
| Rehabilitation costs | Loss of consortium |
In cases involving gross negligence — such as a pilot flying while impaired or a manufacturer concealing a known defect — Texas law also allows punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.
How Long Do You Have to File an Aviation Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas gives aviation accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003.
Exceptions can extend or shorten this deadline:
- Wrongful death claims generally run two years from the date of death
- Minor children may have until two years after their 18th birthday
- Product liability claims may be governed by the discovery rule, statutes of repose, or federal preemption
- Claims against government entities (such as cases involving air traffic control) face much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes as little as six months
Aviation cases are complex. Evidence disappears, witnesses move, and federal investigations take time. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence.
How a Texas Aviation Accident Lawyer Can Help
Aviation cases are unlike any other type of personal injury claim. They involve federal regulations, international treaties (in some cases), highly technical evidence, and defendants with deep pockets and aggressive legal teams.
Here’s what an experienced aviation attorney does:
- Preserves critical evidence — including black boxes, flight data recorders, maintenance logs, and air traffic control recordings
- Conducts a parallel investigation — independent of the NTSB, since attorneys cannot directly participate in federal investigations
- Hires aviation experts — accident reconstructionists, former pilots, aerospace engineers, and human factors specialists
- Identifies all liable parties — often expanding the case beyond the obvious defendants
- Calculates long-term damages — including future medical care, lost earning capacity, and lifetime loss of quality of life
- Negotiates with insurers and corporate defendants — who typically try to settle quickly and cheaply
- Files suit before the statute of limitations expires — and prepares the case for trial if needed
Why Choose the Amaro Law Firm
For decades, the Amaro Law Firm has represented Texas accident victims in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Our team includes board-certified trial lawyers, Super Lawyers honorees, and attorneys recognized by the National Trial Lawyers and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
We handle aviation cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Texas aviation accident lawyer? Nothing upfront. The Amaro Law Firm handles aviation accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Initial consultations are always free and confidential.
What’s the average settlement for an aviation accident in Texas? There is no average. Aviation accident settlements vary widely based on the severity of injuries, lost income, number of victims, and the type of negligence involved. Cases involving wrongful death, permanent disability, or commercial defendants often result in seven- and eight-figure recoveries.
Who investigates aviation accidents in Texas? The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates all civil aviation accidents in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may also conduct its own investigation focused on regulatory compliance. Private attorneys cannot participate in NTSB investigations but can conduct independent parallel investigations.
Can I sue an airline after a crash? Yes. Airlines can be held liable for negligence in pilot training, scheduling, maintenance practices, and supervision. Commercial airline cases often involve federal preemption issues and may require litigation in federal court.
What if my loved one died in an aviation accident? Surviving spouses, children, and parents can file a wrongful death claim under the Texas Wrongful Death Act. The estate may also file a separate survival action to recover damages the deceased could have claimed if they had lived.
Does it matter if the crash happened outside Texas? Not necessarily. Texas attorneys can represent Texas residents injured in aviation accidents anywhere in the world, depending on the circumstances. Jurisdiction in aviation cases often turns on where the aircraft was manufactured, maintained, or operated.
What evidence is most important in an aviation accident case? Flight data recorders (“black boxes”), cockpit voice recordings, maintenance logs, pilot certification records, air traffic control communications, weather data, and witness statements. Much of this evidence must be preserved quickly before it’s lost or altered.
How long does an aviation accident case take? Most aviation cases take 18 months to several years to resolve. The complexity of the investigation, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or goes to trial all affect the timeline.
Talk to a Texas Aviation Accident Lawyer Today
You don’t have to navigate this alone. The Amaro Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations to aviation accident victims and their families.
Call 1-866-445-5645 or request a free case review online.
Our lawyers are standing by, ready to investigate your case and take action to help you recover.