When the weather is nice, you might like to get out on a personal watercraft, also commonly known as a jet ski, and cruise around local waterways. Although this activity is a lot of fun, unfortunately, accidents can be prevalent if you are not careful. When an accident happens with a personal watercraft, you need to know what to expect. Discover some things you should know about.
What Are Some Possible Injuries?
A personal watercraft uses a motor to jet the vessel across the water at a high rate of speed. When you get into an accident with this type of vessel, the injuries can be serious. Some of the most common injuries include concussions if you fall off the personal watercraft and hit your head on another boat or even the water if your speed was especially fast.
You can also receive injuries to your spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries are scary because they can result in partial or permanent paralysis. These injuries can impact you for the rest of your life. You can also suffer from broken bones and burns, particularly since a personal watercraft uses a tank of gasoline that is near the area where you sit.
How Do You Determine Liability for an Accident on a Personal Watercraft?
Personal watercraft accidents can happen in many ways. Some accidents are due to operator error. This is especially prevalent on rental personal watercrafts in which the operator is not familiar with operating a personal watercraft. Accidents also happen when one operator collides with other personal watercraft operators. Other ways accidents can happen is if the operator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Those who drive a personal watercraft have to do so responsibly and safely. If you or others are not safe, the liability will remain with the operator who drove irresponsibly. When this happens, the liable party will be responsible for compensating the injured party.
Accidents can also occur when a defect exists in the watercraft itself. In this instance, the manufacturer of the watercraft can be held liable. A manufacturer is responsible for providing a product that is safe to use. If the personal watercraft is used properly and an accident occurs due to a manufacturer issue, the manufacturer may have to pay compensation.
If you rented a personal watercraft from a company, especially in tourist areas, the rental company may be held responsible if their watercrafts don’t have proper maintenance. If the company does not provide the necessary maintenance and an accident happens because of the lack of maintenance, the rental company may have to pay your damages from the accident.
A personal watercraft can also collide with a larger boat. These accidents need to go through an investigation just as a car accident does to determine liability. Witnesses are especially important in determining liability. Once liability is determined, the liable party will be responsible for damages.
Do You Need an Attorney?
An accident in a personal watercraft can be complex. The injuries can be substantial because no restraints are on the vessel. Claims in these accidents can also involve several parties. The cases can be difficult. For that reason, you should contact a personal injury attorney. You do not want to deal with the legalities and the insurance claims pertaining to your accident on your own.
If you suffered an injury in a personal watercraft accident, be sure to utilize an attorney. We at The Law Office of Daniel E Goodman LLC are here to help you through the process of recouping your damages. We look forward to helping you through this difficult time.