A jet ski accident can be a dangerous affair. It can cause minor and major injuries, have psychological effects and even lead to death. This is why you should contact a jet ski accident lawyer if you are involved in an accident while spending time on the water.
When jet ski accidents happen due to negligence, the responsible party should be held responsible.
In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about jet ski accidents. If you are recently injured in a watercraft incident, read to the end. You can also reach out to our jet ski accident lawyer professionals for any questions or worries you may have.
We understand that personal watercraft accidents can have an impact and our jet ski accident lawyers are here to help with your jet ski accident claim matter.
If you need help as you navigate your personal injury claims, our legal team at Alpizar Law is here for you.
Jet Ski Accidents
Riding a jet ski, sea-doo, wave runner or any other form of personal watercraft can be an exhilarating experience. Unfortunately, it can be very dangerous.
Many personal watercraft operators are reckless. Some even operate their watercraft after they consume alcohol. Others get distracted while having fun on the water and put others at risk.
Some of the injuries that can occur from a jet ski accident are:
- Abdominal Injuries
- Bone Fractures
- Brain Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Trauma
- Internal Organ Damage
- Lacerations
- Orifice Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Vaginal Injuries
Is A Jet Ski The Same As A Personal Watercraft?
Yes. “Jet Ski” is an accepted name for these watercrafts. Any small jet-propulsion craft where the rider stands, kneels, or sits, as opposed to being inside, qualifies as personal watercraft.
The most popular types of personal watercraft are the “sit down” models, where the rider seats astride the craft, and one or two passengers seat behind them. There are also “stand up” models where the operator stands. Such models are mostly used for sports, races, tricks, or stunts.
Although they are usually less than 13 feet in length, most personal watercraft can move as fast as 65 mph. This makes a watercraft dangerous in the hands of a drunk, reckless or distracted operator.
Personal watercraft accidents typically occur are the following locations:
- Bays and sounds
- Canal/ cut
- Inlet/passes
- Lake/ pond
- Ocean/ gulf
- Rivers/ creeks
Accidents often occur when a personal watercraft
- collides with a fixed object
- colludes with another vessel
- falls overbroad
- gets struck by a boat
Jet Ski Accident Liability
Many factors determine who is responsible for any injury or loss that occurs during a jet ski accident. These factors include:
- Who owns the craft
- Who was operating the craft at the time of the accident
- Whether any or all operators had consumed alcohol
- If the craft(s) malfunctioned
- If another vessel was involved
Some of the people held liable for a jet ski accident are:
- Manufacturer
- Mechanic/ repair shop
- Operator/ rider
- Owner
- Third-party vessel operator
Many personal watercraft accidents are caused by :
- Defective safety equipment or other machinery
- Excess speed
- Failure of the rental firm to provide safe equipment/ proper instruction
- Lack of proper training,
- Operator inattention
- Operator inexperience
- Speeding by other vessels
If you need a free consultation due to severe injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, or even a wrongful death lawsuit, our legal professionals at Alpizar Law are here for you.
What Happens After A Jet Ski Accident?
A lot of driving events, activities, and experiences can occur following a watercraft injury. These include personal injury, physical damage, medical bills, property damage, permanent disability, or even death. All of these can be overwhelming for you or your loved one.
An expert personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case and help you enforce your legal rights to compensation.
Jet ski accidents rarely occur intentionally. In many cases, people are simply enjoying themselves on the water when a mishap happens due to negligence. This could be due to inexperienced or distracted operators or you are a victim of some other mishaps. Regardless of what happens, you deserve quality legal representation.
In most cases, the responsible party will have enough insurance to cover a jet ski accident. All insurance companies will put up a fight if they sense you are not adequately represented or not represented at all.
Jet Ski Accidents Can Cause Wrongful Death
Jet ski accidents sometimes lead to death. In cases where the death was a result of a manufacturing defect or negligence, we classify these types of death as wrongful death.
Wrongful death can be hard on the surviving family members. Other equally terrifying outcomes of jet ski accidents are brain injury, irreversible disfigurement, psychological trauma, and permanent disability. All of these can cause a great deal of pain, suffering, anguish, and mounting medical bills.
When death or injury is caused due to negligence, the responsible party has to be held accountable. The victim and their family members also deserved to be compensated for their great loss.
How To Choose A Jet Ski Accident Attorney
Knowing that you need a jet ski accident attorney is the first step. You have to ensure you choose the right one. This is because unskilled handling of personal injury cases can cause more harm than good and increase your pain, suffering, and expenses.
The first thing you should do is look for a licensed law firm with experience in personal injury cases, particularly those involving personal watercraft like jet skis and boats.
Experience matters as not all lawyers understand the ins and outs of what happens before, during, and after a personal watercraft incident. A lot of people don’t get the compensation they deserve and badly need because of inadequate legal representation.
An experienced personal injury attorney will ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries and any losses you may suffer due to the incident. Don’t allow negligent parties to be let off the hook mildly as this can embolden their actions and put other jet skiers at risk.
Do the responsible thing. Get a personal injury lawyer today to review your case.
Work with Alpizar Law Today to Move Forward with Personal Injury Claim Matters
You can save yourself valuable time and energy by calling our law firm for a free case review. Whether you are the primary victim or your family member was involved in a jet ski accident, there are nine easy steps to be taken immediately. The sooner you call our team at the Alpizar Law firm, the better.
