Boat Capsizing and Drowning Accidents in Oceanside

Whether you are boating at Oceanside Harbor, or outside the surf line, or in another area of San Diego County, it is essential that you are aware of the risk factors for a boating accident and how to prevent a serious accident. According to the California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), the highest rates of boating accidents in the state occur in Southern California. San Diego County has the highest rate of boating accidents among all counties in the state, followed closely by Los Angeles County and Orange County. One of the most dangerous types of accidents that occur on California bodies of water and waterways is capsizing accidents. When these accidents happen, they can result in debilitating injuries and fatal drownings.

How do capsizing accidents happen, and who is liable? Our Carlsbad boating accident and drowning injury lawyers can tell you more about these devastating boating accidents, and we can help you to seek compensation if another party is liable.

What is a Capsize and How Does This Type of Accident Happen?

According to Boat U.S., a capsize accident can be defined as “a boat rolling over onto its side or completing over.” Instability is the primary reason that boats capsize because “boats are inherently stable until something causes them to be unstable,” and that is usually an unequal distribution of weight. There are four major reasons that capsizes occur:

● Too much weight on the vessel;
● Poorly distributed weight on the vessel;
● Leak on the vessel; and
● Inclement weather.

Most capsize accidents happen on smaller boats but capsizes can also happen on larger boats.

How Do Capsizing Accidents Lead to Drownings?

When a capsizing accident occurs, the primary source of injury and death is drowning, which can be prevented by wearing a life jacket until a rescue occurs. However, as Boat U.S. underscores, life jackets “have to be worn to work.” Indeed, if you are not wearing a life jacket at the time a boat capsizes, it will likely be difficult, if not impossible, to effectively get the life jacket on and properly strapped to protect you from a drowning injury.

As Boat U.S. explains, even when there are “modest waves” in the water on a relatively calm and sunny day, those waves can “make it very difficult to don a life jacket” if you are already in the water. When a capsizing accident results in a drowning, it is often because life jackets were not properly worn. While failing to wear a life jacket may result in the drowning victim being assigned some portion of fault for the severity of their injury, if the capsize accident resulted from another party’s negligence or fault, that party may be liable for the drowning incident.

Contact a Oceanside Drowning Injury Attorney for Help with Your Case

Were you injured in a boating accident in Southern California, or did you lose a loved one due to an accidental drowning? If the accident resulted from another party’s negligence, it is critical to find out more about holding that party accountable and seeking compensation for your losses. One of the experienced Oceanside drowning accident and personal injury lawyers at our firm can help you with your claim. Contact the North County Injury Lawyers today to learn more about the personal injury services we provide to clients in Oceanside and throughout Southern California.