The Legal History of Disasters

The technological progress of mankind has always had the inevitable corollary of disaster. Occasionally, and spectacularly, new technology has resulted in death and injury to the participants. Nature, in its malevolent form, also has played a large part in affecting the lives of humans, sometimes in tandem with technological innovation, and sometimes alone. This is the story of the legal side of disasters, of the coroner inquests, government investigations, criminal trials, and civil cases that followed, under American and British law. How the victims or their survivors sought recourse for injuries or deaths when things did not go as intended. How society made changes so these disasters would never happen again. Presenting events from 1850 to 1999, this book examines the people affected and the legal issues that arose, from the many kinds of disasters.

More than 50 different types of disasters are presented. These range from the age of sailing ships all the way through to the age of space ships. From railroads to race cars, from mines in the ground to balloons in the sky. Some disasters are well-known, others forgotten. These varied types include transportation disasters involving railroads, ships, cars, airplanes, airships, helicopters, and balloons. Mass attendance disasters involving theaters, circuses, factories, nightclubs, and stadiums. Corporate disasters like poisoning, chemical dumping, asbestos, air pollution, nuclear meltdown, and silicosis. Mixed natural and industrial disasters involving offshore platforms, dams, oil wells, landslides, and mines. Natural disasters from hurricanes, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and icebergs. And many more, including skydiving, pandemics, and lightning.

This book is for those who enjoy legal history, fans of various kinds of disasters, those looking for a different telling of tales often told, lawyers needing a break, and those who enjoy unearthing obscure players and events during this time in U.S. and U.K. history. Those and others should find something which will appeal to and entertain them in reading this new book.