(CNN Business) Nearly a year after the Lion Air plane crash killed 189 people, four victim families reached a settlement with Boeing, the families' attorney tells CNN Business.

"We represent 46 victim families [in the Lion Air plane crash]. We reached an agreement on four of those cases," said Mark Lindquist of Herrmann Law Group. "Negotiations are ongoing. Our goals are justice for the victims, accountability from Boeing and safer skies for everyone-- whether we get there by settlement or by trial."

Lindquist said his firm started the negotiating process with victims who were single and childless and will move on to victims who have spouses and children.

He says when victims have a spouse and/or children, "full and fair compensation is going to be a larger amount...We have to look out for those children who are going to grow up without with a parent."

Lindquist said it's impossible to say how long negotiations will take for the other 42 families.