In Alaska, flying is not a luxury — it is often the only way to reach the places people call home. Many of Alaska’s villages cannot be reached by road. Whether you lost a loved one in a bush plane crash, a small plane accident, an air taxi incident, or any other aviation accident in Alaska, our office has the experience to fight for you and your family.

We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for aviation accident victims and their families.

Our office has represented family members whose loved ones have passed away or were injured due to airplane crashes. Our office has represented passengers in cases where a pilot failed to properly warm up the airplane’s engine before flight, resulting in a loss of power and a crash. We have represented family members in a case where a mechanic responsible for aircraft engine repairs negligently rebuilt an airplane engine, causing the engine to fail in midflight. And we represented a passenger in a single-engine airplane where the pilot was reckless, resulting in a crash landing.

35 Years of Experience Fighting for Injured Alaskans — Over $100 Million Collected

Our office has been fighting for injured Alaskans for over 35 years. We have collected over 100 million dollars for thousands of Alaskans who were hurt, disabled, or lost loved ones. We know how insurance companies work. We know how to fight them. And we know how to win. See Case Results and Testimonials.

An In-House Physician and Attorney—A Powerful Advantage for Our Clients

When difficult medical questions arise in your case, most law firms have to hire outside medical consultants and wait for their opinion. At Schlehofer Law Offices, we have that medical knowledge in-house. Frank Michael Schlehofer is both an attorney and a licensed physician. When you are hurt, the insurance company has doctors and lawyers working to reduce what they pay you. Now you have both on your side. In serious and complex cases, insurance companies hire their own medical experts to fight your claim. Frank Michael can read your medical records the way a doctor does, speak the same language as their experts, and challenge their opinions — because he is a licensed physician himself.

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

• Pilot error or poor judgment
• Pilot fatigue or lack of proper training
• Mechanical failure or inadequate maintenance
• Failure to properly check weather conditions
• Overloading the aircraft
• Negligence by the air charter or air taxi company
• Defective aircraft parts or equipment

What You May Be Owed

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an aviation accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills — past and future
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death damages if your loved one did not survive

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my case worth?

Every case is different. The value depends on your injuries, your medical bills, lost wages, and how the accident has affected your life. Call us. There is no charge to talk to us, and we will discuss the details of your case. See Case Results and Testimonials.

Is there a charge to talk to you, and how does your attorney fee work?

There is no charge to talk to us. We do not charge by the hour. We only get paid if you get paid. Our attorney fee is a contingency fee, which is a percentage of the total amount we recover for you, plus reimbursement of our out-of-pocket costs, such as the cost of ordering your medical records. Usually, our attorney fee is 1/3 of the total recovery. Since our fee is a percentage of what we get for you, we are both on the same team trying to get as much as we reasonably can. If we do not get anything for you, then our attorney fee is zero.

Do I have to go to court?

Most cases settle before trial. When the insurance company knows you hired an experienced attorney, they are more likely to settle because it will cost them money to go to court. The decision to settle or go to trial is yours. We are always prepared to go to trial to get you the money you deserve.

Who can be held responsible for a small plane crash in Alaska?

Depending on the facts, responsibility may fall on the pilot, the air taxi or charter company, the aircraft owner, a maintenance provider, or in some cases the aircraft manufacturer. Call us and we will discuss the details of your case.

My loved one died in a bush plane crash. Do we have a case?

Most likely. Our office has represented families who were injured or lost loved ones in aviation accidents in the Alaska bush. Call us and we will review the circumstances of the crash and explain your family’s rights.

How long do we have to file a claim?

In Alaska, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court against the responsible parties. Aviation cases often involve federal investigations by the NTSB and FAA, so it is important to call us as soon as possible to start working on your case.