EagleMed Helicopter Crash in Oklahoma Kills Patient the Third Fatal Crash in a Three Year Period
Written by: Daun
June 18th, 2013
Posted in 
Oklahoma City, OK- The Arkansas-based company EagleMed helicopter services is facing new scrutiny following an accident last week that killed a transport patient and injured three crew members; the third deadly crash since 2010.
The most recent fatal crash occurred Tuesday, June 11, just outside of Talihani when an EagleMed helicopter crashed shortly after taking off. The helicopter, which was taking a patient to Tulsa, went down in the parking lot of the Choctaw National Health Care Center.
The patient onboard died and the flight nurse was critically injured. The pilot and a medic suffered minor injuries, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Last week’s crash came just a few months after another fatal helicopter crash in Oklahoma City. That crashed occurred around 5:45 a.m. in the parking lot of a nursing home near Wylie Airport; the helicopter had just taken off from a local hosptial. Two people onboard the helicopter, a pilot and a nurse were killed and a bystander who rushed to the scene to offer assistance sustained minor injuries. There were no patients onboard at the time.
Another MedEagle crashed occurred in July 2010. Again, a helicopter was taking off from a hospital in near Kingfisher, Oklahoma when it crashed into a field killing the pilot and a nurse and seriously injuring a paramedic. There were no patients onboard when the helicopter crashed.
Eileen Frazer, executive director of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Wichita-based EagleMed LLC recently received their accreditation. During the accreditation process includes evaluating the maintenance records of aircraft, crews and pilots.
Frazer said that Tuesday’s accident has not affected MedEagle’s accreditation and the company will be allowed to continue operations.
Following Tuesday’s crash, both the FAA and the NTSB launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and will investigate to determine the cause of the crash and see if there are common elements between the three fatal crashes.
“It takes a while before we determine the cause of an accident,” NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said. “We don’t look at the company, we look at issues. If there is something that reveals itself, we’ll look at it.”
It could take months for the FAA and NTSB to determine the exact cause of the crash, whether it was caused by a mechanical failure or pilot error.
The NTSB did not official attribute the cause of the 2010 crash to the pilot, a report from Vertical magazine indicated that the pilot was demonstrating a flight maneuver he used in a coyote hunt and had unreported pain killers in his system at the time of the crash.
In another high-profile helicopter crash, which occurred last August in Missouri, the NTSB concluded that the pilot caused the accident. According to their investigation, the pilot had sent 20 texts and received 60 prior to plunging into a field. They also concluded the pilot skipped key safety checks and was fatigued.
The causes of these deadly accidents are not only important because they can help avoid future fatal crashes and help the families of those killed or personal injury victims figure out who should be held accountable.
LA Metro Driver Killed in “Horrific” Collision with Tow Truck
Written by: Daun
Los Angeles, CA- Police suspect that flat-bed tow truck ran a red light prior to colliding with a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the driver was the only person on the bus when it was struck by a flat-bed tow truck traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact was so violent that the bus clipped off a fire hydrant, sending a rush of water into the air and flooding the intersection.
The tow truck was headed southbound on Broadway around 5:15 a.m. when it ran the red light at Fifth Street first slamming into the bus and then crashing into the front of a 7 Eleven store.
NBC Los Angeles reported that the bus driver 47 year-old Olivia Gamboa was ejected from the bus and was lying face down in the water gushing from the hydrant until two witnesses went to her aid. She was rushed to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where she later died.
“A citizen estimated the tow truck was driving about 60 miles an hour,” LAPD Sgt. Steve Dailey said. “The speed limit for here is about 30 miles an hour.”
The 30 year-old man driving the tow truck was also rushed to the hospital after sustaining severe head trauma, authorities are not optimistic that he will survive.
An employee working at the 7 Eleven suffered minor injuries and was sent to the hospital but was released a little while later. The storefront was completely destroyed.
“Metro is saddened to learn of the passing of one of our family members this morning as a result of a horrific accident in downtown Los Angeles. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bus operator’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Metro’s Senior Media Relations Officer Paul Gonzales said in a statement, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Metro has 189 bus lines and 18,500 stops, it carries approximately 1.6 million people every day but few of their drivers are killed. This particular accident was caused by another’s driver’s negligence.
Speeding, especially in an urban area can be deadly as this accident demonstrates. The NHTSA estimates that speeding is responsible for an estimated 31 percent of all fatal accidents. Data from the NHTSA shows that in 2011, there were 536 fatalities in Los Angeles County alone.
The faster a driver is traveling the higher the chance they will kill or seriously injure other motorists. Speeding reduces a person’s ability to steer around curves or objects, requires a longer distance for stopping.
When a speeding driver injures or kills another, those victims are correct to assume that a negligent party should pay their medical costs, repairs for their damage property and monetary damages for their pain and suffering, but they can’t do it alone.
Injury or wrongful death victims should retain a Los Angeles accident attorney for expert representation. With their assistance, victims will recover a fair and just settlement for their injuries.
Hands-Free Doesn’t Mean Accident Free New Study Says
Written by: Daun
Salt Lake City, UT- Drivers know that distractions can cause accidents, and they also know that these days the biggest behind-the-wheel distractions are cell phones. Since people like to stay connected auto manufactures came up with a solution that allows us to stay connected without looking down at our cell phones, but a recent new study from the University of Utah shows that hands-free doesn’t necessarily mean accident free.
Those onboard voice-activated devices that allow drivers to navigate, check their emails and send a text message are becoming standard on many vehicles, but to AAA this technology represents a “looming public safety” crisis.
Researchers at the University of Utah conducted their study by evaluating brain waves and reaction times of drivers who were engaging with their on-board devices. They also rated the level of mental distraction different risky behaviors drivers engage in while driving.
What they found was that using those speech-to-text devices was more distracting than using a cell hands-free or hand-held phone cell.
On the scale, activities like reading a book or listening to the radio or audio book received a 1.75 and 1.21 rating respectively. Cell phones, as expected rated higher, with hand-held device garnering a 2.45 and a hands-free phone receiving a 2.71. Even though on-board devices have been touted as less-distracting, using these devises to send or receive a text or email earned a 3.07 on the rating scale, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“The data suggest that a rush to voice-based interactions in the vehicle may have unintended consequences that adversely affect traffic safety,” the study said.
The researchers found that as mental distractions increased a drivers reaction time slows and their brain functions were compromised. With more mental engagement drivers scanned the roads less and missed visual clues that could help them avoid a hazardous situation.
“There’s a sort of arms race (among auto manufacturers) over what’s going into the car these days,” David Strayer, University of Utah’s cognitive distraction expert who also co-authored the study said.
“Any function that can be put in the car is being put in the car without a full examination of whether it should go in the car,” Strayer added.
The AAA is urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to included cognitive distractions in their driver distraction guidelines since the use of these on-board devices will increase fivefold by 2018, but the stopped short of suggesting any law changes. The NTSB however has asked automakers to limit on-board devices to voice to voice activation.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers was however critical of the study, stating, “The AAA study focuses only on the cognitive aspects of using a device, and ignores the visual and manual aspects of hand-held versus integrated hands-free systems.” The statement added, “There are many other academic studies under way, and road safety will be enhanced by letting the complete body of research drive policy recommendations.”
Regardless of what is distracting a driver, the behavior is risky and is one of the leading causes of traffic collisions nationwide. In Utah, approximately 12 percent of traffic collisions were caused by a distracted driver.
What Can a Los Angeles Accident Attorney Do For Me?
Written by: Daun
Los Angeles, CA- Everyday in Los Angeles, thousands upon thousands of people take to the highways and side streets. It’s a bustling metropolitan area with a population that tops 3 million so traffic accidents and other personal injuries are not only inevitable they are somewhat routine.
Even though accidents, be they traffic collisions, workplace injuries or otherwise, are fairly routine, the pain of the injured should never be diminished or taken lightly. In too many accidents people lose their lives or suffer grievous injuries.
An accidental injury, such as a spine or brain injury can lead to permanent disabilities, years of recovery and lifelong suffering. Even a broken bone can leave a person with ongoing pain, disfigurement, a limp, decreased mobility of use of the injured limb.
Los Angeles residents have two options for recovering any costs they incur because of another’s negligence; they can file a formal lawsuit or settle their case directly with the negligent entity’s insurance company. Regardless of the route they choose, an accident attorney can be instrumental in obtaining the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled too.
Most accident victims can expect a call from an insurer very soon after they have been injured, sometimes before they are cleared to leave the hospital or their doctor’s care. Before you speak to any insurance company, the injured person or one of their family members must consult with an injury attorney.
The red tape and mountains of documents that accompany any accidental injury case can be bothersome; filing the necessary paperwork is among the many services an attorney can offer. The legal language on these forms can be confusing and mistakes can jeopardize a case. Leaving an attorney with the task of completing these forms will allow the victim to focus on their recovery or give a family space to grieve a lost loved one.
Since they specialize in accidental injuries or wrongful deaths, Los Angeles accident attorneys are uniquely qualified to negotiate with an insurance company. They are aware of the medical costs you can anticipate and know what your injuries, pain and suffering are truly worth and won’t allow you to be pressured into taking less than you deserve.
If you decide that a settlement is the correct route for you, an attorney won’t allow you to be shortchanged. A legal expert knows if your case is strong or valid enough to seek more compensation than an insurer is willing to offer.
If you have ruled out an informal settlement and are prepared to go to court, your counsel has numerous resources at their disposal so you have the strongest possible case. Those resources include medical experts, an investigative team and knowledge of previous legal precedents, all of which can bolster your case.
All these things are very important reasons to retain a Los Angeles accident attorney, but the thing that may matter most to the victim is the amount of money they will receive. On average, injury victims who hire an attorney receive two to three times more in settlement funds than victims who don’t have legal representation.
Vermont Woman Critical Following Traffic Accident, Is an Attorney Necessary?
Written by: Daun
Quechee, VT- Some roads present hazards to motorists regardless of how attentive and safe a driver they are, but when a driving mistake in combination with a dangerous road can have dire consequences and result in serious injuries.
On Friday, June 7th, a West Lebanon woman was seriously injured after colliding with a vehicle on a Route 4, which has been the scene of a number of injurious and fatal accidents over the past few months.
The Valley News reported that a 72 year –woman driving an eastbound 1997 Toyota hit an oncoming Subaru driven by 43 year-old woman from White River Junction on a part of Route 4 where the road curves. The impact of the crash caused both women to become trapped in their vehicles and required hydraulic tools to extricate them.
The Toyota spun around and came to rest perpendicular to the guardrail, hanging over the center lines.
Both were taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The 43 year-old woman was released a later that day, but the 72 year-old woman was listed in critical condition.
Police were still investigating the cause of the accident, but suspect that the Toyota driver crossed the center line.
That particular area of Route 4 which the Valley News describes as “narrow and winding” was the scene of three fatal accidents since March.
Although rumble strips are being installed to cut down on accidents on the roadway, local residents are concerned about the dangers of the road and with increased summer traffic
Safety features can help reduce the number of accidents, but that prevent drivers from engaging in behaviors that can cause deadly accident.
One resident, Lynn Newton explained to the Valley News why the roadway is so dangerous, “It’s scary. There’s only one road going east-west this way and major large trucks travel it, and it’s a winding road, and you just have to be very, very alert, because the pavement is uneven. Going around a turn, it will pull you left or right.”
Newton also expressed concern that too many drivers on the narrow roadway are using their cell phones behind the wheel.
When a motorist causes an accident that result in injury or death, the victims have the right to pursue that driver for a settlement that covers their medical expenses, property damage and accident-related expenses. Accident victims who are fortunate enough to survive often face a long road to recovery and costly medical bills. Even a minor accident can result in thousands of dollars in bills.
Many accident victims question if they need an attorney, while it’s no absolutely necessary, an attorney with knowledge of the personal injury laws can benefit the victim and increase their settlement amounts.
Vermont, unlike other states, does not put a cap on the amount of settlement that a victim can receive so with the right Vermont personal injury attorney. The National Insurance Institute states that accident victims or wrongful death victims who enlist the assistance of a legal expert receives settlement two to three times more than victims who don’t have representation.
