Aviation accidents demand more than legal skill. They require deep knowledge of aircraft operations, regulations, and accident causation. That’s exactly what DJC Law’s aviation attorneys bring to every case.
Airplane and Helicopter Accident Representation
Aviation accidents, whether involving airplanes, helicopters, or other aircraft, often result in devastating injuries or loss of life for pilots, passengers, and even people on the ground. DJC Law’s Aviation Division, led by commercial-rated pilot and trial attorney Mark Pierce, is dedicated to uncovering the root causes of these plane crashes and holding the responsible parties accountable. Mark is widely respected in the aviation industry for his courtroom experience and success in high-profile jury trials.
Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims
Families affected by catastrophic events deserve clear answers and strong legal support. Our aviation attorneys help clients understand what happened and how to move forward. We combine decades of experience with deep investigative resources to fight for the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. We’ll guide you through every step, keeping you informed and supported throughout your case.
Aviation Business Disputes
We also represent aircraft owners and operators in legal disputes involving damaged aircraft, failed transactions, or conflicts with insurance companies, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance providers, and dealers. Aviation-related business litigation requires both legal acumen and technical aviation knowledge, something our team brings to every case.
Request a Free Case Evaluation
Whether you’ve suffered personal loss or need help with a complex aviation business dispute, our team of experienced aviation accident lawyers are ready to help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
DJC Law In the News
Latest Press Release: DJC Law Announces Legal Representation in Delta Flight 4819 Crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport
DJC Law in CBS News: Andres Pereira Files First Delta Flight Lawsuit
DJC Law in Forbes: Andres Pereira Signs First Delta Flight Lawsuit
Aviation Accident Attorneys
DJC Law aviation accidents often arise from a complex chain of events. Breaking down the cause of an airplane or helicopter crash takes hard work and experience.
Your air disaster attorneys should have a firm grasp of:
- pilot training and performance
- technical issues involving aircraft design and function
- weather
- air traffic control
- maintenance and inspection requirements
- ground operations
- airport procedures and responsibilities
In addition to understanding science and technology issues, including engineering, aerodynamics, human factors, and aircraft operational limitations, your air disaster attorneys must have a depth of knowledge and experience to make informed choices about where to bring a claim or file suit.
Our air disaster lawyers at DJC Law have handled cases across America, involving both domestic and international travel. It requires judgment, experience, and expertise to navigate the various federal, state, and international laws and regulations that govern aircraft operations and aircraft litigation.
Our Austin personal injury attorneys team is experienced and committed to investigating and proving root causes of airplane and helicopter crashes that result in injuries and death to pilots, passengers, and persons on the ground.
It is frequently said that “pilot error” is the leading cause of airplane crashes and helicopter crashes. Pilot training, proficiency, and decision-making are often factors in airplane accidents. However, aircraft accident reconstruction and analysis requires critical thought and a deep level of sophisticated investigation to determine the links in the chain of causation involved in an aircraft crash.
Whether from pilot error, aircraft malfunction, air traffic controller mistake, ground handler negligence, dangerous weather conditions, or other causes, your aviation accident attorney, working with their world-class retained experts as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigators, serve their clients by digging for the truth and the “why,” not only to obtain compensation for injured parties and their families but to help prevent future accidents and system failures.
Aviation Professionals
Mark Pierce
Introduction and expertise
Mark Pierce is a highly experienced pilot and attorney with over 30 years of practice in aviation law, specializing in aviation accidents and aviation-related litigation. With a proven track record of successful jury verdicts and an extensive understanding of aviation safety, he has earned a reputation as a strong aviation accident attorney for families affected by unsafe aircraft operations.
Key areas of expertise include:
- Aviation accident litigation
- Commercial and military aviation crashes
- Aviation safety regulations
- Aircraft collision avoidance
Notable achievements and case successes
Mark Pierce has represented pilots, passengers, and their families in some of the most challenging and high-profile aviation cases, achieving significant outcomes such as:
- Secured a jury verdict of over $6.7 million dollars for the family of an aircraft mechanic killed by the door of a pressurized airplane that blew open unexpectedly.
- Secured a $1.5 million jury verdict for a pilot injured in a crash that resulted from an engine failure caused by a maintenance facility’s failure to disclose faulty repairs.
- Secured a $3.4 million jury verdict for an airline baggage handler’s severe injuries arising from a ground incident at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
- Secured a $2.0 million jury verdict for a U.S. Border Patrol agent injured in a helicopter crash because of the pilot’s loss of control from a hydraulic system failure.
Hundreds of significant settlements for victims of aviation accidents, including crashes of aircraft involving:
- Military training
- Military overseas operations
- Law enforcement helicopter operations
- Large commercial aircraft
- Medical/air ambulance
- Private jets
- Multi-engine commercial airplanes
- Single-engine commercial and private aircraft
Insightful perspective on aviation issues
With a deep knowledge of current aviation safety issues as a commercial-rated pilot and flight instructor, Mark Pierce is often sought after aviation accident lawyer to provide expert commentary on aviation accident prevention and causation, including:
- Distraction from automation: accidents caused by pilots’ failure to see and avoid collisions resulting from overdependence on cockpit technology
- Safety considerations peculiar to in-flight training
- Communication challenges in airspace with both civilian and military aircraft
- Complex airspace: how geography affects safety
- Human factors limiting the “see and avoid” concept’s effectiveness
Mark Pierce has been a featured commentator in news shows and publications, discussing air crash investigations and offering an experienced pilot and aviation safety trial lawyer’s perspective on accountability for failures in the aviation realm.
Recognitions and awards
Throughout Mark Pierce’s career, being the best aviation accident lawyer, he has received multiple recognitions for excellence in aviation law, including:
- Chosen to chair both the Aviation Section of the American Association for Justice and the State Bar of Texas Aviation Law Section.
- Recognition for 11 consecutive years as a Super Lawyer® in Aviation Law by Thomson Reuters
- Elected to serve as President of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, whose mission includes furthering the public's knowledge and understanding of aviation law, and working with governmental and civil agencies to improve general aviation safety
Andres Pereira
Introduction & Expertise
Andres Pereira is a highly experienced attorney with over 30 years of practice in aviation law, specializing in aviation accidents and aviation-related litigation. With a proven track record of dozens of successful cases including multi-million dollar recoveries and an extensive understanding of aviation safety, he has earned a reputation for deep knowledge of aircraft systems, pilot training, federal aviation regulations, meteorological factor analysis, and rotor wing assemblies.
Key Areas of Expertise Include:
- Aviation Accident Litigation
- Commercial Aviation Crashes
- International Aviation Crashes
- Small Aircraft & General Aviation
- Aviation Safety Regulations
Notable Achievements and Case Successes
Andres is a current instrument-rated complex fixed-wing and instrument-rated helicopter pilot; Andres has worked on aviation matters since he began his law studies. He represented four of the families of the 260 passengers killed when American Airlines flight 587 crashed in the Queens, NY neighborhood of Belle Harbor. All cases resulted in multi-million dollar recoveries. The American Airlines Airbus A300-600 jet left John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Santo Domingo, and crashed at 9:17 a.m. EST. All 260 people on board were killed, including five infants sitting on their parents’ laps. Five people on the ground were also killed, making it one of the deadliest crashes ever to take place on American soil and the last major airline crash in the US involving an airliner-sized aircraft. Andres has also represented families of civil aviation crashes as well as families who lost loved ones in US Air flight 427, the crash of a Boeing 737 outside Pittsburgh, and Tan-Sasha flight 414 which crashed upon landing in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Andres has extensive knowledge of the Federal Tort Claims Act and other regulations that apply to aviation accidents such as occurred in Washington, D.C.
Insightful Perspective on Aviation Issues
With a deep knowledge of current aviation safety issues, Andres Pereira is often sought after to provide expert commentary on trends, emerging issues, or news events, including:
- FAA Regulations
- Warsaw Convention/Montreal Protocol/IATA Issues
- Forum Non Conveniens and International Aviation Accidents
- Aviation Safety Regulations
- R-22 and R-44 Helicopter Systems
- Piper/Beach/Cessna Aircraft Systems
- Boeing 737 PCU Rudder Actuator Defects
- Airbus A300-600 Flight Manual and Rudder Control
Andres has been a featured commentator on CNN and local news channels and continuing legal education programs, discussing Forum Non Conveniens as applied to international air crash cases and offering practical advice to both industry professionals and the general public, making him count in the best aviation accident lawyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim after an aviation accident?
Time limits vary depending on where the accident occurred, the type of aircraft involved, and whether government entities or international laws apply. In some cases, you may have as little as one year. A skilled aviation accident lawyer can help determine the exact deadlines for your case.
Who can be held responsible for an aviation accident?
Depending on the cause, there may be multiple parties liable, including the airline, charter company, pilot, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance providers, air traffic control negligence, or even airport personnel. To determine accountability, our attorneys work with technical experts and regulators to investigate aviation accidents in detail and identify every potentially responsible party.
How is fault determined in an aviation accident?
Establishing fault involves reviewing maintenance records, flight logs, black box data, weather reports, and more. At DJC Law, we work with aviation experts, engineers, and federal investigators to reconstruct the event and understand the full chain of causation, including factors such as safety violations, operational failures and adverse weather conditions.
Our mission is to determine why the accident happened and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Does DJC Law handle aviation cases outside of Texas?
Yes. Our aviation team has represented clients across the United States and in international matters. As an experienced aviation accident law firm, we are equipped to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases that often involve federal and international regulations.
What makes DJC Law qualified to handle aviation accident cases?
Our team includes licensed commercial pilots and flight instructors with decades of trial experience in aviation litigation. We combine technical flight knowledge with legal strategy to offer unmatched insight into the causes and legal implications of aircraft accidents. This level of expertise is rare; only a select group of law firms nationwide is equipped to handle these highly technical and demanding cases.
What types of aviation incidents does DJC Law handle?
We represent clients in a wide range of cases, including civil aviation accidents, private plane accidents, helicopter incidents, business jets, military training crashes, medical helicopter mishaps, accidents involving drones or experimental aircraft, as well as mid-air collisions and crashes involving obstacles like power lines in low-visibility or rural areas.
Why are aviation accident cases more complicated than other injury claims?
Aviation accidents often involve multiple layers of responsibility and highly technical issues, like failed landing gear, pilot decisions, or whether proper federal safety regulations were followed. For passengers and families, this means that getting answers isn’t always straightforward.
If you or a loved one was injured during air travel, you need a legal team that understands complex flight operations and is committed to protecting your right to passenger safety every step of the way.
Can I file a claim if I was injured during an emergency landing?
Yes. Injuries sustained during an emergency landing may give rise to a legal claim, especially if the incident was caused by pilot error, mechanical failure, or improper maintenance.
Even if the airline followed procedures, you may still be entitled to compensation if you were harmed as a passenger. Our team can investigate the circumstances to determine whether safety protocols were followed and whether negligence played a role.