Serving in the military is, by nature, a dangerous profession for men and women in Texas or elsewhere around the world. Military personnel undergo rigorous training to protect their countries and to safeguard themselves. They rely on equipment, arsenals and various types of transportation to execute their duties. Despite the training and tools the military has at its disposal, the likelihood of death or serious injury is always looming. A fatal accident that occurred last year due to defective products sold to the military is at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit recently filed in another state.
In April 2017, a 22-year-old Army specialist was on a training mission in a Black Hawk helicopter along with the pilot and a warrant officer. Roughly 20 minutes into the mission, the aircraft began vibrating and the crew informed ground control that the tail rotor was malfunctioning. Before they were able to land, the gearbox for the tail rotor broke away and caused the helicopter to crash, according to court documents.
The specialist reportedly died at the scene of the crash. The pilot and the warrant officer suffered serious injuries. The wrongful death and products liability lawsuit was filed against Sikorsky Aircraft, the manufacturer of the tail rotor. The suit claims that the company knowingly sold a part to the armed forces that could be defective and dangerous. The lawsuit sees monetary damages as well as loss of consortium for the widow and pilot’s wife.
If someone has died from use of a company’s defective products, survivors of the victim may choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A Texas personal injury lawyer can help families determine the best manner in which to proceed with the legal process. A knowledgeable attorney will work diligently to seek a favorable award in a lawsuit that can provide funds to cover funeral expenses as well as for all other documented items of monetary damages.