Aircraft crashes, boating tragedies, and catastrophic product failures demand investigation most firms can't run. It's where DiStefano Law's largest results have come from — including a $6.67 million aviation wrongful-death recovery. No fee unless we recover for you.
Aviation cases involve the FAA and NTSB; maritime cases invoke the Jones Act and general maritime law. These federal frameworks layer on top of Florida law and change everything from who you can sue to which court hears the case.
"Every lawyer I called said it was 'out of their area.'"
Wreckage, maintenance logs, black-box and engine data, vessel records, and the defective product itself must be preserved and examined by qualified experts immediately. Once it's released, repaired, or scrapped, the proof is gone.
"By the time we understood what happened, the wreckage had been moved."
A crash or product failure can implicate operators, owners, manufacturers, maintenance providers, and component makers — across multiple states or countries. Identifying every responsible party (and every insurance layer) is the difference between partial and full recovery.
"I had no idea the manufacturer could even be on the hook."
These cases are won with accident reconstructionists, aviation and marine engineers, metallurgists, and human-factors specialists. Building that team — and knowing how to use it — takes experience that volume firms simply don't develop.
"This was clearly bigger than a routine injury claim."
Specialty cases rarely fit neatly inside the Florida statutes. They cross into federal aviation, maritime, and product-liability law — which is precisely why they need a specialist's approach.
FAA / NTSB & GARA
Aircraft accidents are investigated under Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C.F.R.) with an independent NTSB inquiry. Claims against aircraft and component manufacturers also confront the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA), an 18-year statute of repose — one of many federal wrinkles that decide whether and whom you can sue.
Jones Act & General Maritime Law
Injuries on navigable water may fall under general maritime law, the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) for crew members, or the Death on the High Seas Act. Florida's boating statutes (Chapter 327, including § 327.33 on reckless operation) govern recreational vessels. The right framework depends on where, how, and to whom the injury occurred.
Strict Product Liability
Florida recognizes strict liability for defective products: a manufacturer can be liable for a design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn — without proof of negligence. Tire failures and component defects are proven through engineering analysis of the failed part itself, which must be preserved.
§ 95.11 & § 768.81 amended 2023
Where Florida law applies, the negligence deadline is two years for claims arising on or after March 24, 2023 (§ 95.11(4)(a)), and modified comparative negligence (§ 768.81) bars recovery above 50% fault. Product cases also face a separate statute of repose. Federal claims carry their own timelines — do not assume.
This page provides general information about aviation, maritime, and product liability law and is not legal advice. Statutes and case law change; your specific case requires a consultation.
Few regions concentrate aviation, marine, and high-speed-highway risk like Broward County — which is why this firm has built real depth here.
If you were injured in an aviation, boating, or product-failure incident, call (954) 572-8000 — the sooner we can preserve the evidence, the stronger the case.
$6,667,000
Airplane Crash
Wrongful death
Settlement · 2019
$1,000,000
Boating Accident
Spinal cord injury
Settlement · 2020
$200,000
Airplane Crash
Wrongful death
Settlement · 2021
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits.
Founding Attorney · Admitted 1982 · J.D., Nova Southeastern
The firm's two largest categories of recovery — aviation and maritime — are exactly the cases most South Florida attorneys refer out. Robert has handled them directly for forty years, assembling the engineers and reconstructionists these claims demand. When you call DiStefano Law, you reach Robert directly.
★★★★★
“The best lawyer in South Florida. Thank you DiStefano for all the hard work that you and your team have done to get me amazing results.”
Taravia Google
★★★★★
“I had a wonderful experience with Robert! He fought hard for me and kept me in the loop the whole time. The whole office is just great!”
Paulavia Google
★★★★★
“Mr. DiStefano is the best! Kept me up to date with everything, and his paralegal Michelle also kept us informed. Happy with my settlement — I highly recommend him.”
Stacy Leevia Google
Lisa Marie Santamarta, Esq.
Bilingual — English & Spanish
Lisa Marie Santamarta handles personal-injury, medical malpractice, and immigration matters for clients throughout Florida, and has practiced in South Florida since 2011. Like every attorney at DiStefano Law, she handles your matter personally, without an intake call center or a rotating roster of associates.
Fluent in English and Spanish, she can guide you through an accident claim or the immigration system in the language you are most comfortable speaking.
A free, confidential review with an attorney whose largest recoveries have come from exactly these cases. No fee unless we recover for you.
(954) 572-8000