Travis Barker has defended his decision to sue the owners of the jet that crashed in September, killing four people and leaving him badly burned - insisting he deserves compensation for the emotional and physical trauma he suffered.

The rocker was almost killed when the Learjet he was a passenger on failed to clear the runway at a South Carolina airport and burst into flames. Only Barker and band mate Adam 'DJ A.M.' Goldstein survived.

Barker tells E! News, "I wouldn't have been in the state I was in if I wasn't in the crash. You know, I wouldn't have third degree burns all over my body or be prohibited to do certain things. I can't go swimming, I can't do some of the things that normal people can do. I didn't ask for that to happen. If something goes wrong that's not supposed to go wrong, or you fall victim of it, I think you should be compensated."

But Barker insists no sum will replace the two friends he lost in the crash - assistant Christ Baker and pal Charles Still: "Nothing can bring them back or what I lost in the accident."

Barker filed a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit against Clay Lacy Aviation last week. He is asking for damages for "pain and suffering, mental anguish, psychological and emotional distress and disfigurement."

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