San Diego Boating Injury Lawyers
Boating Injuries
Southern California, and specifically the San Diego area, has the favorable weather and ideal location for recreational boating. Whether you are heading out on your boat alone for some peace and relaxation or the whole family is out for a weekend of fun, boating and water sports are a popular, enjoyable, and even rewarding activity. And with over 45 boating facilities throughout the bodies of water in the San Diego area, including San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, Agua Hediondia Lagoon, Lower Otay Lake, Lake Dixon, El Capitan Lake, and, of course, the Pacific Ocean, Southern Californians travel from all over to spend some quality time on the water. As fun as recreational boating can be, however, it is also dangerous, which is why it is regulated by the California Department of Boating and Waterways (CDBW).
Common Boating Accident Causes
Boating accidents are a reality and are especially frequent during the spring and summer months when recreational boating and water sports are at an all-time high. They are caused by the same factors as other vehicle accidents, but, being on the water, without brakes, makes boating accidents much more dangerous than accidents involving land-based vehicles. Ultimately, negligence is the cause for most boating accidents in San Diego and throughout Southern California. Some examples of boating negligence include, but are not limited to:
- Operating a vessel at unsafe speeds;
- Boating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs;
- Not following safety regulations regarding life-vests or other safety procedures; and
- Inexperienced operation of a vessel.
Violating boating laws and negligently operating a boat or other watercraft can result in devastating injuries. A boat can crash into another boat, it can collide with a personal watercraft, it can crash into swimmers, it can run aground, and it can even sink. When negligence is the cause of such accidents, injured victims may pursue legal action to recover financial compensation for their losses.
Boating Accident Injuries are Serious
Any boating or personal watercraft accident can result in drowning, but there are a number of other injures that a person may suffer that could potentially cause permanent changes to his or her life. Even near-drowning incidents can result in brain damage and alter a victim’s ability to function normally. Other injuries can include broken bones, lacerations, traumatic brain injury, and even loss of limb should the injury accident involve exposing an unprotected person to an active propeller. Such injuries can require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitative care. In addition, a boating accident victim may not be able to work during his or her recovery, or ever again, depending on the severity of the injuries, creating not only physical and emotional hardships relating to the injury, but financial hardships as well.
Helping You Obtain the Compensation You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been injured in a San Diego boating accident that was caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to hold the at-fault party responsible for the injuries you’ve suffered. The skilled San Diego boating accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group are committed to helping injured victims obtain the compensation they need to recover from their losses. We will not let insurance companies or any other party avoid paying you the compensation you are entitled to. To learn more about your legal rights and options, contact us today at (888) 233-5020.
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