Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Kenneth Wilson, the father of a Boca Raton 11-year-old who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in May 2009, is suing his ex-wife for their daughter’s Palm Beach County wrongful death. Amber Sue and her friend, 12-year-old Caitlin Brondolo, died after Loreta Wilson allegedly left her Ford Explorer running in the garage. In 2009, Loreta pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter over the tragic accident. Brondolo’s parents also reportedly plan to sue her.

Per Loreta's arrest affidavit, she parked the SUV in the garage and left the keys in the ignition. When Amber told her that the engine was still running, Wilson said it was just the vehicle’s fan. Hours later, Wilson contacted 911.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning fatalities. It can also leave a victim with brain damage. Because carbon monoxide has no smell, color, or taste, it can be hard to detect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that CO poisoning results in 15,000 ER visits and almost 500 deaths annually. Some signs that a person may be suffering from poisoning:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Mental confusion

Premise owners can be held liable or Palm Beach personal injury if a carbon monoxide leak occurs on a property and causes serious injury or death. This is why there should be working CO detectors on a property. Other liable parties in a Florida carbon monoxide poisoning case might include the owner of a faulty appliance, the manufacturer of a detector that malfunctioned, or a service professional whose negligence allowed or caused the leak.

Dad sues ex-wife over daughter's death, WPTV5, May 17, 2011

Deputies: Girls Likely Died From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, WPBF, May 31, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Caitlin Brondolo Foundation

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, emedicinehealth

More Blog Posts:
Drowning is the Leading Cause of Florida Child Deaths for Kids Under 5, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 28, 2010

Family Files Broward County Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 80-Year-Old’s Fatal Fall from Drawbridge, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 8, 2009

Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Town Center Mall in Boca Raton for Murders of Mother and Daughter Names More Defendants, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, January 2, 2009

Two photographers died on Tuesday when the helicopter that they were riding in for work fell into the Gulf of Mexico close to Casey Key. Thomas Newby, 50, was Powerboat Magazine’s chief photographer. Mark Copeland, 44, was an Emmy-winning video photographer. The two men had been photographing a model riding a speeding Cigar Boat on the Gulf.

The pilot of the helicopter, 44-year-old Mark A. Watters, was critically injured in the accident. According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter's skids may have grazed the water, resulting in it overturning and falling into the Gulf just one mile from shore.

Boats operated by the Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, the Coast Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the sheriff’s helicopter all searched the area for survivors.

All three victims were taken by boat to the Crow’s Nest restaurant on Venice Island. Copeland and Newby died by the time the arrived at the island.

Watters was flown to Bayfront Medical Center. He has 20 years experience working as a military helicopter pilot and is known for his ability to fly at high speeds at low altitudes for racing photography purposes.

The model and the boat’s driver were not injured in the helicopter accident, but debris from the helicopter struck the boat and caused damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the accident to determine whether it was caused by human error or mechanical failure, such as component part failure, engine failure, and loss of the main rotor control.

Statistically, up to 85% of helicopter crashes are caused by human-related factors. At least 10% of helicopter accidents can be attributed to material failures.

Aviation accidents frequently lead to serious injury or wrongful death. While worker’s compensation benefits prevents an employee that is injured or killed on the job from suing an employer, the injury victim or the survivors of the deceased may have grounds to sue any third liability parties, such as the manufacturer of the airplane or helicopter, the aviation company, or third-party contractor, for personal injury or wrongful death.

Some common causes of helicopter crashes:

• Unqualified or inexperienced pilot
• Pilot negligence or error
• Mechanical failure
• Overloaded helicopter
• Defective or malfunctioning rotor gear box, turbine head, intermediate gear box, and other parts
• Breach of warranty

Helicopter crash in Gulf kills 2, HeraldTribune.com, September 12, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Helicopter Crashes During Magazine Photo Shoot, Powerboat Magazine

Aviation, NTSB

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