Six People Injured In Angeles National Forest After Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Helicopter Crashed Near Azusa
AZUSA, CALIFORNIA (April 1, 2022) – Six people responding to a service call were injured in a Angeles National Forest helicopter crash not far from Azusa.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the accident took place on Saturday afternoon. A Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department helicopter was flying over Angeles National forest when it crashed for some reason.
The Air Rescue 5 helicopter was responding to a service call in the area when the crash took place. Paramedics and rescue workers flew to the Azusa Canyon in order to rescue all of the passengers on board.
Five of the passengers were deputies from the Sheriff’s Department and one was a doctor from UCLA. All six passengers were flown to the Pomona Valley Medical Center in order to receive treatments.
The victims suffered a variety of injuries including fractures and broken bones. One person is reported to be in critical condition. The LAPD said that the helicopter crew saved thousands of people over the years.
A full investigation into what may have caused the Angeles National Forest helicopter crash remains ongoing.
Liability In Los Angeles County Helicopter Crashes
Commercial aviation is one of the safest forms of transportation that a person can take. The vast bulk of aviation accidents that take place involve private planes or helicopters. There were approximately 51 helicopter fatalities in 2019. According to Business Insider, “Accidents in the United States have generally trended toward a decline, despite a slight increase from 2016 to 2017 and a spike in 2018, according to data from the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST).” There are a number of common causes of helicopter crashes.
- Improper Maintenance: All helicopters are highly sophisticated pieces of machinery. They need regular preventative maintenance even when there are no apparent problems.
- Pilot Error: Operational error is by far one of the leading causes of helicopter crashes. This includes flying too flow to the ground or descending too quickly.
- Air Traffic Control Negligence: Helicopter pilots are reliant on air traffic controllers and must be in constant contact with them. Many accidents occur when air traffic control fails to give pilots relevant information about their flight or landing.
- Component Failure: Any part of a helicopter has the potential to fail over time. This could be due to a design defect. Or it may be the result of faulty installation.
Depending on the facts of any case, there may be numerous liable parties for a helicopter crash. However, determining liability for a crash isn’t always necessary for a victim to receive benefits. For example, if the victim of a helicopter crash was working when they were injured, they will typically be able to receive support through California’s worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in California operates off of a no-fault system. Benefits through worker’s compensation can help cover lost wages, medical bills and disability payments.
The company that manufactured a helicopter or its component parts could face liability for a helicopter crash. Companies have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe and must warn about the non-obvious dangers of their products. Under California law, anyone who designs, manufactures or sells a defective product can be held strictly liable for any injuries caused by the use of that product. Strict liability can be imposed for defects in manufacturing, design or marketing (i.e., inadequate warnings).
If a pilot was negligent and caused an accident, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees- insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, the injured person must not have been an employee for the same company as the pilot. In most circumstances, employees are barred from civil claims against their employer. Pilot error can manifest in a variety of different ways.
- Improper preflight inspection
- A lack of situational awareness
- Flying too low to the ground
- Colliding with objects such as power lines
- Flying in hazardous weather conditions
- Descending too quickly
Victims of helicopter accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including broken bones, spinal cord injuries and head trauma. Any person that is injured in a helicopter accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A helicopter accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Los Angeles County Helicopter Crash
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the brave workers that survived this Angeles National Forest helicopter crash. It’s a miracle that no one was killed. It is our sincere hope that everyone aboard the helicopter will be able to make a full recovery. Thanks to the hard work of this group, countless numbers of people have been saved. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.
Have you or someone that you love been injured in an Angeles National Forest helicopter crash? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
