Indiana Helicopter Accident Lawyers 

Whether you are trying to avoid the gridlock of big city traffic or reach a destination that would otherwise be inaccessible, a helicopter can be an invaluable alternative means of transportation that provides a unique view of the world – though it might not be the safest one.

Helicopter accidents were responsible for 30 deaths across the United States in 2024, but even a non-fatal helicopter crash can be physically and economically catastrophic. Nonetheless, compensation may be available if you have been seriously injured while flying in a helicopter in Indiana, and you could increase the amount you obtain by partnering with Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998.

To learn how an accomplished Indiana helicopter accident lawyer can help you and your loved ones, please call our office at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation now.

Common Causes of Helicopter Accidents in Indiana

Unlike airplanes, whose departures and arrivals are largely restricted to designated runways constructed according to very narrow parameters, helicopters are theoretically capable of taking off and setting down practically anywhere. This versatility allows them to serve a wide variety of purposes, from recreational sightseeing to emergency medical services and nearly everything in between.

Unfortunately, helicopter accidents are similarly varied, taking place in almost any conceivable location and for almost any conceivable reason, though certain fact patterns are more associated with these types of incidents than others. Among the most common causes of helicopter accidents in Indiana are:

• Pilot error – Much like a car or truck accident is usually the fault of the person behind the wheel, the person at the controls is usually at fault in the event of a helicopter accident. Indeed, a recent study blamed approximately 68 percent of helicopter accidents on pilot error. Despite the extensive training that pilots in Indiana have to undergo before they can get licensed to fly helicopters, they remain susceptible to the same problems that afflict drivers on the road, like drowsiness, distraction, and intoxication. Moreover, helicopter pilots have to deal with the so-called “startle effect.” This is a term for the mixture of confusion and panic generated by the kinds of unexpected stimuli that are far more prevalent in the air than on the ground, and tragedy could strike if a pilot can’t rise to the occasion.
• Mistakes by air traffic controllers – Pilots aren’t the only aviation professionals whose slipups could put helicopter occupants and anyone in the vicinity in danger. Mistakes and miscommunications by the air traffic controllers who are tasked with keeping helicopters on a steady path could send them wildly off course, resulting in harsh landings or mid-air collisions in some circumstances.
• Irregular maintenance – Helicopters are complex machines that could easily break down while in use in the absence of regular maintenance by qualified mechanics.
• Flawed design or manufacturing – On the other hand, no matter how attentively a helicopter is maintained, it probably wouldn’t be enough to overcome a flaw in the design or manufacturing process that could make a malfunction inevitable.
• Inclement weather – Rain, sleet, snow, fog, or intense winds can hinder visibility or stability to a disastrous degree, though inclement weather is never an excuse for a helicopter accident. Pilots and supporting personnel are still expected to make every effort to anticipate hazards and react to them appropriately whenever they emerge, and they may be held accountable if they don’t.

Helicopter Accident Injuries Can Be Devastating

Regardless of the underlying cause of a helicopter accident, the injuries inflicted can be devastating. Both because of the impact of the crashes and the harm produced by sudden drops in altitude, victims of Indiana helicopter accidents are frequently forced to cope with:

• Brain and spinal damage
• TBI, concussion, and PTSD
• Broken bones
• Burns, lacerations, scars, and disfigurement
• Tearing of the pulmonary arteries
• Impaired mobility
• Paralysis
• Loss of consciousness/coma

Injuries of this magnitude can necessitate prolonged treatment at a price that few Indiana families could afford without the sort of assistance that our team of skilled attorneys will always strive to recover from everyone who may be liable for your helicopter accident.

Who Can Be Liable for a Helicopter Accident in Indiana?

But exactly who can be liable for a helicopter accident in Indiana? The answer will generally depend upon the circumstances leading up to it, though the potential defendants for a helicopter injury claim might include the:

• Helicopter pilot
• Owner of the helicopter (if separate from the pilot)
• Company or agency deploying the helicopter (if separate from the owner)
• Mechanic or other helicopter crew members
• Designer, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a defective helicopter or component part
• Airport or helipad owner or controllers
• Government body with authority over a public landing space

In some helicopter accidents, multiple individuals and entities could share various degrees of legal liability at the same time, for which they might share various degrees of fiscal liability too, and they must all be pursued within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations.

The Statute is two years for most helicopter accident claims in Indiana, but it can be considerably shorter in cases against the government, with additional requirements that may have to be satisfied under either state or federal law.

Failing to file suit or resolve your claim before the Statute elapses could forever bar you from getting fairly compensated for your helicopter accident injuries. However, you can rely on our meticulous Indiana helicopter accident lawyers to dot every “i” and cross every “t” so that a careless oversight won’t ever grind your case to a halt.

How Our Indiana Helicopter Accident Attorneys Can Make a Huge Difference

A helicopter accident can change your life in an instant, quickly making it much harder to make ends meet, much less meet the new strains on your finances, but the Indiana helicopter accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group can make a huge difference.

If you hire Hensley, we will begin by launching a comprehensive investigation to identify the factors that contributed to your helicopter accident and the defendants who played a role in it, then establish valid claims against each of them within the time permitted by law. If warranted, a lawsuit may be filed as well in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

The firm will also act swiftly to amass the evidentiary materials needed to back up any allegations that you make. Doing so can sometimes be tougher in claims involving helicopters, which often don’t have black boxes installed to record flight data, but Hensley’s tenacious Indiana helicopter accident lawyers will search tirelessly to find any proof of negligence that may exist.

After putting together the strongest case possible against the defendants, we will negotiate with their insurance carriers for a settlement that reflects the totality of your losses, including your:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Diminished quality of living
• Loss of consortium (if applicable)

And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim, we are more than willing to proceed to trial for a verdict that is, in stark contrast to many of our competitors, who rarely venture into a courtroom.

You Won’t Have to Pay Us Anything Unless We Win

We understand that you might be reluctant to commit to more expenditures when your wallet has already been stretched razor thin, but our firm operates on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana helicopter accident attorneys win your case.

While you might not have imagined how tumultuous your flight would become when you first lifted off in that helicopter, it would be Hensley’s honor to guide you to a soft landing.

Our Indiana Helicopter Accident Lawyers Will Be Here for You

Hensley Legal Group has been staunchly advocating for grievously injured people for more than a quarter century. No feat is too daunting or adversary too intimidating to stop us from doing whatever it takes to get justice for our clients. If you have no idea what to do or where to turn after being badly hurt in a helicopter accident in the Hoosier State, just know that our Indiana helicopter accident lawyers will be here for you.

You can schedule a no-cost case review with a knowledgeable Indiana helicopter accident attorney by calling our office at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.