Aviation Injuries Lawyers
Commercial, charter, private aircraft and helicopter incidents.
Aviation Injuries claims in Pennsylvania
Aviation claims involve federal regulation, NTSB investigation and often several potential defendants — an operator, a maintenance provider, a component manufacturer or an air traffic services contractor.
The NTSB determines probable cause for safety purposes; a civil claim is a separate process with its own evidence.
Free case review — tell us what happened and we'll take it from there.Why families bring these cases to Munley Law
Munley Law has represented injured people and their families from its Scranton base since 1959. The attorneys listed below handle this type of case, and the results shown are published matters the firm has reported.
“She and everyone I came into contact with in her firm handled my case with the utmost professionalism, as well as true empathy for my situation, while not missing a detail about the facts of the case… She is a great person and an awesome attorney! She will fight for you!”
Common causes
Pilot error
Decision-making, training and fatigue, particularly in charter and general aviation.
Maintenance failures
Inspection intervals, repairs and documentation.
Component defects
Engine, control system or instrumentation failures.
In-flight and ground incidents
Turbulence injuries, falling baggage, boarding falls and ground equipment collisions.
Injuries frequently seen in these cases
- Catastrophic and fatal injuries in crashes
- Traumatic brain and spinal injury
- Fractures from turbulence and falls
- Burn injuries
Who may be responsible
Responsibility depends entirely on the facts, and no one can determine it from a web page. These are the parties whose conduct is typically examined.
The operator or airline
Crew training, dispatch decisions and passenger safety.
A maintenance provider
Work performed on the aircraft before the flight.
A manufacturer
Design or manufacturing defects in the aircraft or its components.
Damages that may be recoverable
What a claim may include depends on the injuries, the available insurance and the evidence. Nothing here is a prediction of value.
- Medical treatment already received, from the emergency room through rehabilitation
- Future medical care and therapy a physician expects will be needed
- Wages lost while unable to work, and reduced earning capacity in longer-term cases
- Property damage, out-of-pocket costs and travel to treatment
- Pain, suffering and loss of life's pleasures where the law allows it
Steps that protect a claim
- Get medical attention, even if the injuries seem minor at first
- Report what happened and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles or the hazard, and your visible injuries
- Collect names and phone numbers for anyone who saw what happened
- Keep every bill, record and piece of correspondence in one place
- Be careful giving a recorded statement before you understand your own injuries
Frequently asked questions
Does the NTSB report decide my case?
No. NTSB findings are made for safety purposes and their use in litigation is restricted. A civil claim is developed with its own experts and evidence.
Are international flights different?
Yes. The Montreal Convention can govern international carriage, with its own liability framework and shorter time limits.
Who can bring a claim after a fatal crash?
Wrongful death and survival claims are generally brought by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of statutory beneficiaries.
Question not answered here? Ask Robert — Munley's virtual intake assistant answers common aviation injuries questions 24/7.
Related guides, tools and pages
Related practice areas
Where we serve
Munley Law represents clients across Pennsylvania. See the areas we serve for local courts, hospitals and roads, or browse the free tools.
This page is general information about this type of case. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Last reviewed 2026-09-01.
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