Huntington Beach is well-known for its beaches and surfing. However, personal injury lawyers warn the city's 202,250 residents and 11 million annual visitors to be aware of the beach-related accidents that occur during recreational activities.
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.
Huntington Beach lifeguards are among the best in the country, but personal injury accidents continue to happen every day. In July of 2009 an 11 year-old girl died after a boating accident at Huntington Beach. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the young girl was participating in a Junior Lifeguard training exercise when the safety boat's propeller cut her hip and leg severely. She died from her wounds in the nearby hospital.
The death of this young girl has raised concern in the Huntington Beach community. Though no personal injury claim was filed in this particular case, awareness has been raised and residents are questioning the safety of all beach-goers even in the hands of those trained to keep swimmers safe.
Dirty Waters Raise Health Concerns
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 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.
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. In more recent years, efforts have been made to clean-up beaches.
Yet it is pollution combined with wet weather that produces this unhealthy situation. 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.
Rough Roads: Transportation Accidents Open Residents' Eyes
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 is no surprise numbers of fatal accidents rose in 2008. For Huntington Beach residents, these statistics are cause for concern.
Unfortunately, bicyclers are not exempt from the dangers of personal injury on the road either. 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 with numerous felonies and will serve up to 10 years in state prison.
"The community will never be the same," said the prosecutor who settled the case. 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 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 responded by installing lighted crosswalks and speed indicators and educating students of safety precautions.
On land and at sea, Huntington Beach has its fair share of danger -- enough to keep Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys on their toes. Practicing responsible behavior, whether at the beach or on the road, and being knowledgeable about ones surroundings are paramount to avoiding tragedies.
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