Stockton Residents Risk Personal Injury in the Water

The city of Stockton, CA is the county seat for San Joaquin County and has one of two California inland seaports. Stockton's 288,000 inhabitants have access to some of the thousands of waterways and rivers that make up the California Delta and enjoy recreational water sports. Though boating is a specific favorite, any Stockton personal injury lawyer can tell you that safety precautions must be taken while boating, especially during holidays when boating accidents are most common.

Stockton's waterways see many drownings and personal injuries due to boating accidents each year. A 37-year-old man was fishing in the San Joaquin Delta with a friend when reports were received that a fishing boat sank and a man was heard "struggling in the water". Authorities set out and found the bodies of both men later the same day.

The boating accident is being investigated, as it is possible that there was a flaw in the design of their boat that made it sink or malfunction.

Another man had gone missing after a boating accident at Turner Cut and was found dead after a fatal boat collision. The accident occurred over Labor Day Weekend in 2008, so officials were concerned that alcohol played a factor in the accident. Traffic on the waterways is not uncommon, and boat collisions are a serious danger, namely if people are committing "DUI" on the water. The body of the victim showed he was not wearing a proper personal floating device, and the event sparked concern to provide a higher amount of patrolling by boating officials over holiday weekends.

Stockton boating safety officials and boating accident lawfirms urge people who take to the water to follow these safety precautions: be aware of weather; bring a portable radio, flashlight, and first aid kit; tell someone where you are going and how long you will be away; check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before setting off; know how to swim; wear a life jacket; and do not consume alcohol while on the water.

Further Water Dangers Include Pollution

Aside from recreational accidents, Stockton's waterways have been plagued by dangerous levels of pollution. In December of 2009, federal regulators and the Port of Stockton decided to reduce the level of polluted storm water that dumps into the Stockton Deep Water Channel since the EPA found deficiencies in the port nearly two years prior.

The agreement to ameliorate the pollution situation comes better late than never as Stockton streets and roads were not properly swept, increasing the chance that dangerous substances would flow into the Delta during the rainy season. This is a costly health hazard, costing about $200,000 to improve through monitoring and testing.

Other findings of the inspection include fertilizer residue in storm drains, soil from construction sites washing away, and tenants producing a large amount of storm water runoff. Since residents go in the water, it is imperative that the water be kept clean. Water pollution contaminants can have serious health effects like the spreading of typhoid and waterborne intestinal parasites such as amoebiases, giardiases, ascariasis, and hookworm.

Stockton Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

If you or someone you know has sustained personal injuries or sickness from a boating or watercraft accident, or have been subject to water contaminants, or anything else, a knowledgeable Stockton personal injury attorney can help you clean up your case.

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.

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