Krutch, Lindell, Bingham, Jones & Petrie has a national and international reputation for excellence in the area of aviation accident litigation. Our aviation attorneys have been involved in over 25 major air carrier crashes and over 175 general aviation and military crashes, resulting in the recovery of tens of millions of dollars in damages for our clients.

We have represented clients in aviation cases throughout the United States, arising out of accidents occurring all over the world and have frequently been called upon to associate with foreign counsel representing air disaster victims residing outside of the United States.

Our Aviation attorneys include Tom Bingham and Jeff Jones. They have expertise with conflicts of law, forum non conveniens, sovereign immunities, international air treaties and protocols and standards of regulation for pilots, air carriers, controllers, mechanics, and manufacturers. Our attorneys also have extensive experience with rules for complex and multi-district litigation.

Being situated in Seattle, Washington, home to the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, our firm has built relationships that allow us to provide the best possible representation to our clients who have suffered a loss in an aircraft disaster.

Who should I call after an Aviation Accident?
If you or someone you know, has been involved in an aviation accident, the agency to call is the NTSB. The phone number for the NTSB Communications Center is (202) 314-6100. The NTSB will be able to provide information, and to the extent answers are available, direct you to the resources you need.

Do the same laws apply to commercial aircraft and private aircraft?
No. General aviation law applies to all aircraft other than those operated by airlines or the military. Commercial airlines and military carriers are subject to different legal standards.

Who can be held responsible to the injured parties in an air crash?
Potentially liable parties vary depending on the cause of the accident. The owner and operator of the aircraft certainly may be liable. Manufacturers or maintenance suppliers may be liable in certain circumstances. An experienced aviation attorney is essential in identifying all possible claims and defendants.

Can the owner/operator be held criminally liable?
Both the federal government and individual states can impose criminal sanctions in cases involving aviation. Although the classifications and details may vary between them, most states impose criminal sanctions on aviators for reckless conduct that leads to injury, death, or property damage. The difficulty in prosecuting these cases lies in differentiating between cases of negligence, and mere accidents.