Aviation Accident Attorneys

Aviation accidents rarely involve a single responsible party. Depending on how an injury occurred, liability may fall on:

• Airlines and Air Carriers. Carriers owe a duty of care to passengers and, in many circumstances, to the workers and contractors operating in areas under their control. Failures in supervision, equipment maintenance, and safety oversight can give rise to significant liability.
• Ground Handling Contractors. Companies contracted to manage baggage, fueling, aircraft marshaling, and other ramp operations are frequently central defendants in airport injury cases. Their employees and equipment are involved in a disproportionate share of serious ramp injuries.
• Airport Authorities and Government Entities. Airports operated by public agencies, including port authorities, can be held liable for unsafe tarmac conditions, inadequate safety oversight, and negligent operations. Claims against these entities involve special notice requirements and procedural rules. Our team at Bishop Legal has a long record of success against these defendants.
• Equipment Manufacturers. When a ground support vehicle, aircraft component, or safety system fails due to defective design or inadequate maintenance, product liability claims may apply alongside negligence theories.
• Third-Party Contractors and Service Providers. Large airport operations involve dozens of contractors sharing ramp space and responsibilities. When one contractor's negligence creates hazards that injure workers or passengers employed or served by another, civil liability may extend across multiple parties.

Aviation Workers and Third-Party Claims

Many aviation and airport workers who are injured on the job assume that workers' compensation is their only option. However, injured workers may have the right to pursue civil claims against parties other than their direct employer, and those claims can recover compensation that workers' compensation does not provide, including damages for pain and suffering, full lost earning capacity, and long-term care needs.

Bishop Legal has built its aviation practice on exactly these cases. Our $40 million jury verdict and $11 million Port of Seattle settlement both arose from third-party claims brought on behalf of airport workers whose injuries went far beyond what any workers' compensation system could address.

We can help evaluate your accident to determine whether you have a viable third-party personal injury claim.

Federal Law and Aviation Accident Claims

Aviation accident litigation often involves a complex interplay of federal and state law. The Federal Aviation Act and regulations promulgated by the FAA establish safety standards that can be central to establishing negligence. The Montreal Convention and the Warsaw Convention govern international and domestic air carrier liability in passenger injury cases. The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) may apply to certain airport and ground workers, providing a separate framework for benefits and third-party claims.

Navigating these overlapping frameworks requires attorneys with specific experience in aviation litigation. Bishop Legal has handled cases across this spectrum and understands how federal preemption arguments, regulatory standards, and jurisdictional questions affect strategy and case value.

What Compensation Is Available?

Compensation in aviation accident cases depends on the nature and severity of the injury and the parties involved. Recoverable damages may include:

• Medical treatment and future care needs
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Permanent impairment or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium for spouses and families
• Wrongful death damages where injuries prove fatal

In catastrophic cases, which may include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and other permanent disabilities, damages can extend across decades of future medical care, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life. 

Bishop Legal works with medical, vocational, and economic experts to build the full picture of long-term losses, not just immediate costs.

How Long Do You Have to File?

Filing deadlines in aviation cases vary based on how the injury occurred and who the defendants are:

• Most personal injury claims in Washington follow a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury
• Claims against public agencies or port authorities require formal notice and a 60-day waiting period before suit can be filed
• Passenger claims governed by the Montreal Convention may be subject to a two-year limitations period
• Federal maritime or LHWCA claims may carry different deadlines

Because aviation cases can involve multiple defendants subject to different rules, early consultation with an attorney is important.