ClickCease
Mariner Law Logo
Home
Services
Admiralty LawClients ServedMaritime InjuriesAccidents at SeaMilitary Discount
Firm
Firm ValuesWashingtonOregonAlaskaNew YorkConnecticut
Attorney BioNews
Free Consultation Call

Jet Ski Accidents

Maritime Lawyer for Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents

Personal watercraft go by many names: sea-doo, jet ski, wave runner, etc.  These recreational vessels use inboard engines and pump-jets to create thrust and steering.  Most modern personal watercrafts carry 1-4 people who are positioned like riding a motorcycle.  The vessels are commonly less than thirteen feet in length.

Jet skiing can be very dangerous.  On average 40-50 jet ski riders die in the United States annually.  Typically, there are another 600-700 non-fatal injuries resulting from jet ski accidents.

But why are personal watercrafts so dangerous? The main issue is training.  Unlike many vessels on the water, jet skis are purely recreational. That means that riders and passengers are seldom experienced seafarers with knowledge of navigational rules and seamanship. In fact, personal watercraft are widely available for rent at tourist destinations around the country.  Jet skis are also fast.  Even average vessels can go well over 50 miles per hour. Finally, jet skis can be difficult to control.  Many operators are surprised to learn that a personal watercraft cannot steer without the throttle being engaged.  That means that the vessel may be unable to turn when slowing down.

Risks of Injury on Jet Skis

Personal watercraft accidents can result from collisions with other vessels, groundings, striking stationary objects, passengers being thrown from the vessel, sudden starts/stops, and break-neck turns.  

The main causes of jet ski accidents include:

Operator inexperience
Wake jumping
Speeding
Spinning out
Disobeying the Rules of the Road
Failure to adequately train
Reckless behavior
Watercraft malfunction
Vessel defects
Boating under the influence
Poor maintenance
Failing to consider weather conditions
Towing accidents (tubing, skiing, wakeboarding)

Personal watercraft accidents are often fatal.  Non-fatal injuries can still be significant and life-altering, including:

Spinal damage
Concussions
Whiplash
Orifice injuries
Lacerations
Amputations
Crush injuries
Sprains
Strains
Torn ligaments
Damaged joints
Head injuries
Hypothermia
Broken bones
Drowning

Compensation for Jet Ski Accident Victims

Maritime law is a uniform body of law among the states that applies to accidents on navigable waters. That means that personal watercraft injury claims may be subject to special laws that not every attorney will be familiar with.  

The legal theory relevant to most personal watercraft injuries is known as “negligence.”  The elements of negligence under maritime law are duty, breach, causation, and damages.  In more general terms, negligence occurs when one party fails to act with adequate care towards another under the circumstances.

Maritime negligence claims can result in monetary compensation for injured individuals. The compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, disability, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.

Why to Hire a Maritime Attorney

Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, is a combination of federal statutes and ancient common laws that apply to vessels and mariners.  These are not ordinary cases.  In addition to understanding this unique area of law, maritime attorneys are also familiar with the maritime industry in general. This helps them understand the salty components of a case that a landlubber may not know.  You may be entitled to damages under the Jones Act, LHWCA, unseaworthiness, and maintenance and cure.

Contact a Maritime Lawyer for Jet Ski Accidents in Washington, Oregon, New York, Alaska, and Connecticut

Personal watercraft injuries can happen in the blink of an eye and change everything.  You can be permanently injured or lose a family member.  This could result in difficulty paying the bills, medical treatment, and severe grief.  If negligence was the cause of a jet ski accident and you or a loved one is the victim, call a maritime attorney as soon as possible.  Maritime law may provide you with options for relief.  There’s no obligation to speak with an experienced maritime lawyer at Mariner Law, PLLC.  Consultation with a Jones Act lawyer is free: (253) 600-2531. The firm proudly serves mariner clients in Washington, Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Alaska, and nationwide.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Practice areas

Show All Practice Areas >

Maritime Wrongful Death

Vessel Collisions, Allisions, and Other Accidents

Admiralty and Maritime Law

Seaman's Manslaughter Statute

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

Unseaworthiness

Death on the High Seas Act

The Limitation of Liability Act

Maritime Casualties

Tug and Barge Accidents

Boarding Accidents

Cargo Handling Accidents

Commercial Fishing Accidents

Charter Boat Accidents

Crane Accidents

Cruise Ship Accidents

Defective Equipment

Dinner Boat Accidents

Dredge Accidents

Dry Dock Accidents

Engine Room Accidents

Fire/Explosion Accidents

Ferry Accidents

Jet Ski Accidents

Jetboat Accidents

Marine Pilot Accidents

Mooring Line Accidents

Recreational Boating Accidents

Slip/Trip and Fall Accidents

Tour Boat Accidents

Toxic Exposure Accidents

Wind Farm Accidents

Maritime Injuries

Amputated Fingers

Arm Injuries

Back Injuries

Blindness

Brain Injuries

Broken Bones

Burn Injuries

Cancer

Crush Injuries

Drowning

Electrical Shock

Foot Injuries

Frostbite

Hand Injuries

Head Injuries

Hypothermia

Knee Injuries

Leg Injuries

Hearing Loss

Lost Limbs

Lung Disease / Mesothelioma

Neck Injuries

Shoulder Injuries

Firm Clients

Able-bodied Seamen

Barge Workers / Tankermen

Commercial Fishermen

Cooks

Deckhands

Dock and Shipyard Workers

Engineers

Ferry Workers

Recreational Boaters

Ship Officers

Stewards

Tug Crew

Vessel Passengers

‍

LinkedInTwitterTerms
©
Free Consultation Call
About Us