Alabama readers may have heard the news that NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight others perished in a helicopter crash in late January. Now, the families of four passengers killed in the accident are suing the companies that owned and operated the doomed aircraft.

On April 19, the family of an Orange Coast College baseball coach, his wife and their daughter, and the family of a youth basketball coach filed wrongful death lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court. The complaints claim that negligence and carelessness on the part Island Express Helicopters Inc. and Island Express Holding Corp. led to the deadly crash, which occurred in foggy weather on Jan. 26.

In February, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, also filed a wrongful death claim against both Island Express companies, which ceased flying operations days after the accident. She additionally named the helicopter’s late pilot as a defendant in the suit, claiming that he should have aborted the flight due to poor weather conditions. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that engine failure did not play a role in the crash. The New York Times also reported that Island Express pilots were not certified to fly in the fog.

Families who lose loved ones in accidents caused by other parties may be entitled to compensation for their losses. A personal injury attorney may review a family’s case and recommend a course of legal action. One possible remedy might be to file a wrongful death claim against the individuals or entities responsible for the victim’s death. This might lead to a financial settlement that covers the family’s funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, emotional distress, loss of income and more.

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