Aviation Accident Attorneys
Aviation Law Group PS is a leading West Coast law firm representing plaintiffs in the West Coast, the United States, and the World in aircraft accidents and other aviation-related cases involving serious injury/wrongful death. With more than 30 years of experience practicing law, and more than 40 years in aviation, ALG is proud of our excellent legal work on behalf of hundreds of clients. We routinely handle cases with local counsel in all 50 States and Internationally. Additionally, ALG attorneys are licensed to practice law throughout the Western United States including Alaska, Washington, Hawaii, and California.
Aviation Law Group: Representing Passengers Harmed on
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282
Our Approach
At Aviation Law Group, our primary concern for the passengers of Alaska Flight 1282 is their physical and mental well-being and recovery. There is nothing to gain by filing a lawsuit immediately, as some other lawyers have done when all the facts are not yet known, and many passengers are still recovering from their injuries. Once you retain ALG to represent you, you can rest assured that your legal interests are being taken care of by ALG, leaving you to focus on other important things in your life.
ALG takes a thoughtful and thorough approach to all of our cases. We have already commenced our own investigation with many interviews, consultations with our expert airline pilots and mechanics, and are performing extensive research covering many issues in the federal aviation regulations, product liability, and state law in at least 4 other states. We have prior experience with claims against Alaska Airlines, Boeing, and major aircraft component part suppliers.
Deciding when to file a lawsuit is an art. This takes time. We strategically decide which state’s laws are most advantageous to each of our clients, and we determine which states we can obtain personal jurisdiction over each defendant. This not only helps ensure a recovery for each client, but a maximum recovery. Different state laws may be more beneficial to different claimants.
For example, Washington law does not provide for punitive damages. Other states related to this action do allow claims for punitive damages. This might make a difference on where we file the case and what law we seek to apply. These important legal and strategic decisions cannot be made overnight or right after an accident when most of the underlying facts are unknown.
ALG attorneys have prior experience with claims against Boeing, Alaska Airlines, and many major aircraft component part suppliers. We have successfully handled many airframe failure accident cases. Four ALG attorneys are commercial pilots, two are licensed aircraft mechanics. We would be happy to explain our approach to you and answer any questions that you may have.
Please contact us using the form to the right or call us directly- 206.464.1166
Bob Hedrick
Attorney 30+ years
Commercial Pilot
A&P Aviation Mechanic
20+ Years Professor of Aviation Accident Law
Casey DuBose
Attorney 10+ years
Commercial Pilot
Flight Instructor
Fluent Mandarin Chinese
Professor of Aviation and Space Law
Kerry Kovarik
Attorney 16+ years
Commercial Pilot
Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Former FAA Authorized Inspector
Chris Rusing
Attorney 20+ years
Airline Pilot & Instructor
Airbus 320 Series Captain
WHAT WE DO
Aviation Accident Law
General Aviation Accidents
General aviation involves private and recreational flight activity. It includes non-airline flights such as scenic flights, flight training, private flights, recreational flights, helicopter flights and operations, seaplanes, flying clubs, business flights, gliders, and a lot of other aerial activity. All of Aviation Law Group attorneys have extensive experience in many aspects of general aviation, from flying and instructing, to operations and aircraft maintenance. Since 1988, our lawyers have handled accidents involving nearly all aspects of general aviation activity for airplanes, helicopters, and fixed base operators.
Helicopter Accidents
Helicopter accidents often involve issues of external load operations such as longline or external load (link to external load), heli-lifting, heli-logging, and fire-fighting support.
Major Airline Accidents
ALG attorneys have represented numerous families who lost loved ones in major airline disasters, such as the January 31, 2000, Alaska Flight 261 accident near Point Hueneme, California, and the February 25, 2009, Turkish Airline Flight TK 1951 accident in Amsterdam. We have extensive experience with international airline liability law, including the Montreal Convention and its predecessor the Warsaw Convention, where issues of liability, jurisdiction, applicable law, and recoverable damages are complex. ALG attorneys have given many talks and written numerous articles in this specialized field of law. Mr. Hedrick also teaches the Montreal Convention as part of his Aviation Accident Law course at Seattle University School of Law.
International Coverage and Regional Expertise
Washington
Unfortunately, aircraft accidents occur nearly weekly throughout Washington. In addition, many aircraft accidents outside of Washington involve Washington manufacturers or operators.
Alaska
Because of the extent of aviation activity throughout the 49th and largest state in the U.S., Robert Hedrick obtained his attorney license in Alaska nearly 20 years ago in 2002 and is an active member of the Alaska Bar Association.
Hawaii
Aviation activity is unique in the Hawaiian archipelago because of its location and geographical topography.
Recent Aviation Law News
Aviation Law Group (ALG) expands practice to Florida
With Chris’s newest achievement, ALG attorneys are now licensed to practice in California, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida.
The Tragic Twin Otter Aircraft Accident Off The California Coast: Something Terrible Went Wrong
They Had Enough Fuel, But Could Not Get It To The Engines
HA35 Flight Crew Told Passengers It Was OK To Get Out Of Seats Right Before Turbulence
Many of the passengers report that right before the turbulence hit, the airline crew announced that they were approaching Honolulu and that it was OK to use the bathroom and get up to put away items in the overhead baggage storage.
Two charter crashes in two days of Alaska aviation
Last week was marred by two crashes of part 135 operators in Alaska - one minor and one tragic. On February 5th, the first incident was lost of control during the take-off of a Cessna 208 in Hooper Bay. The aircraft was operated by Grant Aviation and there were no...
Kobe Bryant’s accident was entirely avoidable
A Sikorsky S-76 that was operated by Island Express Helicopters (the operators took down their website shortly after the crash) crashed this morning in Calabasas, California killing 9 people. While there will be an FAA investigation, the abundance of evidence suggests...
A bad year for Hawaii Scenic Flights – 7 killed in Kauai
The day after Christmas was marred by the third commercial helicopter crash in Hawaii this year. Following a day-long search for the Safari Helicopter operated tour, the crash site was found with the remains of the 7 perished occupants. Rough Terrain of Kauai These...
Hedrick Speaks To The Bar of Ireland On Trials In The U.S.
(L-R J.J. Camp QC, Associate Counsel, CFM Lawyers, Canada, Micheál P O’Higgins SC, Chairman Council of The Bar of Ireland, Ireland, Sigrid Preissl, Managing Partner, Bourayne & Preissl, France, Robert F. Hedrick, Attorney, Aviation Law Group PS, Seattle, Niamh...
NTSB begins inquiry into Fatal South Dakota PC-12 Crash
The busiest traveling weekend of the year was marred by multiple general aviation accidents across the county. The worst of involved a Pilatus PC-12 that crashed shortly after takeoff from Chamberlain Municipal Airport (9V9) which 9 of the 12 people on board the...
Hedrick Speaks To Canadian Bar Association On The Future Of Helicopter External Load Technology
On October 30, 2019 Robert Hedrick gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Air Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association in Vancouver, British Columbia, on: Drone Technology For Helicopters And Beyond: The Legal Landscape. Robert discussed new drone technology that...
Fatal Alaska Crash ends 6 years of airline safety
A PenAir codeshare flight for Alaska Airlines overran the runway at Unalaska, AK (USA) with 38 passengers and 3 crew. The aircraft came to a stop about 125 meters/400 feet past the end of the runway partially hanging down a slope into the sea, the left-hand propeller...
ALG attorney Bob Hedrick Speaks To Scottish Bar Association On Cross-Examination
On May 18, 2016 AGL attorney Robert Hedrick gave a PowerPoint presentation to Scotland's Faculty of Advocates, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Below is an article from the Scottish Legal News publication, which can also be viewed at:...
ALG Attorney Addresses Montreal Convention At International Aviation Law and Insurance Conference
Robert Hedrick was invited to present at the 9th Annual Conference On International Aviation Law and Insurance, held in Edinburgh, Scotland in May, 2016. Mr. Hedrick was on a panel discussing international air carrier liability with other leading industry experts...
Aviation Law Group wins one of the top 100 largest verdicts in the U.S.
In February 2013, following a 3 week jury trial, a King County Superior Court Jury in Washington returned a verdict in favor of our clients, and the clients of co-counsel, for the death of three people in an aircraft accident in Western Washington. The twelve person...
ALG Licensed in Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and California
ALG attorney Robert Hedrick has added to ALG's attorney license expansion by taking and passing the July Hawaii Bar Exam. Hedrick put it into perspective: "while this is the fourth bar exam that I have passed, it has been nearly 20 years since my last bar exam, and...
Aviation Attorney Hedrick Speaks at the 2015 Aviation Insurance Seminar
ALG attorney Robert Hedrick were recently invited to give presentations at the Northwest Aviation Insurance Association Seminar in Seattle. On November 5, 2015, ALG attorney Robert Hedrick participated as part of an insurance and legal claims panel, where Mr. Hedrick...
Representative Cases
Airplane Mis-fueling Accident
A lineman working for local aircraft fueling operation pumped Jet-A aircraft fuel into the tanks of a reciprocating single-engine airplane, which required 100 octane low lead fuel.
Defective Carburetor Accident
In February 2013, following a 3-week trial, a Washington jury returned a verdict for $8.9 million in favor of our client against an aircraft engine manufacturer.
Regional Fly-In Accident
After a 3-week jury trial, Robert Hedrick obtained a $10.5 million verdict against a regional fly-in host and its national counterpart. The case involved failure to arrange for adequate fire and emergency response at the event, which caused a pilot to die needlessly.
Aircraft Design Defect
Last year, after a two-week trial, a 12-person jury returned a verdict in favor of the clients of Aviation Law Group, finding that an aircraft’s flight control system was defectively designed, which caused the deaths of a pilot and his passenger.
Firm Contact Information
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an aviation-related accident, please reach out to us. We are always willing to provide a free initial evaluation and meeting.