Planes crash, and the trauma that follows is deep. These events may not happen in every place or all the time, but when they do, families are left reeling and in search of answers. It isn’t easy trying to figure out what to do next, especially when you are struggling with loss and uncertainty and a legal process that doesn’t always seem clear.
After something that heavy, families don’t just need kind words—they need someone who knows what to do. For those who feel like the enormity of an aviation accident is what is crushing them, an aviation accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help survivors find the proper path forward to begin to rebuild their lives. This guide outlines those steps simply, so you don’t have to go into the mess blind.
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately and Ensure You are Safe
As is often the case after a plane crash, medical care must be the top priority. Even when there are no visible injuries, your very body may be reacting to the trauma in ways you do not yet feel. Things like internal bleeding or delayed shock don’t always come out straight away, and ignoring them will make things worse very quickly.
If someone is experiencing symptoms, don’t wait to go see a doctor, even if it’s “just a headache” or you have some soreness. Little things can get serious fast. Keep every scrap of medical paper—bills, doctor scribbles, scripts, and anything that is attached to your treatment. You’re likely to need every bit of it later if you do ultimately file a claim.
2. Tell the Right People And Report It
If you can, notify the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. Following plane crashes, the NTSB and FAA traditionally have taken over to investigate what went wrong. And they will dig for the cause, be it system failure, human error, or something else altogether.
You may be asked to make a statement regarding what you observed or experienced. Just stick to the facts—keep it short, and don’t try to speculate on why anything caused the other. Let the experts conduct the technical investigation. Right now, your job is to look after yourself and to ensure that your own experience is clearly recorded.
3. Try to Collect What You Can While It’s Still Fresh in Your Mind
It’s best to start pulling things together early while details haven’t faded. Snap pictures if you can, keep any flight info, and jot down names or numbers of people who saw what happened. These small things might seem unimportant now, but they can really matter later, especially if you’re going up against a big airline or the company that built the plane.
Here are a few things worth holding on to:
- Any photos or videos from right before or after the crash
- Medical papers—like diagnosis notes or hospital discharge forms
- Flight details (airline name, flight number, when and where it took off)
- Names and contact info of other passengers or anyone who saw what happened
Your legal team can do a lot more with this kind of info. It can make a real difference when it comes time to build your case.
4. Talk to a Lawyer Before You Deal With Insurance or the Airline
Not long after the crash, you might hear from insurance folks or someone from the airline. They might sound caring or supportive, but at the end of the day, they’re looking out for their own side. Don’t sign anything or take a quick payout without running it by a lawyer first.
An aviation accident attorney in Los Angeles knows how to keep you from getting pressured into something unfair. With them in your corner, you can take time to heal while they deal with the legal stuff that can get pretty messy.
5. Don’t Go Through the Emotional Part Alone
Legal stuff aside, healing emotionally takes time, too. A lot of people deal with things like anxiety, grief, or even PTSD after something this big. Reaching out for help isn’t a weakness—talking to a therapist or joining a support group can really help you feel less alone in it.
Sometimes, it helps just to talk to someone who gets it. In Los Angeles, there are often memorial gatherings or group sessions for people affected by plane accidents. Being in a space with others who’ve felt the same kind of loss can make things feel a little less heavy.
Conclusion
Surviving a plane crash changes everything. The road afterward isn’t easy, but you shouldn’t have to walk it by yourself. With the help of an experienced aviation accident lawyer in Los Angeles, you can start to make sense of what happened and fight for what you deserve. It might take time, and it won’t always feel fair, but every step forward is a part of putting your life back together. If you’re in this situation, the right support is out there—you just need to take that first step toward it.