top of page

How Much Can You Sue If A Plane Crashes In California?

  • May 26, 2022
  • 4 min read

Updated: Nov 14, 2022

Awarded Damages For A California Airplane Crash Lawsuit

Plane crashes often happen because someone has been negligent. That said, negligent parties owe victims compensation to help them recover from the financial and emotional effects of the crash.


personal injury lawyer los angeles california

California Personal Injury Law: Can You Sue An Airline If It Crashes?

Airlines have the responsibility to keep their planes safe. Commercial panes must be maintained and checked before and after flying to ensure their passengers are safe. So, when a plane crashes, it's only because someone has been negligent in some way.

The Responsible parties could include any of the following:

  • Owner

  • Plane manufacturer

  • Distributor

  • Inspector

  • Maintenance crew

  • Pilot

If multiple parties are responsible for your accident, you could sue each one. First, you and your Plane Crash Attorney in Los Angeles need to prove that the identified parties could be held liable in a California Plane Crash. Hence, investigations need to be done right after the incident.


An Aside #1: Catastrophic Injury Claims

Plane crashes often spell severe injuries that can permanently affect someone's life. If you have severe injuries such as loss of mobility, disfigurement, and other life-long injuries, you have a catastrophic injury claim in California.


An Aside #2: Wrongful Death


Family members can file a California Wrongful Death claim if a loved one dies due to a California plane crash. Identifying the responsible party is done similarly to a personal injury claim.


airplane accident lawyer california

Do Plane Crash Survivors Get Money In California?


California airplane crash lawsuits allow awarding of damages to people who sustained injuries from an airplane crash. These damages depend on the expenses and emotional distress a victim experiences because of the accident.


Here's how an Airplane Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles would calculate your damages:


Economic Damages


In a California plane crash claim, the first form of damages you can be awarded is economic damages. These charges, expenses, and financial losses are related to the California plane crash victim's costs, fees, and financial losses. Here are a few examples of financial losses:


1. Medical Bills

The cost of your medical care and therapy after an injury is included in your damages. This is the most common type of damage in a personal injury case.


Expenses for medical care might include, but are not limited to:

  • Ambulance and emergency room charges

  • Fees for doctors

  • Hospitalizations and surgeries

  • Other diagnostic tests include lab testing, x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

  • Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, vocational therapy, and other sorts of treatments

  • Medical equipment

  • Medications

In a personal injury case, You can include almost any reasonable and necessary medical expense. However, victims should seek immediate medical attention and keep detailed records of all medical expenses and charges.


2. Earnings Loss

If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to wage loss compensation. A multitude of factors can lead to a loss of income, including:

  • Wages

  • Salaries

  • Benefits

  • Commissions

  • Bonuses

  • Losses are calculated based on expected earnings

Damages for loss of income might also include lost chances and other forms of compensation. Similarly to medical costs, thoroughly documenting your losses increases your chances of receiving full compensation for your economic losses.


Contact a Los Angeles airplane accident attorney if you're having trouble moving forward with a potential personal injury claim.


3. Expenses Not Covered by Insurance

Medical expenses and lost pay are two of the most common economic damages in a personal injury case. Other financial losses, however, may be included in a claim for damages depending on the circumstances, including:

  • Transportation costs to and from medical visits

  • In-home health care or personal care

  • Long-term medical or personal assistance required

  • Modifications to a home or vehicle needed due to a disability or impairment

  • Help with day-to-day responsibilities

Keep all bills, invoices, receipts, and proof of payment for financial losses. Your airplane crash lawyer in Los Angeles will determine which damages you can include in a settlement demand.

Non-Economic Damages


In a California personal injury case, "pain and suffering" damages may be awarded, often known as non-economic damages. Therefore, you are entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering from the accident and injuries.


The person who caused your injury could be held liable for the following:

  • Pain and suffering

  • Long-term impairments and disabilities

  • Deformity and scarring

  • Emotional anguish and mental agony

  • Psychological harm includes PTSD, anxiety, and despair.

  • Loss of pleasure in life

There is no standard process for valuing a person's pain and suffering. However, several factors determine the amount of pain and suffering damages granted in a personal injury case. Consider the following examples:

  • A person involved in a catastrophic accident that ends in life-altering injuries such as amputations, paralysis, or brain damage has suffered more than someone who breaks a bone and heals in a few months.

  • On the other hand, a person who breaks numerous bones or has a severe fracture that necessitates surgery may not experience as much pain as someone who breaks a finger. Everything is predicated on the situation's facts.

You can help your California personal injury lawyer maximize pain and suffering damages by keeping a journal throughout your case. Make a list of how much pain you're in daily and how your injury has impacted your life. Keep track of your feelings, including any flashbacks, nightmares, worry, or distress.


Punitive Damages

The court may award punitive damages in particular personal injury cases. On the other hand, punitive damages are rarely granted in personal injury cases.


airplane crash lawyer los angeles

Find the Top Personal Injury Lawyers In Los Angeles (And Across California!)

1000Attorneys.com is a Lawyer Referral Service that can refer you to a prescreened airplane accident lawyer in California. You may contact us via our 24/7 live chat (or fulfil our case submission form) for a free initial consultation.

American Bar Association–Accredited and California State Bar–Certified Lawyer Referral and Information Service

Welcome to 1000Attorneys.com, a Lawyer Referral and Information Service certified by the California State Bar and nationally accredited by the American Bar Association.

 

Our role is to provide unbiased and impartial lawyer referrals to members of the public.

 

We operate independently from the attorneys who receive referrals and do not engage in pay-to-play or advertising-based rankings.

 

While we focus primarily on California employment law and personal injury matters, our referral services extend to many additional practice areas throughout the state.

 

Each referral is based on the legal issue presented, geographic considerations, and the attorney’s licensure status, experience, and professional standing.

 

We recognize that every legal matter is unique and aim to connect individuals with independently licensed attorneys suited to their specific needs.

 

Why Lawyer Referrals Matter

 

The California State Bar investigates thousands of complaints involving attorney misconduct each year.

 

Verifying licensure alone does not always provide sufficient insight into an attorney’s suitability for a particular legal matter.

 

As part of our referral process, we review publicly available licensure and disciplinary records and consider relevant experience in the practice area involved.

 

This due diligence is intended to help the public make more informed decisions when seeking legal representation.

 

Learn more about attorney discipline and public records here.

 

Our History

 

Since 2005, we have assisted Californians in locating qualified legal representation through a structured, regulated referral process.

 

We recognize the challenges individuals face when navigating legal advertising, promotional claims, and online directories.

 

Our service is designed to provide a neutral, reliable alternative focused on public protection and informed choice.

Attorneys in Our Network

 

Attorneys who receive referrals through our service are licensed in California, in good standing with the State Bar, and maintain professional experience in their respective practice areas.

 

Evaluation considerations may include:

 

  • Licensure status and disciplinary history

  • Relevant practice experience

  • Professional background and education

  • Client service and communication practices

  • Fee practices consistent with applicable rules

 

Participation in the referral service does not constitute endorsement, and hiring decisions remain solely with the individual seeking legal representation.

 

How to Request a Lawyer Referral

 

  1. Submit your legal issue online for review by our referral staff. Online requests are typically processed in under 10 minutes.

  2. Inquiries may also be submitted by email, with responses generally provided within one business day.

  3. You may contact our referral line at 661-310-7999. Referral agents are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.

California Bar Attorney Search
bottom of page