Recreation Has Its Personal Injury Risks for Huntington Beach Residents and Vacationers

Huntington Beach, fondly called Surf City USA, is famous for its beaches and surfing. However, personal injury lawyers urge the city's 202,250 residents and 11 million annual visitors to be aware of beach-related accidents.

Having fun in the sun has its costs. According to the Drowning Prevention Foundation, Orange County, the county in which Huntington Beach is located, has the third highest drowning or near-drowning rate in California. This is likely due to the strong rip currents that are involved in 80% of the region's 40,000 yearly rescues.

Although Huntington Beach lifeguards are ranked among the best in the nation, personal injury accidents happen every day. An 11-year-old girl died after a boating accident at Huntington Beach on July 15, 2009. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the young girl was participating in a Junior Lifeguard training exercise when the marine safety boat's propeller cut her hip and leg severely, resulting in her death.

The Huntington Beach community has raised concerns surrounding the death of this young girl and questioned the safety of all beach-goers even in the hands of those trained to keep swimmers safe. Though no personal injury claim was filed in this particular case, awareness has been raised through this tragic accident.

Sewage and Oil Spills Stir Up Personal Health Concerns for Beach-Goers

Aside from recreation-related accidents, Huntington Beach is one of the West Coast's most emergency-prone settled areas. Tsunami warnings, storm surges, tornadoes and waterspouts are dangerous weather conditions affecting the thousands of residents who live on the coast, exposing them to sewage spills and polluted-water when conditions are rough.

Stanford Medical Magazine reports that beach closings and health advisories have increased over the last decade. Epidemiologists have found such infections from contaminated water so widespread that they coined the acronym RWI to denote Recreational Water Illnesses. The population at risk for injury or illness: beach-goers.

It is the wet weather combined with pollution that creates these unhealthy beaches. In 1999 many miles of coastal Huntington Beach were closed after tests showed high levels of fecal bacteria. Exposure to such contaminants is a health hazard that can result in death and personal injury.

Efforts have been made to clean-up beaches. In 2006 Huntington Beach scored an A on an annual water quality report card during dry weather, but continued to score a C or lower during the rainy season exposing the continuous dangers of the coastal region.

Bicycle and Car Related Fatalities Disturb Huntington Beach's Sunny Streets

Off the shore, beach and work traffic plagues the congested streets of Huntington Beach. Over 3500 people travel in cars to work for at least 40 minutes at a time everyday. With so many cars on the streets it's no surprise numbers of fatal accidents and pedestrians involved in fatal accidents rose in 2008. For Huntington Beach residents these statistics are cause for concern.

Bicyclers are not exempt from the dangers of personal injury on the road. August 2007 saw the death of a 14-year-old boy near Indianapolis Avenue in Huntington Beach. While riding his bike, the boy was hit by a truck and died on impact. The driver of the truck proceeded to hit a tree and sustained serious injuries.

According to news reports, the driver of the truck was found to have been texting while driving as well as being under the influence of Vicodin and Xanax. He has been charged one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated and one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, and will serve up to 10 years in state prison.

The prosecutor who settled this case said "the community will never be the same". The behavior of the convicted man has exposed the need for strict laws against texting while driving and harsh penalties for driving under the influence. Intoxicated driving is a concern of Orange County Highway Patrol and personal injury law firms who are working to lower the number of fatalities and personal injuries and to defend victims.

The family of the boy have filed a Huntington Beach wrongful death claim against the city in hopes of promoting the safety of students traveling to and from school. The city of Huntington Beach has responded by installing lighted crosswalks and speed indicators.

Land or Sea: Huntington Beach Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You

If you have suffered personal injuries in Huntington Beach due to beach accidents, bicycle accidents, car accidents, contaminated waters, or anything else, it is to your benefit to consult a Huntington Beach personal injury law firm.

Your accident attorney will explain the legal issues of your personal injury case and fight for damages owed to you. While there are many personal injury and accident lawyers claiming to have your best interests at heart, it is helpful to keep in mind that the best law firms will always offer a free consultation on your case.

Law firms with strong records of successfully handling personal injury lawsuits meantime may also offer a no-fee guarantee meaning that you don't have to pay them unless they win your case.

If you are the victim of a personal injury, you owe it to yourself to get a FREE copy of the book, "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim" ($14.99 value). If you need help immediately, call one of our expert personal injury lawyers now at 1-800-561-4887 and we will schedule a consultation the same day or by the next business day at the latest.

BISNAR | CHASE Huntington Beach, California Office

Huntington Beach Legal Resources

For the best in client care and legal representation, please see Huntington Beach attorneys. Our Huntington Beach car accident lawyers specialize in Huntington Beach car accidents. For nearby areas, please see Orange County car accident lawyer and California car accident lawyer as well as California personal injury lawyer.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.