Injury and Damage InformationInformation about injuries and damages resulting from Jet Ski Accidents, including an overview of state Personal Watercraft (PWC) laws, a guide for determining liability, information on the causes of Jet Ski Accidents, and the statute of limitations. Understanding Jet Ski Accidents · State Personal Watercraft Laws · Jet Ski Accident Fault and Liability · Jet Ski Accident Causes · Jet Ski Accident Statute of Limitations Understanding Jet Ski AccidentsWhile personal watercrafts (PWCs), such as jet skis and waverunners, can provide hours of entertainment on lakes and bays and in the ocean, their popularity has lead to more crowded waterways and an increase in jet ski accidents. In fact, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, a person is more likely to be injured on a jet ski than on any other type of watercraft. Jet skis and other personal watercrafts can be extremely dangerous in the hands of negligent, inexperienced, and/or intoxicated drivers. Jet ski riders are required to operate their watercraft in a controlled manner and follow Coast Guard regulations at all times, and most jet ski accidents are preventable through the use of reasonable safety precautions. In addition, it is imperative that jet ski operators have proper training and instruction in safe jet ski operation. Jet ski accidents can result in devastating injuries including brain injury, head injury, spinal cord injury, fractures, and drowning. Jet ski accident attorneys can help accident victims recover compensation if the accident was a result of someone else's negligence or a product defect. State Personal Watercraft LawsJet Ski Accident Fault and LiabilityIt is a general rule of the law that the owners and operators of a jet ski have a duty to exercise the highest degree of care in order to prevent injuries to others. If you have been injured as a result of a jet ski accident, you may be able to file a claim against the owner or operator of the personal watercraft if you can establish negligence. Generally this means that you must prove that the owner or operator was negligent, that this negligence caused the accident, and you were injured as a result. If a jet ski accident was caused by a defective product or equipment, you may be able to hold the manufacturer liable for damages. However, because jet skis pose a unique danger of serious personal injury and death and involve complex legal and safety issues, you need an attorney with experience handling these types of cases. Determining liability in jet ski accident cases can be complicated. If the jet ski accident occurs on navigable waters, admiralty and maritime law could apply. If the accident occurs on non-navigable waters, such as a small lake, then the laws of the state where the accident occurred would apply. Jet Ski Accident CausesJet ski accidents can be caused by a number of different factors, including: Collisions with boats, swimmers, water skiers, or operators of other personal watercrafts Collisions with docks, piers, and shorelines Operating a jet ski while under the influence of alcohol or drugs Operating a jet ski recklessly or at excessive speeds Operator error Jet ski malfunction Failure to follow maritime navigation regulations Defective jet ski Improper jet ski maintenance Illegal or unsupervised operation of a jet ski by a minorJet Ski Accident Statute of LimitationsThe law dictates that all jet ski accident lawsuits must be filed within a certain time period, known as the statute of limitations. For this reason, it is important to contact a jet ski accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. While receiving medical attention following a jet ski accident should always be your first concern, contacting an attorney quickly should also be a priority. Even if the guilt or negligence is clear in a jet ski accident case, a claim cannot be made if it is filed after the statute of limitations has ended. These time limits vary by state and according to the type of law that is applied to the case (maritime law, state law, etc.) so it is important to act in a timely manner in order to protect your rights to possible compensation for injuries and other damages. All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.
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