Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC can help you if you’ve been injured in an airplane accident in Louisville that was caused by improper maintenance. Airplanes are complex machines, and keeping them safe requires careful maintenance. When this isn’t done (or is done incorrectly,) it can create dangerous situations that put you and everyone else aboard at risk. We can guide you through the claims process if one does happen. Set up a free consultation today to talk over your options.
Why Would I Need a Lawyer?
Being in an airplane accident is hard enough on its own without dealing with the fallout. And while maintenance is a huge issue, you’re likely not going to know that’s what caused your injuries until much later. That’s where a lawyer can make a real difference. We don’t just handle paperwork—we help tell your story, gather the facts, and make sure nothing is overlooked. We can:
- Break down complicated FAA, NTSB, and maintenance reports so you actually understand what they mean.
- Get critical evidence before it’s lost, altered, or misfiled.
- Bring in experts who can pinpoint exactly why the accident happened.
- Handle insurance talks so you’re not pressured into a low settlement.
So, while you’re not required to get a lawyer, the reality is that it’s going to be hard to do everything you need to do on your own. This is especially true with something as technical as airplane maintenance, and it’s going to require a lot of specialized evidence and information.
What Information Will I Need to Show Improper Maintenance of the Airplane?
With any airplane accident–including ones caused by improper maintenance–the truth of what happened is often hidden in the details. The sooner those details are gathered up, the stronger your potential claim becomes. Here’s what you should try to focus on if you want to file a claim:
- Maintenance records. These show when the plane was last inspected, what work was done, and who performed it. A missing or incomplete record can reveal a lot about where corners were cut.
- Inspection and repair logs. These documents often tell the real story of whether something was fixed properly—or just patched up to get the aircraft back in the air.
- Witness statements. Testimony from mechanics, ground crew, or flight staff can uncover problems no one wanted to put in writing.
- Expert analysis. Aviation specialists can review mechanical systems, photos, and reports to make a judgement about whether the maintenance work met industry and safety standards.
- Official reports. Working with the FAA, NTSB, or other aviation agencies helps us access investigation findings that can confirm or challenge what the airline claims happened.
Lastly, there’s everything you’ll need to show what you’re dealing with now–medical records, pictures, videos, and bills. And remember, airlines aren’t going to make this information easy to get. That’s when you can rely on our team to make sure nothing gets covered up.
Who’s Responsible When Improper Maintenance Leads to an Airplane Accident?
One way or the other, improper maintenance of an airplane amounts to negligence, and that means there’s legal responsibility for these mistakes. So, depending on what went wrong, this responsibility could fall on:
- Maintenance companies that fail to follow inspection protocols or sign off on incomplete repairs.
- Airlines or aircraft owners that pressure crews to rush maintenance or skip steps to keep flights on schedule.
- Manufacturers that provide defective replacement parts or fail to issue safety recalls.
- Individual mechanics or inspectors who overlook critical details or fail to report safety concerns.
When improper maintenance leads to a plane crash or some other type of accident, it’s all about figuring out who knew what and when. That’s when our team’s experience and resources can really help, but ultimately, it’s up to you to keep going and file a claim.
What Damages Can I Get in an Airplane Accident Claim?
If you were injured in an airplane accident caused by poor maintenance, your claim isn’t just about money—it’s about helping you rebuild your life after what’s probably a traumatic event. Once you have a reasonable idea of who’s responsible, you can file a claim and get damages through:
- An insurance claim, or a personal injury lawsuit.
Here’s what that can include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income from missed work or a loss of earning potential for permanent injuries
- Repair/replacement costs for your property (luggage, clothing, electronics, etc.)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses (funeral, burial, loss of companionship)
Every situation is unique, and part of what an attorney does is calculate the full impact of the accident—both financial and emotional—so that your claim truly reflects what you’ve gone through. You have to file within one year of the accident, so acting quickly is extremely important. But it’s important for another reason–uncovering what improper maintenance actually led to the accident itself.
What Types of Improper Maintenance Cause Airplane Accidents?
It’s easy to understand how improper maintenance can cause an airplane accident. But what does it mean exactly? Improper maintenance happens when:
- Something in the maintenance process is skipped, rushed, or done incorrectly.
This, obviously, opens the door to a lot of different things. And given the sheer amount of parts and people involved with the regular maintenance of an airplane, it can get pretty complicated. Most of the time, though, improper maintenance happens in the following ways:
- Skipping maintenance steps. Every plane has a detailed schedule for inspections and repairs. When a mechanic or maintenance crew cuts corners or skips steps in those procedures, even small oversights can snowball into major safety risks.
- Incomplete inspections. Sometimes critical parts of the plane—like engines, landing gear, or control systems—aren’t checked thoroughly. A single missed crack, leak, or faulty connection can cause a chain reaction once the plane is in the air.
- Poor-quality repairs. If repairs aren’t done correctly, or if cheap or unapproved parts are used, the aircraft’s structure and safety systems can be compromised. A quick fix might seem harmless until it fails under stress.
- Bad recordkeeping. Maintenance logs are the plane’s medical history. When they’re incomplete, sloppy, or missing altogether, it becomes impossible to know what’s been fixed—or what problems were ignored.
- Neglecting fluids and lubrication. Planes rely on precise systems of hydraulics and moving parts. Forgetting to top off fluids or properly lubricate components can lead to friction, overheating, or outright equipment failure.
- Ignoring safety bulletins and directives. Manufacturers and aviation regulators regularly issue updates about known safety issues. When these warnings are ignored, aircraft stay in service with problems that could have been prevented.
- Inexperienced or undertrained maintenance crews. Airplane maintenance requires specialized training and certification. When mechanics aren’t properly qualified—or when they’re rushed through tasks—the chances of mistakes rise sharply.
- Not addressing wear and tear on older planes. Older planes can be safe if they’re cared for properly. But when corrosion, fatigue, or outdated systems are overlooked, it increases the risk of something breaking down mid-flight.
When a crash or in-flight failure happens, figuring out who’s truly responsible can take careful digging. It’s not always one person or one mistake—it’s often a combination of small failures that add up to something catastrophic. That’s why there’s a legal process to protect you, and our team will be there to help you through it.
Get Help After an Airplane Accident Caused by Improper Maintenance in Louisville
At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, our team of Louisville aviation accident lawyers understand how complex airplane accident cases can be, especially when maintenance mistakes or mechanical failures are involved. We step in to handle the hard parts—investigating what went wrong, preserving key evidence, and guiding you through the process of filing a claim—so you can focus on getting better. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
