California Injury Lawyer Blog

RENO, NEVADA -- The death toll has risen to nine individuals Saturday in the horrific Reno air race show crash that took place on September 16th at around 4 p.m., the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. According to Reno Deputy Police Chief Dave Evans, the deaths included seven people who were killed on the tarmac and two others who died at hospitals. The fatal crash of the P-51 Mustang flown by veteran race pilot Jimmy Leeward, 74, has also resulted in a variety of serious injuries to spectators involved in the incident. These injuries included major head wounds, facial trauma and limb injuries, including amputations. Doctors who have treated the injured said it was among the most severe situations that they had ever dealt with due to the large number of people, which included at least two children under the age of 18 who were not in critical condition.

The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the scene of the accident on Saturday to evaluate the crash and determine what caused Leeward to lose control of his plane. Investigators will also look at variety of factors including, mechanical failure, and the health condition of the pilot.

Cause of the Reno Air Race Crash

The accident occurring September 16th remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. However, based on the information provided by news reports, it is unclear what caused the pilot to lose control of his plane. The Reno police has provided a GPS mapping system to help investigators reconstruct the crash while the NTSB officials have been reviewing videos and images captured by witnesses at the scene, which shown a piece of the plane coming off prior to crashing. To witnesses, this piece looked to be an "elevator trim tab," which helps the pilot keep control of the aircraft. According to NTSB spokesman Mark Rosekind, their focus will be on an unidentified component that was recovered from the accident. Investigators stated the NTSB has also recovered part of the plane's tail section. Hopefully authorities will come to a conclusion as to what happened and why.

Spectator Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

While the investigation of this aviation accident is ongoing, victims or family members of the victims would be well-advised to speak to a skilled Reno air show accident lawyer. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney who has handled aviation accidents which resulted in injuries and death to anyone involved, can advise the victims or their family of their legal rights and best course of action to receive a full and fair compensation for medical care expenses, disfigurement, funeral/burial costs, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this tragic aviation accident.

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A man was seriously injured Thursday while operating a forklift at the Masonic Home in Union City, officials at the Union City Fire Department reported. According to reports in the Oakland Tribune, the forklift rolled over the man and landed on his leg. The victim was not identified and was described as a man in his early 30's. He was flown by helicopter to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. The Oakland Tribune reported that the man is expected to survive but could possibly lose his leg.

Forklift Accidents

Forklifts, with an average weight of 9,000 pounds, are potentially very dangerous. Forklifts are turned by moving the rear wheels, and have a much smaller turning radius than a car. This also makes them much easier to tip over while being turned. Drivers must be especially careful when accelerating, stopping or turning, as these maneuvers could cause the vehicle to top over or lose the load. Other serious forklift accidents can occur when operators fall from forklifts and become pinned under the equipment, or are struck by a forklift.

Workplace Accident Liability

When companies neglect to train employees about the dangers of forklifts, or train them insufficiently, forklifts are especially dangerous. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, estimates that 70% of all workplace accidents could be avoided with proper training and safety procedures. If the man injured in this accident was not properly and sufficiently trained in the use of the equipment he was using, his employer may be responsible for his catastrophic injuries, including all medical expenses related to the injury, current and future lost earnings, and the pain and suffering he endured as a result of his injury. In this situation, the family of the man injured would be well-advised to speak to a California workplace injury attorney about the unique legal issues of this May 6th accident and the man's legal rights to compensation.

Continue reading "Man Could Lose Leg After Forklift Accident at Masonic Home in Union City " »