Was Pitchman Billy Mays Killed by MTBI; Second Celebrity Head Injury Death After Natasha Richardson?
Did Billy Mays, the 50-year-old celebrity pitchman, die of a minor traumatic brain injury (MTBI) following a "hard" landing by a US Airways flight between Philadelphia and Tampa, Florida?
That is the question buzzing around the internet right now.
Mays had been flying home to Tampa after filming an OxiClean commercial in Philadelphia when the front tire of his US Airways flight exploded following the hard landing. Initially no serious injuries were reported and Mays posted on his Twitter feed about the hard landing saying it was par for the course with US Airways. After the landing, objects fell from the ceiling, although it is unclear what those objects were, and hit Mays in the head.
After landing, Mays told a local news crew about the hit to his head:
"All of a sudden as we hit," Mays said. "You know it was just the hardest hit. All the top...you know the things from the ceiling started dropping and it hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."
Mays was found dead at his home the next day by his wife, Deborah. Reportedly, Mays did not feel well when he went to bed later that night. No other major health problems have been disclosed.
Mays is the second celebrity to have a sudden death following a closed head injury and possible minor traumatic brain injury. In March, Natasha Richardson was killed following a very benign fall at a ski resort when she hit her head after falling on a "bunny slope". Nationally recognized Seattle personal injury lawyer Chris Davis of the Davis Law Group commented extensively on his website, at his Seattle Accident Attorney Blog, and during a CNN interview about Richardson's death.
In Chris Davis's CNN interview, the Seattle accident lawyer raised questions about the ski resort's liability for Richardson's death due to delay of treatment for her head injury. As Davis points out, when one suffers a minor traumatic brain injury, one of the first things the victim loses is the ability to make sound judgments about their health and well-being.
It is quite common for victims to shrug off hard hits to the head that do not draw blood. However, as the science of the brain improves and our knowledge grows, it is precisely these deceptively minor traumatic events that can do the most harm since victims do not seek medical attention so they do not sound like "whiners".
Could Mays have died in the same way and could US Airways bear some liability for his death for not immediately providing emergency personnel to examine him? Undoubtedly, we will learn more in the coming days and may have these questions answered.
Ross Jurewitz is a San Diego personal injury attorney representing people injured in car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle wrecks, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian injuries including those suffering from minor traumatic brain injuries. For free information and to set up a consultation with Mr. Jurewitz, please contact the Jurewitz Law Group online or call 619-233-5020.
