Serving all of Florida
Florida Aviation Accident Lawyer
I spent nearly two decades defending insurance companies in crash cases. Now I use everything I learned to fight for you.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Main Office Miami · In person or by video, anywhere in Florida
Injured on a flight or in an aircraft accident? Does the Montreal Convention or Florida law apply?
That question often decides everything. It's also where knowing the other side well pays off.
If you were hurt on an international flight, a treaty called the Montreal Convention usually applies. Under the treaty, the airline has to pay for accidents up to a set limit, even if it did nothing wrong. If you can prove the airline was at fault, you can collect more than that limit. You must sue within 2 years (Article 35). Courts do not extend that deadline the way they sometimes extend ordinary deadlines.
Domestic flights and private or small-plane crashes (general aviation) follow federal aviation rules (FAA) and Florida's carelessness law, with a 2-year deadline (§ 95.11(5)(a)). Claims against the companies that built the aircraft or its parts can also run into a federal cutoff law (GARA). If you were hurt at the airport, that is handled as a Florida claim against the property owner. Each path has its own rules and its own clock. So it is critical that I look at your case early.
The facts that matter
- International flights
- Montreal Convention — strict 2-year limit (Art. 35)
- Domestic / general aviation
- FAA rules + Florida carelessness law, 2-year deadline
- Manufacturers
- A federal cutoff law can end late claims (GARA)
- What it costs
- Free case review · no fees or costs unless we recover for you
What they do
How insurance companies try to cut what they pay
Treat the limit as a ceiling
Airlines point to the treaty's payment cap as if it's all you can get. But if we prove the airline was at fault, you can collect more.
Blame the passenger
They argue your own movement or condition caused the injury, not the 'accident.'
Run out the treaty clock
They delay, knowing the 2-year Montreal deadline is strict and unforgiving.
Next steps
What to do next
Get medical care & keep records
Document your injuries and all treatment from the start.
Keep your ticket and itinerary
Your boarding pass and itinerary can prove the flight was international. That decides which law applies.
Identify carrier, operator & maker
Note the airline or operator and, for crashes, the aircraft and component makers.
Act early
Two years goes by fast while you’re healing. The evidence that decides these cases (crew reports, maintenance logs, flight data) is much easier to get at the start.
Florida law
The rules that decide your claim
Montreal Convention (international)
Covers injuries from an “accident” on board, or while boarding or leaving the plane. That means things like turbulence, a falling bag, a cart hitting you, or an evacuation. It does not cover a passenger’s own medical event. The 2-year clock (Art. 35) starts on the day the flight arrived, or should have arrived.
FAA standards (domestic)
Federal aviation regulations set the standard of care for domestic and general-aviation operations.
GARA repose (manufacturers)
A federal cutoff law (GARA) can end claims against the companies that built the aircraft or its parts once enough time has passed. That's another reason to act early.
Florida premises & 2-year SOL
If you were hurt inside the airport terminal, that is a claim against the property owner under Florida law, with a 2-year deadline (§ 95.11(5)(a)).
Track record
Results from a lawyer who knows the other side
The firm has recovered real money for injured Floridians, including confidential settlements and settlements for the most the policy pays.
Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.See more results →
Client reviews
What clients say
“He helped my elderly father get a settlement with an airline after an injury. Extremely professional and communicative. Highly recommend.”
— Jaime · Avvo“The kind of attorney everyone hopes to find — honest, thorough, dedicated. My situation didn’t even become a case, yet he patiently walked me through every option.”
— Rev. Sonia · Avvo“I never once felt like just another file; my well-being was his priority. We achieved the maximum possible outcome for my case.”
— Luciana Neves · Google“All the information & sources Emanuel provided were extremely helpful. Not only was he able to talk things through with me, but followed up afterwards to touch base. Would highly refer to him to anyone who may need his expertise.”
— Priscilla · AvvoIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Aviation Accidents FAQ
Is my case under the Montreal Convention or Florida law?
International carriage generally falls under the Convention; domestic flights and general aviation fall under FAA standards and Florida law.
Is the airline automatically liable?
For international flights, the airline has to pay up to a set limit even if it did nothing wrong. If we prove the airline was at fault, you can collect more.
What about a helicopter or charter flight?
Those are usually private or small-plane cases (general aviation). FAA rules and Florida's carelessness law apply.
Who can be held responsible?
Depending on the facts: the airline or the company operating the aircraft, the maintenance companies, and the companies that built the aircraft or its parts.
How long do I have to file?
International claims must be filed within 2 years (Art. 35), a strict deadline; domestic claims generally allow 2 years (§ 95.11(5)(a)).
Tell me what happened. The case review is free.
You'll talk to me, a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades working for the insurance companies. Not a case manager. No fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873