Families frequently inquire about their legal options following a tragedy, including what a civil action entails, who is liable, and how an NTSB investigation impacts the claim. The fundamentals are covered in this handbook, along with how Pyramid Legal’s aviation team assists families at every stage.

The Significance of Investigations for Your Case

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does not apportion civil blame; instead, it conducts investigations into aircraft accidents to ascertain likely cause and provide safety recommendations. Families should be aware that during significant catastrophes, NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance program arranges information access and support services. While defending your claim, we keep an eye on the docket, compile operational and maintenance data, and collaborate with other specialists.

Separately, rules address wreckage and record preservation, and some operators are required to notify the NTSB following an accident (49 C.F.R. Part 830). Those regulations assist guarantee that evidence is available for your case, even if they only apply to operators and not families.

Wrongful Death and Potential Compensation

Numerous family claims are handled under statutes pertaining to wrongful death. Depending on the jurisdiction, possible damages could include non-economic harms including loss of companionship, medical expenses prior to death, funeral costs, and loss of financial assistance. Our staff assists you in determining which damages apply in your case and who is eligible to submit. (See our Wrongful Death page for a broad summary of our strategy.)

Products & Carelessness: Who Could Be at Fault?

Among the possible defendants are:

• Manufacturers and component producers (failure to warn, design/manufacturing flaws).
• providers of maintenance (inadequate repairs or inspections, problems with logbooks).
• Pilot/Operator/Training entities (flight-planning errors, insufficient training, careless operating).
• Airports and ATC (infrequent, fact-specific; allegations about lighting or signs, or procedural problems).

The evidence, which includes witness interviews, ADS-B/radar data, maintenance records, and NTSB factual findings, is compared with the chain of responsibility map. Common causative trends in general aviation are contextualized by FAA and industry safety statistics.

Jurisdiction, Deadlines, and Evidence Preservation

Statutes of limitations, or deadlines for initiating a lawsuit, differ depending on the jurisdiction and type of claim. If a government agency is involved, there may be additional notification requirements. Treaties such as the Montreal Convention may be affected by international flights. Families should get in touch with counsel as soon as possible because timelines can be tight, allowing us to issue preservation letters and start the expert review process.

How Families Benefit from Pyramid Legal

We handle the investigation and legal work so you may concentrate on your family:

• Prompt action: coordinating inspections, preserving evidence, and involving experts.
• Liability analysis: contrast operating, maintenance, and training data with industry norms.
• Development of damages: assistance for non-economic injuries; documentation of lifetime wages and household contributions by financial specialists.
• Communication: frequent information and direction regarding NTSB milestones and their relationship to your civil case.

See About Us, contact us directly, or read more about our aviation practice on Airplane Accident.

The bottom line

Legal remedies available to families in plane crashes include wrongful death lawsuits, product liability and negligence charges, and meticulous damages development. The NTSB procedure operates concurrently, and early evidence work is important. Our staff can assist you in moving forward when you’re ready.

Free and Private Case Evaluation

Get in touch with Pyramid Legal right now to schedule a free consultation. After reviewing your case and outlining your choices, we will begin defending the rights of your family.