Officials have released a statement concerning last summer’s Asiana Airlines crash at San Francisco International Airport that killed three people and injured more than 180. According to the press release, the airport gave itself high marks in many different areas including a strong sense of shared goals among those who responded to the accident.
The incident has been under scrutiny to determine whether negligence played a role in the accident. Here the investigation continues, and no findings of negligence have been made.
However, in situations where negligence or recklessness leads to a fatality, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit is similar to a personal injury claim but is filed by the family members of the deceased. Generally, a wrongful death claim may be brought in any type of accident that results in death. Recovery may include:
- Medical costs
- Funeral expenses
- Punitive damages for death by negligence
- Loss of love Loss of companionship
- Loss of the moral support of the decedent
- Loss of the financial support or household services which you would have received from the decedent
For more information concerning wrongful death claims and when it may be possible to file such action, it is critical to speak with a knowledgeable California wrongful death attorney.
While the airport did find areas for improvement such as the need to have more integrated and coordinated medical resources and procedures, it did not mention any findings concerning the death of a passenger who survived the crash, but died after a San Francisco fire truck ran over her en route to put out a fire on the plane.
If you have questions about wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits, please contact an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.
A report issued following the recent fatal Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) accident reveals that the driver was still a trainee and not certified to drive the train. According to an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, the man who was operating the train that killed two workers inspecting a section of track, was taking a “training and maintenance run” when the accident occurred. Sources say that unions for the striking workers had warned that it would be dangerous for inexperienced operators to drive the trains after a representative of BART had stated it would train drivers to provide shuttle services during the railroad workers strike. This finding will likely lead to additional questions such as whether the railroad was negligent or could be held liable in a California wrongful death action.
Whenever a serious personal injury accident occurs, several questions concerning liability, negligence and cause arise. While major transportation accidents often involve the NTSB, it is also important for an injured party or their family members to consult with an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney who can begin an investigation into the incident on their behalf. A skilled California accident attorney can look at all of the factors that cause or contributed to a particular incident and help you determine your next steps.
For example in this instance one issue that may arise is whether the railroad was negligent in allowing the trainee to drive the train and whether this negligence was the cause of the workers’ deaths. If so, the railroad may be liable and responsible for damages. Further, railroad workers are one of the few types of employees not covered by traditional state worker’s compensation. However, the workers and their families may receive workers’ compensation benefits through different systems such as the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, also called the Railroad Workers Act. This act permits railroad workers not covered by their state’s workers’ compensation system to sue their employer for their industrial accidents and recover damages such as medical treatment and lost wages, and can also include pain and suffering damages. Many issues are raised whenever an individual suffers a serious personal injury or dies as the result of another’s negligence.
For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a California accident, please contact the top Sacramento personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.