After the sailing tragedy that claimed the lives of five people off the coast of San Francisco, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Sailing, the survivor and many others are calling for the consideration of greater California boating safety measures. A series of powerful waves thrashed the vessel earlier this month as it rounded a rugged island chain during the Full Crew Farallones Race off San Francisco, sweeping crew members overboard into the frigid Pacific and tossing the boat onto a rocky shoal.

The U.S. Coast Guard has ordered yacht racers and other boaters to "stand down" as a result of this fatal accident, as well as a previous accident two weeks ago that resulted in significant personal injuries. The Coast Guard has stopped issuing permits for ocean racing pending results of the boat accident report, stating, "This temporary safety stand-down from offshore racing will allow the Coast Guard and the offshore racing community to further our common safety goals." "I don't think it's necessarily a bad think for everybody to take a breath and see what can be done. We want to be sure our races are as safe as possible."

One of the survivors, Bryon Chong of Tiburon, agrees, stating that the five crew mates who died might have been saved had they worn safety harnesses. In a letter posted to the website Sailing Anarchy, Chong writes that he and the seven other sailors aboard the 38-foot (11.6-meter) Low Speed Chase should have been tethered to the boat.

"Hopefully, this incident will spur a wider discussion on sailboat safety," Chong concludes.

Boat accidents can arise in a variety of manners - from recreational boating, to slips and falls on cruise ships, to serious accidents involving boat races. Different boating laws and safety measure apply to each type of circumstance. It's important to consult with an experienced California boating lawyer who has in-depth knowledge of the particular involved in your circumstance.

For more information about boating safety or if you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact the Sacramento boating lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

The Marin Independent Journal reports that a 71-year-old San Bruno man was killed in a fatal pedestrian bicycle collision last week at the intersection of Castro and Market Streets in San Francisco. The bicyclist who ran into the pedestrian was returning from a Marin Headlands group ride. Online messages suggest that the man may have been speeding down the hill just before the bike accident occurred.

If you have been injured as the result of a bike accident or pedestrian accident, or you have lost a loved one in a fatal collision, it is important to consult with an experienced Sacramento bike accident lawyer to protect your rights and determine your next steps. Although in some instances accident simply happen and no one is at fault, where another person's careless and reckless actions cause you harm, it may be possible to recover compensation.

Here, the investigation into the accident continues. Reports indicate that the San Bruno man was in the crosswalk when the accident occurred, and both him and the cyclist were taken to the hospital with injuries. The cyclist was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. Newspaper accounts provide that police are looking into whether the bicyclist ran a red light and will be meeting with the District Attorney's office to determine the next steps. Further, the pedestrian's official cause of death has not yet been determined.

While bicyclists are often the victims of tragic accidents, especially when cars and trucks fail to share the road, it is important to remember that bicyclists can also cause serious accidents if they fail to pay attention to the rules of the road or ride recklessly or carelessly.

For more information about bicycle accidents or pedestrian accidents, or if you have been suffered serious injuries in any type of transportation accident, contact the top Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.