Jet Ski Accidents and Lawsuits
Water-based recreation is a pastime that’s been popular in the United States for generations, and as new product innovations take hold with the consumer market, new ways to have fun on lakes, rivers and the like continue to evolve. One of those market innovations is the jet ski, which is also known as the personal watercraft. While these vehicles are exhilarating, they are also dangerous, leading to the need for help from jet ski accident lawyers in many situations around the United States.
The United States Coast Guard keeps statistics regarding reported accidents on the water, and one look at these statistics should give anyone pause before heading out onto the waves with their jet skis. Overall, the Coast Guard recorded 4,789 accidents on the water involving boats of all sizes and jet skis in 2008, and person watercraft accidents totaled 23% of that number. In addition, there were 45 deaths on jet skis in 2008, 17 of which were drownings. Almost 1,000 people were seriously injured in these same types of accidents during this time frame.
The statistics may be daunting, but the trends are also troubling, as the number of accidents that result in injuries and deaths on jet skis has continued to rise at a steady pace in recent years. The causes of these accidents are similar to other boating accident causes that include alcohol, speeding, reckless driving for the conditions and failures to yield the right-of-way on the water.
When situations arise like those described above, the injured parties can face a complicated process when pursuing the proper defendants in a lawsuit that seeks justifiable damages. The preliminary steps that must be taken include obtaining an official report from the authorities regarding what led to the accident, obtaining any and all medical records and other documentation that helps to quantify damages incurred and of course sifting through the evidence and discovery process that’s required for any legal claim to proceed.
Rather than attempt to handle all of this while concentrating on your recovery, you need to seek the help of a jet ski accident attorney who has the experience and knowledge to take care of these issues for you. Contact the attorneys at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
