Plane and Helicopter Crash Attorneys
Aviation accidents are among the most complex injury and wrongful death cases. They involve federal regulations, technical evidence, multiple potential defendants, and investigations that can take years. Muggeo & Associates represents passengers, pilots, and families after small plane, charter, helicopter, and commercial aviation accidents.
A Pilot on Your Side
Attorney Louis J. Muggeo has more than 2,000 hours of civilian flight time. That firsthand knowledge of flight operations, aircraft systems, maintenance practices, and air traffic procedures helps us understand what went wrong and ask the right technical questions from day one.
Types of Aviation Cases We Handle
- Small private and general aviation crashes
- Charter and air taxi accidents
- Helicopter accidents, including tour and medical flights
- Flight school and training accidents
- Commercial airline injuries
- Ground accidents and runway incursions
Who May Be Responsible
Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include the pilot or operator, aircraft owner, charter company, maintenance or repair facility, manufacturers of the aircraft, engine, or components, fuel suppliers, flight schools, and in some cases air traffic control or airport operators. Identifying every responsible party early is critical, and insurance coverage can be complicated by policy exclusions, pilot qualification requirements, and multiple layers of coverage.
The NTSB Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates civil aviation accidents in the United States. The NTSB’s purpose is safety, not assigning legal fault, and its final probable-cause reports generally cannot be used as evidence in civil lawsuits. Families need their own independent investigation, and evidence such as the wreckage, maintenance records, and flight data must be preserved.
Important Deadlines
Time limits in aviation cases vary by state and by type of claim. Massachusetts wrongful death claims generally must be filed within three years. Claims against aircraft and parts manufacturers may be barred by a federal statute of repose based on the age of the aircraft or part, subject to exceptions. International flights are often governed by the Montreal Convention, which has its own two-year limit and rules on where suit can be filed.
Damages in Aviation Cases
Injured survivors may recover medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Families who have lost a loved one may recover wrongful death damages, including the loss of financial support, services, and companionship, as well as funeral expenses and, in some cases, damages for conscious pain and suffering before death.
Local Airports
We are based in Salem, near Beverly Regional Airport, and handle cases arising from flights in and out of airports across New England and beyond, as well as nationwide and international matters.
Read our Aviation Accident FAQ or learn more about our aviation law practice.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
Call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or send us a message. Our office is at 133 Washington Street in downtown Salem.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines change and depend on the facts of each case. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.