Asiana Offers $10,000 Payout to Survivors of Crash
中国版本 Chinese Version Asiana Airlines has offered $10,000 to each of the surviving passengers of the July 6 crash of flight 214 in San Francisco. Asiana spokeswoman Lee Hyomin said the proposed payout is not a settlement and accepting the money does not prevent passengers from suing the airline.
“There could be situations when the money is urgently needed and this could reduce inconveniences.”
According to an article in the English version of the Korean Yonhap News Agency, Asiana has proposed eight conditions for passengers to receive the compensation, which include an article apparently making it difficult for passengers to make lawsuits, raising concerns of more legal disputes down the road.
Former Marine pilot and aviation attorney Justin Green of Kreindler and Kreindler, LLP, characterized the $10,ooo offer as significantly lower than usual advances following a crash.
“Airlines almost always provide advances following aviation crashes. In recent years the typical advance has been $25,000 and Asiana should consider increasing the advance. Any victim who is considering accepting the advance should have an experienced lawyer review the release that Asiana insists on signing because the release may contain provisions that will hurt the victim’s claim.”
Kreindler and Kreindler, LLP represents the families for each of the three passengers that were killed in the crash. Middle school students Wang Linjia, Ye Mengyuan and Liu Yipeng were killed as a result of the tragic July 6 crash. According to Asiana spokeswoman Lee, Asiana has already made payments to those families. However, she did not disclose the amount.
