More lawsuits filed over Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

Arizona basketball fans might be interested to learn that two more wrongful death lawsuits have been filed over the January helicopter crash that killed retired Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven other people. The complaints were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 19.

In February, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, filed a suit against Island Express Holding Corp. and Island Express Helicopters Inc., the companies that owned and operated the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that smashed into a hillside during foggy weather on Jan. 26. She also named the helicopter’s pilot in the complaint, claiming he should have canceled the flight due to the poor visibility conditions.

Now, the families of four other passengers on the helicopter have also filed wrongful death lawsuits over the accident. The suits accuse Island Express Holding and Island Express Helicopters of causing the crash through their careless and negligent actions. However, unlike Bryant’s complaint, they don’t name the helicopter’s pilot as a co-defendant. A February report by the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that engine failure did not cause the helicopter to crash. A recent New York Times investigation also determined that Island Express pilots did not have the advanced certification required to fly in foggy conditions.

Families who lose loved ones in a helicopter accident might benefit from contacting an attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the details of the case, legal counsel may suggest filing a wrongful death claim against the responsible individual or entity. This might lead to a settlement that compensates the family for funeral and burial costs, loss of income, loss of companionship, emotional distress, and other losses.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
JD’s Profile