Robert E. Cartwright Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

As a practicing personal injury attorney for nearly 30 years and as an avid boater for over 50 years, it still amazes me that boating mishaps occurred like the one that took place near Point Reyes this past week.  Four people lost their lives and it could have been prevented had the boaters been wearing life jackets.  

The four fishermen who died this week all had one thing in common: no life vests.  I know how easy it is to think that you are safe while in a boat on a calm lake, but the rules are a little different on the open seas.  Conditions on the ocean can change in a split second and extra caution must be exercised in those situations.

The bodies of two of the fishermen were pulled from the water shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 about an hour after their 24-foot Bayliner boat overturned in 6- to 8-foot waves, authorities said.  The two other people where found a day later.  Although 6 to 8 foot waves may seem small, there are other factors which could have caused the death, including skipper error. Fishermen Identified in Sf Chronicle

Point Reyes National Seashore spokesman John Dell'Osso said the boat that capsized was a sport fishing boat out of Bodega Bay.  The Coast Guard said the location where it capsized points to what may have caused it to flip over.

“Anytime you're operating on the surfline is dangerous for boats,” said Lusk.

The surfline is where waves swell and break. The Coast Guard said the motor boat was caught in six-to-eight foot surf. While the men had friends on another boat nearby, the two groups lost sight of each other before the accident.

Parts of the capsized boat have washed up along more than a mile of shoreline at 10-Mile Beach, also known as The Great Beach, Dell'Osso said.  Channel 2 KTVU News Capsize

The Marin County coroner's office will conduct an autopsy Monday to determine the exact cause of death for all the victims and whether drugs and alcohol were a factor.

The victims were among a group of fishermen from the Central Valley who have been coming to a campground near Bodega Bay for close to 20 years. Friends said the boat that capsized belonged to Jack Taylor but was steered by Ronnie Fuentes, whom they described as an experienced skipper.  Point Reyes Boating Disaster

The entire incident needs to be studied further but the fact that the victims were in a dangerous spot, in good size waves and in a risky location should have induced the boat occupants to wear life jackets.  The fact that they did not have the vests on most likely resulted in the tragedy that ended four lives and has caused untold misery to their families for years to come.

If you have been hurt in a boating accident and wish to speak to an attorney about your injuries, log on to Water Injury Law website or all me at 415-433-0444.

Robert E. Cartwright