San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog

The Daily Point of Orange County reported last Thursday, March 12 that the California State Senate is reviewing a new bill that would allow California and San Diego authorities to treat boating under the influence in our San Diego waters just like they would treat driving under the influence on our San Diego roads. If passed, the bill would allow San Diego and California authorities to suspend boaters' licenses if caught boating under the influence. You can learn more in this Daily Pilot story.

The California BUI bill was introduced by California State Senator John Benoit that represents Senate District 37, just north of San Diego County. Senator Benoit's bill will give the DMV the power to treat a BUI just as they would treat a DUI. Previously, the DMV had the power to do just that but last year, a court of appeals verdict deemed that they did not have the power to do so.

San Diego harbor officials and officials in other California counties would like to see the bill passed. They believe that even though boating is a recreational activity, there are still many responsibilities that a boater has. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways there were 55 boating accident fatalities in 2007, half of which happened in Southern California. Also, about 20 of the 55 victims were intoxicated.

If you or a fellow boater are ever injured or killed in a San Diego boating accident, please call the San Diego boat accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group at 619-233-5020 or contact them online here.

It's that time of year again. Spring is coming and the weather is starting to get warmer. That means more time at the ocean, on the water, or in Mission Bay enjoying San Diego's boating experience. We are truly blessed in San Diego to enjoy some of the best outdoor boating recreational areas in which to spend a day on a motorboat, driving a jet-ski, or sailing a sailboat.

Unfortunately, many disregard their safety and the safety of others while trying to enjoy a day boating on the water. As a result, San Diego experiences a large number of fatal boating accidents. Most of these accidents cold have been avoided.

To help prevent careless accidents, try following these tips:

1. Take a boating safety course

2. Ensure that everyone on the boat is seated securely while the boat is moving

3. Check the weather and ocean reports before going boating

4. If you operating the boat, please do not consume alcohol. Drinking while boating is just as dangerous as drinking while driving.

Saturday morning, Lauren Taguchi, 17, of Northridge was killed when her jet-ski collided with another personal watercraft on the Colorado River in Riverside County.

Ms. Taguchi died after her jet-ski struck the other personal water craft head on. The other operator, Ricky Scott Ledford of Las Vegas, helped Ms. Taguchi to a boat ramp where first responders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She was taken to Palo Verde Hospital where she later died of her injuries.

Jet-ski accidents are unfortunately fairly common and typically very serious. California has yet to require operators to obtain licenses to operate jet-skis and, although it is unknown whether inexperience was a factor in this case, the number one cause of jet-ski accidents is operator error due to inexperience.

Our prayers go out to Ms. Taguchi's family and we hope that the California legislature looks to this case as yet another example of why jet-ski operating licensing is necessary.

San Diego is a boaters and waterman's paradise. From open ocean sailing to jet-skiing and water-skiing in Mission Bay, San Diegans take to the water when the weather gets warmer.

Not surprisingly then that boating accidents increase at this time of year. Also not surprising is that San Diego is home to two of the most dangerous bodies of water in California for boating accidents (San Diego Harbor and Mission Bay). In a five-year study performed by the California Department of Boating and Waterways, San Diego Harbor and Mission Bay were the third and fourth most dangerous "Coastal Water" area and were both within the top 10 most dangerous bodies of water overall within the State.

In addition, the Department also publishes an annual Boating Safety Report which includes accident data. What we know from these reports is that the vast majority of the accidents involve PWCs (jet-skis, etc.) and open-cockpit motorboats (water-ski boats, etc.). In addition, the majority those involved in these accidents is under 30 years of age. Last the accidents are almost always caused by three factors: excessive speed, operator inattentiveness, and operator inexperience.

If you're going to go out and enjoy San Diego's waters, be sure that you and everyone on your vessel is safe. Look out for other vessels, particularly those operated by young, inexperienced operators and give them wide berth. Avoid areas where these types of operators congregate (De Anza Cove, etc.). Last, make sure that you have insurance (both health and liability) in place to address any type of emergency.

Safe boating.