By Dan Green. Last updated 6th November 2025. When flying on a helicopter, you understandably place a lot of trust in the aircraft itself and the pilot to ensure your safety. Naturally, any accident involving one can be deeply distressing, potentially leaving you with life-altering injuries. If you’ve experienced this, our team is ready to help you pursue compensation and guide you through every step of the helicopter accident claims process.
At Legal Expert, our solicitors have decades of experience in helping clients just like you. With your health and wellbeing always in mind, one of our expert solicitors can provide you with personalised support from start to finish and help to gather evidence on your behalf. Having already gained over £80 million in compensation, one of our dedicated solicitors could secure a payout for you next.
What You Need To Know About Helicopter Accident Claims
- What can cause a helicopter accident? Helicopter accidents can occur due to inadequate pilot training, poor maintenance, and issues with air traffic control.
- Am I eligible to make a helicopter accident claim? Yes, you may be eligible to claim if you can demonstrate that your injuries were the result of a third party’s negligent actions, such as those of a helicopter operator.
- Can I claim helicopter accident compensation for anxiety? Yes, anxiety can form part of your personal injury compensation if it resulted from a helicopter accident caused by a negligent third party.
- What evidence will I need when seeking compensation for a helicopter injury? You may need your medical records, CCTV footage, and photographs of any visible injuries.
- How long do I have to begin the helicopter crash claims process? You will have up to 3 years from the date of the accident to start your helicopter accident claim.
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What Is A Helicopter Accident?
Before we continue with this helicopter accident claims guide, we will look at what a helicopter accident actually is. There are a variety of ways in which and reasons for which a helicopter accident can happen.
The pilot may not have carried out all of the necessary pre-flight checks, a mechanic or engineer may have been neglectful when carrying out maintenance, or there may have been an electrical fault leading to a malfunction of some kind. In situations where someone else is responsible for your helicopter accident, you could make a helicopter accident claim with a personal injury lawyer.
Causes Of Accidents Leading To Helicopter Accident Claims
As with any form of transport, there are many things that can go wrong with a helicopter and many different causes. If you have been injured in a helicopter crash we will need to find out how your accident was caused. The more you know about the circumstances of your accident, the better your helicopter accident claims could progress.
Some of the most common causes of helicopter accidents:
- Varying types of pilot error including pilots failing to operate a helicopter in the right way or not having created a proper flight plan.
- Pilot error due to lack of training.
- Engineer/ maintenance errors caused by a lack of training.
- Electrical and/ or electrical failure.
- Defective designs or parts.
- Collisions.
- Problems with air traffic control.
- Accidents caused by poor weather or operating a helicopter in unsafe conditions.
- Not having adequate fuel.
Whilst it can be difficult to determine the cause of your accident in a helicopter, we will work with all relevant parties and organisations to ascertain the cause of the accident which caused your injuries.
4.8 (466 reviews) Common Injuries From Helicopter Accidents And Crashes
Due to the severity of the crashes and accidents, the size, speed and weight of a helicopter, and the heights that they may be flying at in an accident situation, helicopter accident claims will generally be made for more serious and severe forms of injury.
Examples of common helicopter accident injuries can include (but are not limited to) these types of serious injuries.
- Blunt force trauma to any part of the body.
- Fractures to the bones. Commonly, these can be to the skull, other bones in the face, and the ribs or limbs.
- Damage to the nervous system and the spinal cord. This might include varying levels of paralysis, paraplegia and even quadriplegia.
- Damage and injury to the internal organs.
- A TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury
- Serious and deep lacerations that can cause very serious scars.
- Serious burn injuries.
- Fatal accidents and injuries
Remember, whilst it is less common, injuries in survivors of helicopter crashes can also be less severe forms of injury than those listed above. For example, they could be things such as cuts, lacerations, less severe burns and simple fractures.
If you have had a serious injury as a result of a helicopter accident, find out more about the nature of them and how much you could claim in this guide to serious injury compensation claims.
The Criteria To Make A Helicopter Accident Claim
To make a helicopter accident claim in the UK, you need to show that someone else was responsible for the incident and that you suffered an injury or loss as a result.
Operators, pilots, employers and maintenance providers all owe passengers and crew a clear duty of care. If that duty is breached and it leads to an accident, you may be able to claim compensation.
The criteria are straightforward in principle, though the investigations can be complex:
- A duty of care existed – Helicopter operators must follow strict safety standards, including proper maintenance, competent piloting, and compliance with Civil Aviation Authority rules.
- There was a breach of that duty – Negligence can include mechanical failures linked to poor servicing, inadequate pre-flight checks, pilot mistakes, or safety procedures not being followed. Any failure to meet required aviation standards can amount to a breach.
- The breach caused your injury – There must be a clear link between the negligent act and the harm you suffered, whether physical injuries, psychological trauma, or financial losses.
- The claim is made within the legal time limit – In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident or from when you first became aware that negligence played a role. Different rules apply if the claim involves a child, someone without mental capacity, or a fatality.
Helicopter accident cases can involve multiple responsible parties and technical aviation issues. A specialist solicitor, such as our team here at Legal Expert, can help identify who is liable and gather the expert evidence needed to build a strong case.
4.8 (466 reviews) Can I Claim On Behalf Of Someone Else?
You can usually bring a helicopter accident claim on behalf of someone who cannot do so themselves by acting as a litigation friend. This applies if the injured person is under eighteen, lacks mental capacity or has died in the accident.
Parents and guardians can claim for children, and trusted individuals can act for those unable to make legal decisions.
In fatal cases, close family members may seek compensation for dependency, funeral costs and the pain and suffering of the deceased. A litigation friend must act fairly, have no conflict of interest and be approved by the court before the claim proceeds.
Can I Claim Compensation For A Helicopter Accident Abroad?
There are circumstances in which you could make a helicopter accident compensation claim for incidents abroad, whether travelling for a holiday, for business or otherwise. If you have suffered any of the common helicopter accident injuries we highlighted above, whilst travelling abroad in a helicopter for leisure or work, you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Helicopter accidents, as with any aviation accident, can leave you in a great deal of pain and suffering. These type of accidents will almost always end your holiday and result in a hospital stay. If this has happened to you, our team of aviation and holiday accident personal injury lawyers are on hand to help you claim compensation.
Helicopter Accident Compensation Case Study
To illustrate the role which a personal injury solicitor can play in helping people to secure a settlement for a helicopter accident claim, we will look at this example of a very high profile and prominent case which took place in the UK.
In this case, a Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma helicopter which was operated by a company called CHC was flying from Aberdeen International Airport to a drilling rig called ‘West Phoenix’. The helicopter had to make a controlled ditch into the North Sea 32 miles south of Shetland island. This was due to a malfunction with the lubrication system of the gearbox. The helicopter was carrying a total of 2 crew members and 17 passengers. All aboard the helicopter were subsequently rescued. This accident was similar to an incident that happened in 2012 where another EC225 which also had to ditch into the North Sea with a similar fault.
Both accidents were investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau at the same time. Their final report showed that the two helicopters had a failure of the oil pressure in the gearbox of the main rotor. Whilst the emergency system was working, the warning system had wrongly displayed that it was not. As a result, aircrews decided to make a controlled emergency landing into the sea. Airbus, the manufacturer of the helicopter, took sole responsibility for the accidents and personal injury claims were successfully made against them for this.
Helicopter Accident Compensation Calculator
Compensation in helicopter accident claims can be from two heads of loss. The first is called general damages, and these damages are to compensate for the injuries.
Factors that affect how much you receive under general damages include:
- Severity of injuries
- Recovery period
- Pain levels
- The prognosis for the future
- Impact on daily living and hobbies
As part of your helicopter accident compensation claim, you may be invited to attend an independent medical examination. This would produce a report that could discuss the factors above. A document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be used with a report to help calculate general damages.
The JCG contains an array of injuries and has guideline compensation brackets for them.
The table below contains some JCG brackets. Please note that the first entry is not from the JCG, and no entry guarantees compensation.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries and Financial Losses | Very Severe | Up to £1,000,000 or more |
| Injuries Involving Paralysis | Quadriplegia | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Brain Injury | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe | £267,340 to £344,150 | |
| Amputation of Arms | Loss of Both Arms | £293,850 to £366,100 |
| Bowels | Double Incontinence | Up to £224,790 |
| Leg (Amputations) | Loss of Both Legs | £293,850 to £344,150 |
| Above-Knee Amputation of One Leg | £127,930 to £167,760 | |
| Digestive System | Severe Damage | £52,490 to £75,550 |
Compensation in a helicopter injury claim can also include special damages. These are financial losses that are caused by the injuries. They are not present in every case, but with supporting evidence, they could potentially be claimed. Some examples of special damages include:
- Loss of earnings (including future losses)
- Loss of opportunity in the open labour market
- Reduction in bonus payments
- Loss of pension benefits
- Care costs (including private fees)
- Surgery costs
- Home and vehicle adaption
- Treatment or rehabilitation fees
To discuss any aspect of claiming helicopter accident compensation, you can reach out to our team for a free case assessment.
No Win No Fee Helicopter Accident Injury Claims
No Win No Fee agreements are a fair and affordable way for people to make helicopter accident claims without having to worry about how to pay for a solicitor.
One of the main concerns that people have if they have been involved in an accident and when thinking about making personal injury claims is whether they can afford a solicitor or lawyer. We believe that no one who has a legitimate claim should be prevented from doing so by the cost of a personal injury solicitor.
If you were injured in a helicopter crash that was not your fault, our No Win No Fee solicitors can help you to claim any compensation which you might be entitled to claim. Our solicitors will work with you to work out how much you could be able to claim and to build your case. If you are able to seek damages, we will offer you a No Win No Fee agreement through which we can make your claim.
Why Make Helicopter Accident Claims With Legal Expert
Our team of personal injury solicitors are experienced in making a variety of aviation accident claims, including helicopter accident claims.
In the event of a helicopter accident, determining who to make a claim against can be difficult. The accident could have been caused by the operator of the helicopter, a manufacturer, or the manufacturer of a part. It could also have been caused by the pilot. For example, they may have had insufficient pilot training. Alternatively, perhaps the company that has serviced the helicopter carried out the service incorrectly. This means your claim may be against a company in the UK, or abroad. Our team has helped numerous people to make a helicopter crash injury claim and can advise you too. So get in touch to start your claim.
Contact Legal Expert Today
Our expert team are here to take your call about helicopter accident claims, reply to your email, or speak to you on our live chat feature.
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Similar Related Guides And Resources
If you have been the victim of a helicopter accident you may wish to find out more about steps that you can take after your crash, as well as additional advice on making a helicopter accident injury claim. This is why we have included these related guides and external resources.
- Learn about claims for accidents abroad
- Guidance on airport accident claims
- An overview of unexpected turbulence injury claims
Thanks for reading our guide to making a helicopter accident injury claim.
