An airplane or helicopter crash is every passenger’s worst nightmare. When airline negligence puts people through the worst trauma of their lives, we’re there to help them rebuild. Our law firm wants our clients to have everything they need to move forward with their lives. That begins with forcing aviation companies to take responsibility for plane or helicopter accidents. We won’t be intimidated by the complexity of an aviation crash investigation. We welcome the challenge. After $10 billion in recoveries, we’ll do whatever it takes to get our clients back on their feet. No matter what.
Houston Aviation Accident Lawyers
Advocating for Those Harmed by Serious Aircraft Accidents in Texas & Nationwide
Each day across the nation, people use airplanes and helicopters to travel. All too often, these same people suffer serious or life-threatening injuries. Some lose their lives. What they and their families do next will shape their futures. When aviation accidents happen, people call Arnold & Itkin. We've won more than $$10 billion for clients who were seriously injured or lost family members in the worst accidents. We fight for the best results to help people recover and create brighter futures.
Our firm represents people who were injured in:
- Airport accidents
- Helicopter crashes
- Offshore helicopter accidents
- Private plane accidents
- Oil rig transport accidents
- Commercial airline accidents
We pour everything we have into our cases because your opponent is doing the same thing. Even when we were outspent or outnumbered, we’ve beaten the world’s largest airlines and companies. Our secret? We don’t stop fighting until our clients have gotten what they need. No matter what.
No Matter
How Tough
the Fight.
No Matter
What You've
Been Through.
“They told me they were pretty much going to handle everything, I wasn’t going to have to worry about anything—which they held up to that.” Tinisha Thomas El Faro Widow
Helicopter and plane crashes are life-altering. People who’ve gone through aviation accidents usually come away with physical and psychological scars. That’s why our firm takes every case personally. By seeing clients as family, we’re able to look at their case from their point of view. Sharing their experience makes us even more determined to get what they need from the people at fault and ensure they’re taken care of for life.
No Matter How Big They Are.
The insurers for airlines and helicopter companies are the most well-funded and well-defended companies in the industry. They’re going to try to outnumber you, pressure you into a low settlement, or delay your case. If we take your case, all that won’t matter because we won’t back down. As your lawyers, it’s our job to level the playing field and give you a fighting chance. That’s how we’ve won some of the toughest aviation accident cases in history.
Our Victories
- $8 Billion Top 3 Largest Jury Verdict in U.S. History Read This Story
- $357 Million Largest Workplace Accident Settlement in Texas history
- $222 Million Record-Breaking Verdict for Widow Read This Story
- $205 Million Confidential Settlement Obtained for Numerous Clients
- $139 Million Massive Settlement Achieved for Victims of an Oilfield Incident
- $117 Million Largest Single-Event Personal Injury Verdict in Louisiana History Read This Story
- $116 Million Confidential Settlement
- $114 Million Settlement Won for Victims of Pipeline Explosion
- $110 Million Record Settlement Achieved for Victims of Defective Products
- $105 Million Record Settlement for Dangerous Product Victims
- $97 Million Massive Settlement Secured for Refinery Workers
- $92.7 Million Record Settlement for Burn Injury Victim
- $87 Million Confidential Settlement for Worker Who Suffered Life-Threatening Burn Injuries
- $81 Million Record Settlement Achieved for Wrongful Death Case
- $78 Million Massive Settlement for Severely Injured Client
- $76.6 Million Verdict Won Against Johnson & Johnson Read This Story
- $75 Million Confidential Settlement Achieved on Behalf of Multiple Clients
- $74 Million Settlement Won for Widow of Dredge Worker
- $72 Million Record Victory for Severely Injured Worker
- $51 Million Settlement Reached for Plant Workers Injured in Explosion
No Matter Who You Ask.
We’ve consistently received the legal industry’s highest honors. We’re proud of these accolades and deeply grateful to the clients who put their trust in us.
No Matter
How Big the
Challenge.
-
"Always bet on justice. It takes a lot of time and resources to win a case against big defendants, and some cases are easier to win than others. But this doesn’t matter at Arnold & Itkin. We take the cases that we must win because it’s the right thing, the ones we have to win—even if it’s hard. Especially if it’s hard." Kurt Arnold Founding Partner Meet Kurt -
“People call me when something terrible has happened and they need help. It is personal to my clients, so it is personal to me. We have to win—no matter what.” Jason Itkin Founding Partner Meet Jason
We may be outnumbered,
but we’re never outworked.
Airplane and helicopter accidents are the most complex events to investigate and litigate. Our clients are facing months of investigation, followed by months of depositions and hard-fought litigation. It’s going to take late nights and tough work to win your case. While most law firms balk at that kind of challenge, our firm lives for it. Our commitment ensures our clients get what they need. No matter what.
No Matter
How Big the
News Story.
Aviation accidents often come with the additional pressure of news coverage. At Arnold & Itkin, our law firm is no stranger to that kind of scrutiny and attention. We represented a third of the crew of the Deepwater Horizon, the widows of the sinking of the El Faro, the survivors of the BP Texas City refinery explosion, and other headline-grabbing cases. We know what it’s like to have the eyes of the nation on you. It doesn’t take our focus from what really matters: getting our clients what they need. No matter what.
Featured In
No Matter What Questions
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What Caused My Plane Accident?
Plane and helicopter crashes are not usually the result of a single cause, but the combination of factors. Maybe someone didn’t check the weather before takeoff. Maybe another person failed to do a maintenance check. Maybe the instrumentation was poorly built. As a result, there are usually multiple parties responsible. It’s our job to find all of them and ensure they are held accountable. -
Are There Different Types of Aviation Accidents?
Yes. While the most severe aviation accidents are crashes, aviation accidents have five types: mid-air accidents, mid-air collisions, ground collisions, taxiing accidents, and landing accidents. Accidents can occur aboard a perfectly functional plane or might happen on the tarmac before the plane is in the air. Our firm has investigated a variety of aviation accidents, allowing us to understand the factors at play in each one. -
Who Is Responsible for an Aviation Accident?
Because an aviation accident is typically the result of numerous failures occurring at once, the parties responsible can include the pilot, the ground crew, the parts manufacturer, or the airline itself. Investigating fault involves not just looking at the actual equipment that may have failed, but also looking at how policies and decisions led to the accident, and who can be held accountable for those decisions. -
How Many Aviation Accidents Happen Each Year?
According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), there were an average of 14 fatal aviation accidents involving commercial passenger and cargo planes each year over the past 5 years, worldwide. An average of 345 people lost their lives in these aviation accidents each year. According to early data from the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 1,139 civilian aircraft accidents in 2020, just in the United States. These accidents caused 349 deaths. Aviation accidents are rare, but when they do happen, they often cause catastrophic injuries or the deaths of many, if not all, passengers on board. -
Do I Need an Aviation Accident Attorney?
If you lost someone you love in a helicopter or plane crash or were injured in any way at an airport or on a plane, you should talk to an attorney about your rights and options. Taking legal action might not be the first thing on your mind, but you deserve to know why the accident happened and who is responsible. Working with an aviation accident attorney gives you the opportunity to get answers and hold all at-fault parties accountable, bringing a sense of closure and the chance to recover compensation that can help you provide for yourself and your family. -
What Roles Do the NTSB & FAA Play After an Airplane Crash?
The National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are both government agencies that may be involved in investigating aviation accidents. They may investigate the circumstances to determine what caused the accident and, therefore, what can be done to improve safety to prevent future occurrences. Additionally, the FAA regulates the aviation industry and air traffic control. -
What Will It Cost for Me to Hire Your Aviation Accident Firm?
There is no upfront cost when you work with our aviation accident law firm. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if and when we recover a settlement or award on a client’s behalf. Our fees will be paid out of the final settlement or award, typically based on a predetermined percentage and agreement. You don’t have to worry about coming up with retainers or finding money when you’re already struggling to make ends meet. Our goal will be to help you get answers and secure a life-changing recovery. -
What If I Lost a Loved One in an Aviation Accident Overseas?
Aviation accidents that occur in international waters may be covered by the Death on the High Seas Act (DOSHA), which includes deaths that occur more than 12 nautical miles from American shores. Under DOSHA, the family of a person who lost their life in an airplane accident overseas may be able to pursue compensation and hold negligent parties accountable. Our aviation accident lawyers have extensive experience with DOSHA and how it applies to airplane accidents in international waters.
No Matter the Situation.
