Last week, the parents of a 14-month-old patient who died in a medical helicopter crash filed suit against the companies that operated the helicopter as well as the pilot, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The accident happened on Oct. 15, 2008. A Bell 222 helicopter was flying Kristin Reann Blockinger to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago when it hit a radio-tower support wire and crashed. In addition to Kristin Reann, three crew members also died in the accident. The helicopter was operated by Air Angels of Bolingbrook and Reach Medical Holdings.
The parents, Robert and Brooke, filed their negligence lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Air Angels, Reach Medical Holdings and the helicopter pilot. They allege that the defendants failed to follow safety practices recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration such as assigning two pilots to flights, supplying night-vision goggles and advanced training and equipping the helicopters with terrain-awareness systems.
Failing to follow best practices can be a tragic mistake.
At Carey, Danis & Lowe, our attorneys have handled similar cases involving failure to follow safety procedures. In 2003, a $13.5 million verdict was upheld on appeal in a case where a boxer suffered brain damage due to the failure to have an ambulance at the match.
If you have been hurt or someone you love has been hurt or killed as a result of another’s carelessness, please contact our attorneys today by calling 877-678-3400 or by filling out our online contact form.
