Helicopter Crash in San Bernardino County Leaves Six Dead – Helicopter Accident Attorneys
A helicopter carrying six people crashed in eastern San Bernardino County on Friday night (February 9, 2024). All onboard were killed. The FAA has now confirmed that the helicopter – a Eurocopter EC130 went down at approximately 10pm east of the 15 Freeway and Halloran Springs Road near Nipton. The incident occurred close to the California-Nevada state line. Six people died as a result of the crash – including two pilots and four passengers.
Reportedly, the helicopter (which is owned by Orbic Air of Burbank) took off from Palm Springs and was last seen near Barstow, California. The charter flight was headed to Boulder City, Nevada.
In a news conference, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that witnesses claimed that the conditions at the time of the crash were possibly rainy and wintry weather.
The victims include Herbert Wigwe, Wigewe’s wife, Wigewe’s son, another man identified as Bombo Ogunbanjo, and the two pilots. The coroner’s office is yet to release a full list of the identities of the victims.
The NTSB confirmed that the helicopter was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, as the specific helicopter model was not required to have those devices. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the situation and will be looking into the plane’s maintenance and structure, flight crew records, weather, air traffic control, dispatch records, and flight path. There will also be aerial mapping of the wreckage with a drone.
Helicopter crashes are normally devastating. Like in the incident above, victims suffer fatal injuries. In the rare instances where there are survivors, victims are likely to experience critical injuries that may result in permanent disability.
These incidents can happen for a number of reasons. In most cases, survivors and the family of the deceased could have the right to file lawsuits against different parties/entities. If you or a loved one suffered harm in a helicopter accident, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
Here at our law firm, our lawyers have experienced in aviation accidents – including helicopter crashes. Our legal team is more than ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice. If you would like to speak with a lawyer about the options available to you, contact us today. Our team here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group is ready to guide you every step of the way.
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There are many possible causes of helicopter incidents. Some of these may include the following:
- Pilot error (commonly, the pilot deciding to go ahead and fly in unfavorable weather conditions) or pilot negligence (including piloting under the influence of drugs/alcohol, being distracted, not completing the pre-flight checks, etc.)
- Pilot company negligence (for example, the company negligently hiring pilots that are unlicensed, failing to ensure that pilots have the appropriate training, failing to investigate reports made against pilots, etc.)
- Helicopter company negligence (for example, using helicopters that have maintenance issues, failing to ensure that their helicopters meet all requirements, failing to inspect/repair their helicopters, failing to identify issues with their helicopters, etc.)
- Helicopter manufacturer negligence (usually, for making an unsafe product available by failing to identify and address defects in design, labeling, or even manufacturing)
Yes – you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. Based on the details surrounding the incident, you could potentially have the right to sue the pilot company, the helicopter company (the company that owned the helicopter), the helicopter manufacturer, or even helicopter maintenance teams, for example. These entities all have different responsibilities. For example, a pilot company has the duty to ensure that their pilots are properly trained, licensed, and fit to manage aircrafts. The company that owns the helicopter has a duty to ensure that the aircraft remains in a condition that is safe to operate. Helicopter manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their aircrafts are free of any defects or dangerous conditions that could lead to incidents. Repair companies that are hired to fix issues have the duty to fix issues well and not create any other issues during repairs. In some cases, these entities can actually share liability.
If any of these entities are negligent, they can contribute to helicopter accidents and could ultimately be sued for the harm that occurred as a result. If you were injured in a helicopter accident or a member of your family died in a helicopter crash, it is important that you find an experienced helicopter accident lawyer to help you learn more about the legal options available to you as soon as possible.
Is there Compensation Available for Helicopter Accident Claims?Yes, claimants could be eligible to recover compensation. Although every claim is different, some of the different categories of compensation could include the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
The experts here at our law firm are committed to helping our clients recover the maximum payout available for their claims – whether this means taking claims to trial to reach a verdict or negotiating a settlement. If you have any questions about the compensation that you could receive, including the possible value of your claim or the average value associated with claims similar to yours, contact us today. Our helicopter accident lawyers are ready to provide you with all the information that you need.
In California, injury claims and wrongful death claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Therefore, claimants only have two years to sue. What happens if claimants do not file their claims on time? If claimants fail to file their lawsuits within the time allowed, then they can lose their right to sue entirely. Based on the details surrounding each specific situation, certain exceptions may apply that may toll the statute of limitations. Do not risk losing your right to sue by failing to file your claim on time. We urge you to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible to start the legal process before it is too late.
Contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group TodayHere at our law firm, our helicopter crash lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and recover the compensation that you are owed. The team here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group has decades of experience and is ready to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to benefit from our free legal services. We offer free consultations and free second opinions; whether you are looking to start the legal process or continue your claim after starting the process elsewhere, you can trust that our team will be able to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. These are available as part of our Zero-Fee Guarantee, so our clients will not be required to pay any upfront legal costs for our legal services. In addition, our team works on a strict contingency structure, so our clients will not be required to pay anything if their claims are not successful.
Our experts are ready to help you with your helicopter accident case. Contact us today!
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