Tree Tragedy Strikes Burlingame
Another Northern Californian has lost his life to a poorly maintained Burlingame tree. Twenty-three-year-old Kahlil Gay was struck on Friday as he walked on the grounds of his workplace, Color, a lab that administers Covid testing at city-run sites throughout San Francisco. He was a new employee and had only been in the position for three days at the time of the tragic accident. Gay graduated from California State University East Bay in December and was excited to begin his career as a physics researcher.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. on February 26th. The day was windy, and the gusts caused a tree with allegedly rotting roots to crash down onto Gay. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to his family, Gay was a peaceful and kind young man, a devout Muslim with a strong work ethic who always knew that he wanted to work in engineering or physics. His family is understandably devastated by the tragic loss of his young and promising life.
According to an arborist who reviewed a photograph of the fallen tree, it appeared to be a Brazilian Peppertree that likely had issues with root rot. The owner of the property on which Color is located is said to be working with authorities to determine why the tree fell.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below is from a CBS news report.
Northern California Tree Tragedies
This terrible incident closely follows the fatal tree accident that killed a mother who was playing with her young daughter in a Davis, California park on February 23rd. The wind was a factor in that incident as well.
Last September, a Burlingame tree fell and killed one person and injured two others at Washington Park.
Burlingame Trees
Burlingame has a Tree City USA designation. While the beautiful canopy of leaves is a desirable quality according to residents of the area, proper maintenance is crucial to prevent tree accidents. The Burlingame Tree Crew, under the Burlingame’s Park Division, is responsible for the maintenance of more than 20,000 City trees.
Friday’s incident occurred on private property, and the property owner is the party responsible for the inspection and maintenance of trees on the site. Landowners have a duty to maintain their property, including the trees, so that no dangerous conditions exist. There is a duty of care to make sure that people invited onto your land are not subject to injuries caused by a hazardous condition. Trees need to be regularly inspected for weaknesses and diseases that could make them more prone to falling.
Bay Area Tree Accidents – Experienced Legal Help
Claims involving falling trees and tree limbs are complex and challenging. The injuries are usually severe, and often, such as in this heartbreaking case, fatal. The property owner will likely fight liability (legal responsibility) for the incident. There are a few arguments that a property owner can make to evade responsibility. An experienced and skilled Bay Area tree accident lawyer will be able to counter those arguments. Even in the case of a severe weather event, there should have been some foreseeability and the owner should have taken measures to protect the safety of those invited to their property.
San Francisco Tree Injury Lawyer
We are saddened to have to report on another Bay Area tree accident tragedy. Thank you for reading. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a San Francisco Tree Accident Lawyer. The injury lawyers at my firm are familiar with these types of cases. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a falling tree, please do not hesitate to call my office for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. Dial (415) 805-7284, or if you are from outside of the area code, use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.
To see some of our past case results, visit our settlements and verdicts page.
Reviews from many of our past clients can be found at the sites linked below:
Photo Attribution: MMB
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