Helicopter crash during filming leads to wrongful death lawsuit
Recently, the mother of a man killed in a helicopter crash during the filming of a TV reality show in Los Angeles has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aircraft’s operators and the show’s producers. She is alleging negligent operation of the helicopter. The helicopter was being used to film a military-themed reality show for the Discovery channel.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the show’s producers negligently maintained and operated the helicopter, leading to the deaths of all three passengers in the crash, including the pilot. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants did not keep it in an operable condition, and did not ensure that it was serviceable for flight. The helicopter was allegedly being used for a scene where an actor dropped a backpack to the ground from the aircraft.
Wrongful death lawsuits occur due to the negligence of another towards the victim, and they are typically brought by a representative of the deceased person’s estate, usually a family member or a qualified Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer. In this case, the negligence alleged is that the producers did not keep the helicopter in prime condition, leading to the crash and the death of the woman’s son. In doing so, the lawsuit alleges that they were negligent because they breached a duty of ordinary care by failing to keep the helicopter properly maintained.
Airplane crashes can occur due to negligence or to simple human error. It is common for an aviator to misjudge flying conditions, or to accidentally crash into a mountain or into the ground due to a lack of visibility. In addition, mechanical failure can cause the plane to go down, which is what is alleged to have happened in this case.
Anyone impacted by a wrongful death is entitled to seek an appropriate monetary remedy in the form of damages for pain and suffering, and also to seek a personal injury judgment against the wrongdoer. In this way, the victim recovers for medical bills, lost wages, the pain and suffering incurred and the wrongdoer is held accountable for their negligence.
Source: WDBJ 7, “Wrongful death suit filed over fatal helicopter crash during filming of reality show in Calif.,” May 30, 2013.