NTSB was Unable to Investigate Several Fatal Crashes During Government Shutdown
NTSB was Unable to Investigate Several Fatal Crashes During Government Shutdown

The government shutdown of 2019 lasted 35 days—making it the longest one in history. During the shutdown, many government departments had to stop operations or work with very limited resources. One of those departments was the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the administrative body that investigates major transportation accidents in the U.S.

Many of the NTSB’s current investigations were put on hold during the shutdown, as 367 of the agency’s 397 employees were furloughed. Unfortunately, 22 investigations were never started, including 15 aviations accidents that resulted in 21 fatalities. Also included in those 22 investigations were three marine accidents, two railroad accidents and two highway accidents.

According to the agency, evidence related to these incidents may have been lost at this point. Moreover, the investigations will be difficult because investigators were not able to visit the accident scenes in a timely fashion.

One of the accidents that was not investigated during the shutdown was a semi truck crash on I-75 in Florida that killed seven people—including five children.

The NTSB has begun investigating the 22 accidents, as well as continuing investigations for thousands of cases that were put on hold during the shutdown. It is still unclear how much information they will be able to acquire now that so much time has passed since the accidents occurred.

“Shutting down the government has a profound effect on so many important agencies that exist to protect citizens and improve safety. It’s very unfortunate that the NTSB has lost so much time and evidence regarding these serious accidents,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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