Looks like US Airways is breathing a sigh of relief…

Many of you have heard about the recent death of TV pitchman Billy Mays. The Hillsborough County, Florida Medical Examiner has preliminarily stated that May’s death was caused by a heart attack and not a result of a strike to his head.

Last Saturday, June 27, 2009, Mays was a passenger on a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Tampa Florida which had a rough landing, including a collapse of the front landing gear. After the flight, Mays reported on a TV interview that he was struck in the head by falling luggage from the overhead compartment. Sometime over night, May’s wife found him dead.

Initially, it was thought that Mays died from complications of the blow to the head. If it is found that May was killed by the head injury, May’s family may have a wrongful death case against US Airways. In order to sustain a wrongful death case against US Airways, May’s family would have to prove that US Airways was negligent in the flying and landing of the jet. If negligence is proven and the cause of death was the strike to May’s head, May’s family could have a substantial wrongful death case. Because Mays so successful, he probably earned a high income. This loss of income to the May’s family could be recovered in a wrongful death case.

When a person received a strike or blow to the head, he or she could have received a traumatic brain injury. The CDC reports that 1.4 million United States citizens sustain traumatic brain injuries each year and about 50,000 people die from their injuries. The symptoms of traumatic brain injury are not easily recognizable. Traumatic brain injury symptoms include loss of concentration, memory, and thinking problems, loss of sensations, language problem, and emotional problems.

Another devastating effect of a head injury including a traumatic brain injury is a subdural hematoma. This is when blood gathers around the brain after a strike to the head. The pressure from this gathering of blood can cause sudden death. Therefore, it is extremely important that a person who has been struck in the head receive medical monitoring and attention in the emergency room of a hospital.

Our law firm represents Pennsylvania and New Jersey individuals who have been struck in the head and have suffered brain damage and other brain injuries. Many times these brain injuries are sustained during a car accident when the head strikes the windshield.