Helicopter manufacturer sued for wrongful deaths of pilots
A helicopter manufacturer based in California has been sued as a result of the July 2011 deaths of two pilots. The wrongful death suit states that the company negligently designed the helicopters, leading to the pilot’s death. The company had been previously sued for the same reason by the law firm five times, settling the lawsuit in each of the previous cases.
Aviation industry watchdogs have raised concerns over the helicopter company’s designs for decades, with specific problems including rotor blades that tend to separate from the main body and then strike it, and defective fuel tanks that burst into flame from the impact of minor crashes. The Federal Aviation Administration even ordered extra training for pilots flying the company’s helicopters. The company is the world’s largest manufacturers of helicopters, and one of Torrance’s top employers.
Wrongful death lawsuits are filed in cases where the negligent act of a person or institution leads to the victim’s unfortunate death. Usually a representative of the decedent’s estate will file the suit and distribute the award to the victim’s family members accordingly. The purpose of a wrongful death suit is to obtain a judgment against the defendant for the negligent act that led to the victim’s death in order to gain compensation for the victim’s family. Wrongful death suits are not limited to car accidents or medical malpractice. Accidents caused by a defective or unsafe product could also form the basis of a wrongful death suit.
Anyone who has lost a loved one or family member to a wrongful death may want to seek a personal injury judgment against the defendant to obtain an appropriate monetary judgment. Monetary damages help the family members pay for the expenses caused by the death, as well as help address their pain and suffering.
Source: Torrance Daily Breeze, “Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance subject of wrongful death lawsuit,” Nick Green, Aug. 22, 2013