Families of Kobe Helicopter Crash Victims Sue for Wrongful Death

Earlier this year the world was shocked by the news that basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, were killed in a tragic helicopter accident in Calabasas. The tragedy hit particularly hard for Southern Californians, as Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons.

The crash occurred on the morning of January 26, 2020–Bryant was traveling to a basketball game with his daughter and eight others. These passengers and the pilot were also killed in the crash. The exact cause of the crash is still being investigated, though foggy weather conditions are thought to have contributed to the accident.  Now, the surviving family members of these victims are bringing a Los Angeles wrongful death suit against the owner of the helicopter, Island Express Helicopters.

TMZ reported that the family members, including Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, are claiming that Island Express Helicopters “negligently and carelessly breached its duty to own, lease, manage, maintain, control, entrust, charter and operate the helicopter in question in a reasonable manner.” As a result of this negligence by Island Express Helicopters, the victims were killed and the families have suffered immensely. Island Express believes the crash was an accident and not due to their maintenance of the helicopter or the actions of their pilot.

In a wrongful death case, the family members bringing the claim must prove that the negligence or intentional acts of another person or party caused the death of their loved one. If the investigation in this case shows that Island Express did not maintain or operate the helicopter properly, or their employee, the pilot, caused the accident, they will be liable to the family members for the damages they have suffered due to the sudden loss of their loved ones.

These family members are bringing the wrongful death claim to recover damages for the “physical, emotional, mental, and other [anguish]” they have suffered due to their losses. They also seek damages for “what their loved ones could have earned themselves if they had survived the crash and continued to work.” This is referred to as lost wages and lost earning capacity. These and other damages are available in a wrongful death suit under California law. If the investigation reveals that Island Express is responsible for the crash, we certainly hope these families get the justice they deserve.

An incident like this helicopter crash, that results in the death of a loved one, has a terrible and lasting impact on the family members left behind. If you have lost a loved one due to the fault of another person or party, you can be compensated for your losses. If this has happened to you, you should speak with the skilled Calabasas wrongful death attorneys at Walch Law who can help with every aspect of your case from the investigation to bringing the claim, to helping you get the recovery you deserve.

The attorneys at Walch Law have helped clients who have lost loved ones in all types of wrongful death incidents including car, motorcycle, truck, and other accidents. We understand how difficult this situation can be, and that compensation can be helpful as you face the financial and emotional burdens your loss brings. We can discuss your situation in a FREE case consultation–call us today at 866-465-8792.