California is known for it’s spectacular pacific coastline and the plethora of water-based activities available as a benefit of it. One of the most popular of these is the sport of scuba diving. Many boat operators run dive trips off the coast and one of these recent trips ended in a fire that killed most of the people on board. The widow of one of the men who perished has brought a wrongful death claim against the company that owned the boat.
The boat was on an overnight scuba trip. Reports have indicated that everyone on board was asleep at the time the fire broke out. This runs counter to accepted Coast Guard safety precautions of having someone on watch at all times. The owners of the boat claim that the boat was properly equipped and manned and had been properly maintained to ensure its seaworthiness.
According to the Coast Guard, the boat had passed its most recent safety checks. The lawsuit claims that the electrical system was unsafe and was potentially the cause of the fire. The fire resulted in the deaths of all 33 passengers on board. One crew member, who was asleep below deck, also perished. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Water sports are a wonderful way to explore nature, unwind and recharge in California. That is what many of the people on the dive trip were undoubtedly there for. No one embarks on an adventure like that expecting it to be their last. The loved ones left behind may be left with a feeling of shock and helplessness as to what comes next. Nothing can turn back the clock and undo the tragedy but a successfully litigated wrongful death claim may provide compensation for medical costs, final costs and other verifiable losses.