Personal Injury Law

Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed By Parents of Toddler Killed in Medevac Crash Over Suburban Chicago

The parents of 1-year-old Kirstin Blocker are suing Air Angels Inc., Reach Medical Holdings Inc., and the estate of pilot Del Waugh for their daughter?s wrongful death in a Medevac accident that occurred over suburban Chicago last October. Blockinger was being transported to Children?s Memorial Hospital when the helicopter struck a radio tower wire and crashed in Aurora, killing Kirstin and all three crew members. Waugh was piloting the plane.

The deadly aviation accident occurred on a clear day as the helicopter flew a familiar route. The reason for why the Air Angels pilot was flying the chopper so low is unclear. Kristin?s family says they hope their wrongful death lawsuit will lead to the development of greater safety measures to prevent future Medevac accidents from occurring. Their lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages from the defendants.

The Chicago helicopter crash is just one of nine Medevac accidents that occurred in the US last year, claiming at least 28 people?s lives. This is a dramatic increase from 2007, when 7 people died in just 2 Medevac crashes. The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that aviation companies conduct risk assessments for each flight and install terrain avoidance warning systems on every aircraft. The FAA has yet to turn these recommendations into requirements.

Medevac Flights
EMS helicopters are supposed to quickly and safely transport people in need of medical attention to their destination so that they can get the care they need. In 2007 alone, some 400,000 people rode on EMS choppers.

Pilots, aircraft manufacturers, and all those involved in the operation and management of any aviation flight are supposed to exercise the proper care to ensure that their passengers safely reach their destinations. When failure to exercise that care, poor safety standards or procedures, product defects, pilot error, or crew negligence leads to injuries or deaths, an Illinois personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit may be brought against all negligent parties.

Parents sue over fatal copter crash, Daily Chronicle, January 6, 2009

Lawsuit filed in October Air Angels crash, ABC Local, January 6, 2009

Spike In U.S. Medevac Crashes Prompts Oversight, NPR, December 31, 2008

Related Web Resources:

EMS Helicopter Safety, Federal Administration Aviation

National Transportation Safety Board

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on January 08, 2009 (boomark / email).