“Plane Crash in Hollywood (Maryland) Not For Show”

The news article “Plane Crash in Hollywood, Maryland Was Caused by Mechanical Problems”, posted August 16, was about the plane crash accident in ollywood, Maryland where two people were injured. However, the pilot’s mother, one of the two passengers, did not survive the accident.

According to the article, the Piper PA 22-160 had just taken off the airfield when it encountered problems and had to make an emergency landing. During the landing, the plane crashed and was engulfed in flames. All three injured passengers, including the pilot, were taken to the hospital.

Fortunately, the plane did not hit any building and sadly, the lone fatality in the accident was the pilot’s mother. The pilot said his plane has serious mechanical problems.

Aviation accident lawyers handle cases like this and other related accidents involving large carriers and airlines, helicopters, private jets, corporate planes, chartered flights, and pleasure aircrafts.

Plane accident lawyers pointed out that the common causes of airplane crashes are:

• Faulty equipment
• Mechanical failures
• Pilot error
• Third party error and negligence
• Federal aviation rule violations
• Negligence by air traffic controllers

In accident cases involving aircraft, the airline company, the pilot, the manufacturer of the plane, maintenance operators, plane designers and the federal government may be held liable for them.

Aviation accidents often result in serious injuries and death hence if you are the victim’s kin of a plane crash, you can file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim against persons or entities responsible for the death of your loved one.

“A New Design for Safety Features In Vehicles”

I just read the news article, “Car Crashes: Fatigue, Slippery Roads, And Inexperience More Critical than Thought”, posted in November 2 which I find very interesting. The article was based on a study conducted in Sweden by researchers of the International Journal of Vehicle Safety.

The study revealed that other causes of car accidents must be considered in designing the safety features of new cars. While drunk driving and excessive speeds are often blamed for most car crashes, the study also pointed out that other causes of car accidents can be just as important as factors in designing the new car.

To arrive at this conclusion, the research group studied the cases of 38 car accidents in Gothenburg. Based on the findings of the group, the causes of car crashes may be grouped into four scenarios:

• First scenario – the driver drifts off road into oncoming traffic due to fatigue, sleepiness or distraction.
• Second scenario – the driver loses control of vehicle because of poor traction caused by slippery road
• Third scenario – the driver loses control in a bend due to excessive speed
• Fourth scenario – the driver panics when vehicle gets out of control and fails to steer out of trouble

These findings are correct and I support the idea that the new design for safety features in vehicles must take in consideration the new information about car crashes. I think car manufacturers should look into this and find ways to compensate for the causes enumerated. Then perhaps in the future, incidents of car crashes will decrease when the new safety features are finally put in place.

Birds and Other Odd Creatures Of Car Collisions

I just read a news article “Steven Gerrard In Car Collision”, about a car accident involving Steven Gerrard, the captain of Liverpool’s football team, and a 10-year old boy. The incident happened October 2 along Grantham Road in Birkdale, Merseyside in London. The report said Gerrard was driving along the place when the boy suddenly ran out and hit the side of the car. Although the boy did not suffer any serious injury but was nevertheless hospitalized, Gerrard was reportedly shocked at the incident.

According to the captain’s spokesman and I quote here: “Steven was distressed over the incident and he has been in contact with the boy’s family to check his progress and plans to visit him in the next couple of days.”

I find this article a bit odd, at the same time appalling, not because it happened to a celebrity, or someone famous and popular; but because it was not the usual car versus car accident collision. In Gerrard’s case, it was the boy who hit car.

I can understand Gerrard’s feeling in this incident. I had the same experience some months ago while driving home from vacation. A bird flew straight to my car, hit the windshield but did not smash it. I knew the poor thing died because of the collision. Until now, I could still see a faint blood mark on my car’s windshield.

But in a case like this, whose fault is it? Was it Gerrard’s or the 10-year old boy? Who has the right to claim damages in odd car accidents like this?