California Boating Accident Lawyer - - Boat Sinkings While Underway - Boat Sinkings, Liability and Determining Causation  I I Finding out why a particular vessel sank is the first step in determining legal liability. That is, who was at fault and whether legal damages may be recovered in a boat sinking incident.  For more info call 619-234-2833 I I California Boating Accident Lawyer, Boating Accident Lawyer California, Boating Accident California Lawyer, California Boating Accident Lawyers, Boating Accident Lawyers California, Boating Accident California Lawyers, California Boating Accident Attorney, Boating Accident Attorney California, Boating Accident California Attorney, California Boating Accident Attorneys, Boating Accident Attorneys California, Boating Accident California Attorneys.

California Boating Accident Lawyer - - Boat Sinkings While Underway - Boat Sinkings, Liability and Determining Causation (Part 2)

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Why Trust The Turley Law Firm

* Since 1987, The Turley Law Firm has worked tirelessly to help their clients recover. This includes recovering from their Work injury and/or personal injury physically, emotionally and monetarily
* Their firm is respected throughout California's legal community and courts
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* Bill is asked to lecture to other lawyers. Bill teaches other lawyers how to practice law.
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The Biggest Misconception Injured Maritime Claimants Have of The Legal System

There's a huge misconception about Maritime Law that needs to be dispelled right now for you to understand why you'll need a lawyer to fight for your benefits if you have been injured on a vessel:

Just because you have a legitimate injury and cannot work, it does not mean that you will receive Maritime compensation which you are entitled. That's because compensation is paid by the insurance company, which has an arsenal of lawyers who are paid to deny your claim. Do I really need a Maritime Lawyer?

While you aren't required to have an attorney to file for a Maritime case, it is in your best interest to do so. If you are about to file for Maritime benefits, if your claim has been denied don't wait to call us. Please call us, so we can help you or your family member receive a just settlement for your vessel injuries.

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Maritime Claims

If you have been injured due to a vessel injury, , whether on a ski boat, cruise ship or a harbor cruise vessel, you want an experienced attorney who will help you get vital medical treatment and full and fair compensation for all your injuries. At the Tuley Law Firm, in San Diego, lawyers from our firm have represented men and women from San Diego since 1987. Contact us so we can begin to help you.

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Research Your Maritime Accident Case

This website provides information for persons involved in boating accidents and mishaps. We provide vital information so you can make informed decisions regarding your boating accident.


We have the most comprehensive maritime accident website in California.


Click Here for Part 1 of this article on Boat Sinkings.



Causes of Boat Sinkings While Underway

One thing has rang true over my 20 + years of representing people in boating accidents: the sea is incredibly unforgiving to the unprepared. This is especially true when a boat sinks. In almost all instances, a vessel sinking could have and should have been prevented. This article discusses common reasons why boats, in fact, sink. Finding out why a particular vessel sank is the first step in determining legal liability. That is, who was at fault and whether legal damages may be recovered in a boat sinking incident.


Common Causes of Boat Sinkings While Underway

When a vessel sinks while underway, sometimes it is difficult to determine causation because the vessel is not available for inspection because it is lost. However, other times it is possible to determine causation even though the vessel is lost.


The following are common reasons while boats sink while underway:

1. Improper vessel design: Of course, the smaller the boat, the more prone it is to sinking. Improperly designed cockpits are the most common reason powerboats sink.

2. Hull damage due to collisions or striking an object: When a hull's integrity is seriously breached, boats sink.

3. Taking water over the gunwales: Taking water over the gunwales or the transom is a major cause of vessels sinking.

4. Bilge pumps failing: This occurs in power and sail boats. Improper head installation, sink drains, inadequate bilge pumps and battery systems all can cause vessels to sink. Errors in plumbing design, insufficient pumping, insufficient battery capacity, failed hull fittings and failed hoses can also cause boats to sink.

5. Over weighting: A 100 gallon fuel tank holds 700 lbs. of fuel. The fuel can easily change the trim of a 24' boat by at least two inches. When the tank is toward the stern the change may be more. Improper loading with too many passengers or gear also causes vessels to sink.

6. Defective scuppers: Scuppers allow water from decks to drain off. While their purpose is to drain water to the outside, oftentimes they allow water to drain INTO the vessel, thereby flooding the vessel. Cockpit scuppers may allow water to sink the boat. Many experts recommend closing them up and relying on the bilge pumps.

7. Defective plastic hatches: Oftentimes, not only are these not watertight, but they can allow large amounts of water to leak through the allegedly gasket-sealed cover.

8. Open transoms: Most open transom boats are sinkings waiting to happen. With an open transom, a vessel is at huge risk if it loses power. Under these circumstances, the lack of a transom becomes very dangerous. Most boats that are swamped are outboard powered, with engine cut-outs which are a few inches above the water.

9. Improper wiring: Many boats are designed such that shutting off the main power - by the main breaker or battery switches, shuts off the bilge pumps.

10. Outboard motor wells: Motor wells allow water to leak and possibly sink the vessel. Openings for control cables which are not sealed properly allow water to leak.

11. Bellow leaks: The bellows or boots that run between the engine (the "I" in inboard) and the partially submerged outdrive (the "O") degrade or crack and allow water to leak into the vessel.

12. Not inserting a drain plug: Forgetting to put in the drain plug is more common than you might expect.


Disclaimer:

The is a discussion of potential causes of boat sinkings. . It is not legal advice. Any resemblance to actual cases and/or vessels is accidental. This discussion is simplistic in order to achieve clarity. Each boating accident case is different and has separate difficulties and/or challenges.


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Led by founder and principal attorney Bill Turley, our lawyers and professional support staff are fully committed to being accessible and accountable to you. We are in your service and are ready to do all we can to quickly move you through the system and on to rebuilding your life.


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Maritime injury cases are our main focus

The Turley Law Firm focuses on maritime injury cases. Not all firms who will take your case have the experience and focus that we do. If you speak with another law firm, you should find out how many maritime law cases they have actually handled. You will probably be a tad surprised when you find out. You don't want your lawyer to use your case as "on the job training." You need an expert on maritime law. Don't let another attorney use your case to learn maritime law.


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The Turley Law Firm Attorneys accept cases in the following locations in California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Riverside,  El Cajon, Vista, Stockton, Chula Vista, Fremont, Irvine, Modesto, Glendale, San Bernardino, Huntington Beach, Oxnard, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Oceanside, Rancho Cucamonga, Santa Clarita, Garden Grove, Ontario, Pomona, Santa Rosa, Salinas, Palmdale, Hayward, Pasadena, Torrance, Corona, Lancaster, Catalina Island, Bodega Bay, Bethel Island, Half Moon Bay, Eureka, Avalon,  Escondido, Alameda, Orange, Elk Grove, Sunnyvale, Fullerton, Thousand Oaks, El Monte, Simi Valley, Concord, Visalia, Vallejo, Ventura, Ventura Harbor, Marina del Ray, Morro Bay, Inglewood, Santa Clara, Pacific Ocean,  Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach , Port of San Pedro, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Channel, San Clemente Island,  San Joaquin River, San Francisco Harbor, San Francisco Bay, Stockton, Port of Stockton, Port of Sacramento, Port San Luis, California Delta, Lake Tahoe, Colorado River, Port of San Diego, Sausalito, Santa Cruz, San Pedro,  San Diego Harbor, Stockton, Oceanside Harbor, Catalina Island, Dan Point, Newport Harbor, Ventura Harbor, Port Hueneme, Vallejo, Crescent City, Yuba City, Wilmington, and the Channel Islands, and the navigable waterways of the the United States and the navigable waters of California.

The Turley Law Firm handles all type of boat and ship accidents and we are boat accident attorneys, including Jones Act attorneys, unseaworthiness attorneys, boat negligence attorneys, maintenance and cure attorneys,  cruise ship attorneys, recreational boating attorneys, boat accident attorneys, ship accident attorney, boat collision attorney, ship collision attorney, barge accident attorney, barge attorney, derrick attonrey, floating work platform attorney,  PWC accident attorney, personal watercraft accident attorney, sailboat accident attorney, water ski accident attorney, sailing accident attorney,  tanker attorney, offshore attorney,  and river accident attorneys.  Jones Act AttorneyJones Act Lawyer, Boating Accident Attorney, Boating Accident Lawyer, LHWCA Lawyer, LHWCA Attorney, Longshore Act Attorney, Longshore Act Lawyer.





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The San Diego, California personal injury law firm of The Turley Law Firm serves clients across  Southern California area. We give you straight talk about your legal options. We have handled cases from San Diego to Imperial Beach to Oceanside to Escondido to El Cajon, everywhere in between, such as: Alpine, Camp Pendleton, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, CoronadoDel Mar, Eastlake, Encinitas, La Mesa, La Costa, La Jolla, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Mission Bay, NAS San Diego, National City, Naval Station San Diego, North Island, North County, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Port of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, San Diego Harbor, Santee, Solana Beach, South Bay, Spring Valley, Vista.

We handle cases across California, including: Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, Imperial County, Los Angeles County, and Ventura County, Colorado River, Mexico, Cabo, Pacific Ocean and all the Oceans and waterways across California and the World.


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