All About Lawsuits™ » Accidents

Four Safety Recommendation Letters Concerning Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: AB09-HEMS Related posts: Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Pipeline Accident Report: Rupture of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline With Release and Ignition of Propane, Carmichael, Mississippi, November 1, 2007 Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, [...] Related posts:

Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: MAR-09/05 NTIS Number: PB2009-916405 Related posts: Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom Fire On Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, Queen of the West, Columbia River, near Rufus, Oregon, April 8, 2008 Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State [...] Related posts:

Aviation Accident Report: Loss of Control and Crash, Marlin Air, Cessna Citation, N550BP, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 4, 2007

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: AAR-09/06 Related posts: Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, District Heights, Maryland, September 27, 2008 Aircraft Accident Report Loss of Control on Approach, Colgan Air, Inc., Operating as Continental Connection Fight 3407 Bombardier DHC-8-400, N200WQ Clarence Center, New York February 12, 2009 Pipeline Accident [...] Related posts:

Pipeline Accident Report: Rupture of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline With Release and Ignition of Propane, Carmichael, Mississippi, November 1, 2007

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: PAR-09/01 NTIS Number: PB2009-916501 Related posts: Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom Fire On Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, Queen of the West, Columbia River, near [...] Related posts:

Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, District Heights, Maryland, September 27, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: AAR-09/07 NTIS Number: PB2009-910407 Related posts: Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom Fire On Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, Queen of the West, Columbia River, near [...] Related posts:

Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: HAR-09/02 NTIS Number: PB2009-916202 Related posts: Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom Fire On Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, Queen of the West, Columbia River, near Rufus, Oregon, April 8, 2008 Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to [...] Related posts:

Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom Fire On Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, Queen of the West, Columbia River, near Rufus, Oregon, April 8, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB Number: MAR-09/04 NTIS Number: PB2009-916404 Related posts: Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, District Heights, Maryland, September [...] Related posts:

Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Rollover on U.S. Highway 59, Near Victoria, Texas, January 2, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB/HWY-08-MH-011 Related posts: Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Railroad Accident Report: Collision of Metrolink Train 111 with Union Pacific Freight Train LOF65-12, Chatsworth, California, September 12, 2008 Marine Accident Report: Sinking of U.S. Fish Processing Vessel Alaska Ranger, Bering Sea, March 23, 2008 Marine Accident Summary Report: Engineroom [...] Related posts:

Railroad Accident Report: Collision of Metrolink Train 111 with Union Pacific Freight Train LOF65-12, Chatsworth, California, September 12, 2008

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB/RAR-10-01 Related posts: Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, District Heights, Maryland, September 27, 2008 Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Rollover on U.S. Highway 59, Near Victoria, Texas, January 2, 2008 Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Run-Off-The-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman Texas, August 8, 2008 Marine Accident Report: Sinking [...] Related posts:

Aircraft Accident Report Loss of Control on Approach, Colgan Air, Inc., Operating as Continental Connection Fight 3407 Bombardier DHC-8-400, N200WQ Clarence Center, New York February 12, 2009

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000

NTSB/AAR-10-01 Related posts: Aviation Accident Report: Loss of Control and Crash, Marlin Air, Cessna Citation, N550BP, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 4, 2007 Aircraft Accident Report: Crash During Approach to Landing of Maryland State Police, Aerospatiale SA365N1, N92MD, District Heights, Maryland, September 27, 2008 Highway Accident Report: Motorcoach Rollover on U.S. Highway 59, Near Victoria, Texas, January [...] Related posts:

Jones Act Case Spotlight – Smith vs Weeks Marine

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:12:54 +0000

The plaintiff-appellee, Clarence Smith (Mr. Smith), sustained multiple injuries while quartered on the barge of the defendant-appellant, Weeks Marine, Inc. (Weeks). In June of 2005, Mr. Smith was awakened after midnight by two other crew members who dragged him from his bunk and severely beat him. Mr. Smith filed a petition naming as defendants the two attackers and Weeks, the barge owner/employer. He subsequently amended his petition to add the employer/payroll company, apparently a subsidiary of Weeks, Atlantic Sounding Company, Inc. (Atlantic). Mr. Smith alleged Jones Act negligence and unseaworthiness of the vessel. He also claimed entitlement to maintenance and cure benefits as well as to damages and attorney fees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2VTbbq40EM

Mr. Smith, Weeks, and Atlantic filed cross motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted Mr. Smith a partial summary judgment on the issue of Weeks’ failure to provide a seaworthy vessel. The trial court denied the motions for summary judgment of Weeks and Atlantic which were based upon Jones Act negligence and seaworthiness. Weeks filed this appeal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Read the case review and affirmation from Leagle.com – SMITH vs WEEKS MARINE, INC.

SMITH v. WEEKS MARINE, INC.

CLARENCE SMITH,
v.
WEEKS MARINE, INC., ET AL.

No. 09-980.

Court of Appeals of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

February 3, 2010.

MARK GERARD ARTALL, Counsel for: Plaintiff/Appellee — Clarence Smith.

KEVIN REEVE DUCK, Duck Law Firm, Counsel for: Plaintiff/Appellee — Clarence Smith.

MATTHEW FRANCIS POPP, Waits, Emmett & Popp, L.L.C., Counsel for: Defendant/Appellant — Weeks Marine, Inc.

Court composed of THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge, SAUNDERS, and GENOVESE, Judges.

THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge.

FELA Case Spotlight – DOI vs Union Pacific Railroad Company

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:55:44 +0000

Eric Doi, an employee of the appellant Union Pacific Railroad Company, sued Union Pacific under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) after he suffered life-altering injuries (quadriplegia) in a rollover accident that occurred when Robert Torres, a fellow-employee, lost control of the company-owned truck he was driving. Respondent Doi and Torres were members of one of Union Pacific’s “zone gangs,” which traveled on an as needed basis to and worked at various locations in several states. The accident occurred in July, 2007, on a travel day, after Torres had picked up Doi at the Tucson airport and while they were en route to their hotel after stopping at a store to purchase food and “Pedialyte” (a liquid containing electrolytes) which they would eat and drink during the following work day in the Arizona desert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQ4aCAcsZg

The principal question is whether Doi and Torres were acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred. A jury decided they were and awarded Doi damages of $48,493,120, a sum that included $35.7 million in noneconomic damages for past and future physical pain and mental suffering. Union Pacific appeals, contending Doi and Torres were not acting within the scope of their employment as a matter of law. Alternatively, the company claims a new trial is necessary because of instructional error and an excessive award of noneconomic damages. Finally, Union Pacific contends that the judgment should be modified to provide that postjudgment interest accrues at the federal rate rather than the rate provided by state law. We affirm the judgment in all respects.

Read the case review and affirmation from Leagle.com – DOI vs UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY

DOI v. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY

ERIC DOI, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, Defendant and Appellant.

B214287.

Court of Appeals of California, Second Appellate District, Division Eight.

January 27, 2010.

Randolph Cregger & Chalfant and Joseph P. Mascovich; Union Pacific Railroad Company Law Department, Adrian L. Randolph and William H. Pohle, Jr., for Defendant and Appellant.

The Crow Law Firm, Donald S. Britt, John D. Gilbert and Janet Manrique for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Ban on Texting for Truck Drivers

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:25:26 +0000

The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers. This may help lower the number of truck accident incidents.

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvIXIVXBIXk

“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”

Read the full release here: Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers