F-18 Plane Crash in San Diego Claims Three Lives
Three people are dead and one other is presumed dead after a U.S. Military jet crashed around noon on December 8, 2008 in University City, San Diego.
According to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, a mother, her young child and the child’s grandmother died at 4416 Cather Avenue when the disabled F/A-18D Hornet crashed into the house in what is described as a “fiery explosion.”
A second child was missing and presumed dead before rescue personnel suspended their search at nightfall. None of the victims have been identified yet, but the newspaper describes the victims as a family of Korean immigrants.
My heart goes out to this beautiful family that perished as a result of this nightmarish aviation accident. I offer my deepest condolences to the father who was away from home at work when the accident occurred. Please keep this grieving man in your prayers.
The jet’s pilot, a student pilot at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, had apparently ejected safely and was listed in good condition at the San Diego Naval Medical Center.
He was en route from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln that was operating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. He lost one engine over the ocean and the other failed over the neighborhood. The crash occurred less than a quarter mile from University City High School.
The Marine Corps will be conducting the investigation and I trust the Federal Aviation Administration will also be involved. The liability issues are rather straight-forward here. The aircraft in this case was under the exclusive possession and control of the U.S. Marine Corps. There was no conduct on the part of the injured victims that contributed to the accident. So in this case, there is a strong presumption that the Marine Corps is responsible for the damages and fatal injuries caused.
The victims’ family would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced California personal injury attorney who will monitor any investigation into the causes of this crash. The results of the investigation would help determine whether the crash occurred as a result of the failure or malfunction of a system component or defective part. That will raise product liability issues on the part of the company that designed and/or manufactured the aircraft, system, or part, in addition to the responsibility of the Marine Corps for the damages.
This incident occurred while a member of the Marine Corps was acting in the course of his duties when flying the plane. A claim for such an incident should be filed against the United States within two years. The claim must be accompanied by relevant supporting information such as medical reports and an itemized list of medical or funeral expenses, lost wages and other economic damages claimed. The claim must also set out specific damage amounts sought by the family or victims. This amount in such a claim will serve as the ceiling or limit for the family’s or victims’ ultimate recovery from the U.S. government. That is exactly why the attorney representing the wrongful death or personal injury claimants in this case must make as full and as complete an evaluation of the damages claim as possible before presenting the claim. The government will have six months to act upon the claim and if the claim is rejected, the claimants will have six months from that date to file a lawsuit.
The victims’ family should consult a very experienced and tenacious California wrongful death law firm to represent their interests. Family members should not give any statements to anyone or talk to investigators or adjusters, sign any documents or give any releases until they are represented by a skilled personal injury attorney. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation, a comprehensive analysis and will charge no fees or costs until the case is concluded. We would be pleased to provide a free comprehensive consultation to this family or other victims of this tragic crash.
Comments
My eyes teared up when I saw on TV the grieving surviving father, Dong Yun Yoon blame no one, and say that others have probably suffered worse, and asked for their help in coping with his tremendous loss. What a wonderful, dear man!
All I can advise is to cling closely to your family and friends. Take all the time you need to seclude yourself among those you love. Only time can wash away the sting of your wounds. My best thoughts are going your way.
PS: What a heartless blog I read -- advising him right away to find a lawyer and sue. That won't heal, and isn't a comfort at this time.
Posted by: LVanL | December 10, 2008 12:54 PM
i was amazed at what a non-condemning attitude the father of the family that was killed had after this crash
Posted by: P Roberts | December 10, 2008 12:57 PM
In response to LvanL’s comment, “What a heartless blog I read–advising him right away to find a lawyer and sue. That won’t heal, and isn’t a comfort at this time,” consider the following:
The father, husband and son-in-law of those killed in this accident is probably in total shock. He needs to know what to do and what not to do to recover from this event, not just live through it.
He needs advisors around him. Spiritual advisors like Rev. Kevin Lee, emotional consolers, financial counselors and yes, legal advisors. That is what is needed to find “comfort”. Part of the shock is not knowing what to do. Consulting advisors of various disciplines helps to find answers, guidance and relief from the millions of thoughts and fears racing through his mind.
I have represented hundreds of grieving people who have lost family members as to not only their legal rights but the resources they need to do what is necessary now and in the future to recover from their tragedy emotionally, spiritually and economically. These people need real guidance.
I disagree that “Only time can wash away the sting of your wounds.”
Passage of time alone will only scab over the wounds, hiding the poison inside. Covered over with time alone, the wounds will fester, become infected and get worse. Such wounds need to be cleaned, properly dressed and looked after by professionals.
Where are the resources going to come from to obtain the emotional counseling, bury the deceased and restore the physical things that have been lost. I assume that Rev. Kevin Lee or others like him are taking care of the spiritual needs.
My blog is intended as an informational source and guide. It is designed to provide a cursory analysis of actual events in order to educate the blog’s readers as to their rights and options.
Many times people fail to act timely, fail to do the things necessary to recover from a tragedy or protect their rights out of a lack of knowledge. This blog is designed to educate people as to their rights and what to do to heal and protect themselves. It is intended to help accident victims and their families get on a more equal footing with insurance companies, big business and governmental agencies.
Anyone who thinks that insurance companies, big business or governmental agencies will do the right thing by the people they have harmed if those people are not aware of their rights or represented by skilled attorneys, in most cases you are sadly mistaken.
My blog article did advise seeking legal counsel. I did not advise suing.
Heartless would be not offering the advise and skill that I have to the victim of a horrific accident.
Posted by: John Bisnar | December 10, 2008 3:25 PM
...this blog is obviously an advertisement for legal representation only...sounds very self serving...
Posted by: William | December 14, 2008 9:21 AM