As an aircraft accident victim, you can seek economic and non-economic losses, such as compensation for pain and suffering. Property damage is also legally recognized as a type of injury, so you can make a claim for reimbursement. Survivors’ family members may also sue an airline for compensation for loss of support, funeral expenses, and even emotional distress. Here is the list of the best 20 aviation lawyers in the USA that can win you an aviation accident case.
Best 20 Aviation Accident Lawyers in the USA
Robert A. Clifford of Clifford Law Firm
Bob Clifford is the founder of Clifford Law firms in the USA. Clifford Law Offices is one of the nation’s premier aviation law firms. Its aviation accident practice group is also among the most experienced in the world, so you can be sure to obtain the finest advice from the creator himself.
Thomas H. Dundon of Neal & Harwell Plc
Thomas has 44 years of litigation experience in a variety of state and federal jurisdictions. Tom Dundon works for Neal & Harwell Plc in Nashville, Tennessee. Best Lawyers named him “Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 (Nashville) for Criminal Defense: White-Collar. In the same vein, he was also awarded “The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 – Aviation Law; Commercial Litigation; and Criminal Defense: White-Collar.”
Ilyas A. Akbari of Wilshire Law firm Plc
Ilyas Akbari works at Wilshire, a law firm founded in 2007. Additionally, he is a senior partner with the Wilshire Law Firm. He is also a partner at Baum, Hedlund, Aristea, and Goldman and has been with them since 2005. Ilyas has over ten awards and achievements to his name over the course of his career.
Elizabeth H. Evans of K&L Gates LLP
While Elizabeth may be termed one of the best lawyers in aviation firms, her special focus is on aviation finance and COVID-19 cases. Additionally, Elizabeth is a senior partner at K&L Gates LLP’s New York office. She has so many patents and awards in aviation law to her name.
Preston G. Gaddis II of Crowe and Dunlevy
Preston G. Gaddis II (Gil) is an advisory director at Crowe & Dunlevy’s Oklahoma City office, where he joined in 1965. During the course of his career, Preston served in the Office of the Army Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C. In addition, Preston has over 50 years of experience in aviation law and has authored articles on aviation finance as well.
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Tracy Brammeier of Clifford Law Firm
While working with partner Kevin P. Durkin, Tracy handled many aviation and transportation accident cases. She also acted as the court-appointed Liaison Counsel for the lawsuit arising from the 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aeroplane. Her excellent work with the Clifford Law Firm has earned her accolades from Super Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, Law Bulletin Media, and Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Morry S. Cole from Gray Ritter Graham Firm
Morry S. Cole handles complex personal injury litigation. He has also served as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide range of complicated cases in state and federal courts throughout Missouri and the Midwest. In 2017-2018, Morry served as the President of The Missouri Bar. He is also a current member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. Mr Cole’s practice areas include Aviation Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. He also has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which is the highest rating given to a person or a firm.
Kelvin P. Durkins of Clifford Law Firm
Kevin Durkin is a Clifford Law partner with over 35 years of experience. He has represented clients in a variety of professional areas, including:
- Litigation involving aviation accidents and transportation liabilities
- Litigation involving trucks, railroads, and automobiles
- Negligent security and premises liability
- Medical negligence
Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP
Brian LaCien is a co-founder of Smith LaCien LLP. The Chicago trial attorney, along with his co-founding partner Todd A. Smith, specializes in aviation negligence, including civil rights violations, professional negligence, and premises liability, to name a few areas of competence. Brian LaCien is a past chair of AAJ’s Aviation Section. He was also the past chair of the Tort Law Section. A long-time member of the Illinois State Bar Association and served on the Association of Justice (AAJ) Board of Governors for the 2020–22 fiscal year.
William C. Harrison, Jnr. of Deutsch Kerrigan LLP
The Deutsch Kerrigan’s Lawyer, William Harrison, practice is litigation-oriented in the field of toxic tort, personal injury and insurance defence. He also specializes in general aviation, litigation, premises liability, automotive and products liability.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 recognized him for his efforts in the following areas:
- Defendants in Aviation Law Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions
- Personal Injury Litigation – defendant
- Defendants in Product Liability Litigation
Sean M. Houlihan of Power Rogers LLP
Sean M. Houlihan is a partner of Power Rogers, a Chicago personal injury litigation company. His expertise lies in the interpretation of aircraft accident laws. Unquestionably, Houlihan has successfully defended families and individuals in personal injury lawsuits, including aircraft accident legislation, since joining the company. Furthermore, Houlihan has authored several articles for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Illinois State Bar Association.
Steven C. Marks of Podhurt Orseck P.A
Steven C. Marks is more than just an aircraft accident lawyer. He was the Law Review’s principal editor. He is also a member of the University of Miami Law Review’s alumni editorial board. Steven Marks has received various prizes and accolades, totalling more than fifty. Click here to find details.
Anita M. Mosner of Holland and Knight LLP
Anita Mosner is a partner at Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C. office who specializes in aviation law, competition law, and international law. Chambers USA conferred on her the title “distinguished aviation practitioner. Furthermore, Anita has strong experience in international air safety and air safety oversight. She is also a member of the firm’s Drone Practice Team.
Anita Porte Robb of Robb & Robb LLC.
Perhaps the Anitas are intelligent and skilled at their jobs. Similarly to the preceding Anita on our list, Anita Porte Robb of Robb & Robb LLC is recognized as one of the Top Ten women trial lawyers in the country by the National Law Journal. In addition, Lawyers USA also identified her as one of five “Women of Note” nationwide.
Todd A. Smith of Smith LaCien LLP
As mentioned earlier, Todd A. Smith and his co-founding partner at Smith LaCien LLP, Brian LaCien, specialize in aviation negligence, including civil rights violations, professional negligence, and premises liability, to name a few competence areas. Todd has practised law for over 40 years and has won some of the largest multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements in serious personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases in Illinois. Furthermore, he was the recipient of its 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2015 he received its highest award, The Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award.
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Gary C. Rob of Robb & Robb LLC
Robb has secured multiple record-breaking outcomes on behalf of previous clients, including the two biggest jury verdicts in U.S. history for wrongful death in a helicopter crash. He also received the biggest pre-trial payout in USA history for a single plaintiff in a personal injury action for an injury sustained in a helicopter accident. Furthermore, Robb is also the past President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA).
Kirk Presley of Presley & Presley Firm
Kirk is the founding attorney of the Presley & Presley firm. Presley, a Kansas City personal injury attorney, has more than 30 years of legal expertise in and out of the courtroom. In addition, he represents clients in the most difficult and major plaintiff’s personal injury claims, including insurance faith, transportation accidents, and aviation accidents.
Brain Panish of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP
Brain Panish is one of the country’s leading trial attorneys. He has achieved some of the most important jury verdicts in US history on behalf of plaintiffs. Panish has also consistently served in a leadership role in the largest personal injury cases in the state and country.
Stuart Grossman of Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen, P.A.
Stuart Grossman is widely regarded as one of the country’s best trial lawyers, specializing in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, product liability, aircraft accidents, and also professional negligence. Furthermore, he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates of Florida. He was also awarded the Crystal Eagle Award by the Academy of Trial Lawyers and inducted into the Academy’s Hall of Fame. Stuart has many achievements and awards listed in his name.
Kevin R. Boyle of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP
Kevin Boyle specializes in settling major, high-profile plaintiffs’ claims through trial or settlement and represents a diverse variety of clients in situations ranging from wrongful death to severe personal injuries to victims of significant fraud. He has won the Top 100 Lawyers in California award by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He was also named best lawyer of the year for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Los Angeles, in 2017.