A personal injury attorney is called out for a variety of reasons, one of which may involve mishaps while boating. If you’re injured during a jet ski accident, you may have a case, especially if the other party was speeding or was drinking at the time.
After all, people can become reckless when you mix a warm summer’s day with boating and booze. Even if the accident does not involve drugs or alcohol, people, while boating, may get a little bit too carefree.
Speaking about Your Jet Ski Accident with a Personal Injury Attorney
If your medical bills are mounting, you’ve missed work, and you’re going to take a while to heal, you need to discuss the details of your case with a jet ski accident lawyer. You need to work with a legal expert who has experience with water-related personal injury claims – cases that involve the same challenges as you’re experiencing now.
Why Boating Fatalities and Accidents Happen
According to the American Boating Association, drinking alcohol is the leading known cause of boating accidents. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a jet ski accident lawyer handles large numbers of personal injury claims and wrongful death suits that involve this form of negligence.
In 75% of the boating accidents, the victim drowned. Of these victims, 86% reportedly were not wearing a lifejacket. A large number of accidents and deaths occurred on boats where the driver had not received boating safety instructions.
Both operator inattention and excessive speed factored into many of the mishaps. The types of vessels often involved included personal watercraft, open motorboats, and cabin cruisers. The highest percentage of fatalities occurred in open motorboats.
Slower Reaction Times
According to an article in Boating, reaction times for a boat going fairly fast can easily lead to an accident or a fatality. Think about it – when you drive a car, you have four wheels that come into contact with the pavement. This type of connectivity is lacking in a boat.
When you push up the speed in a vessel, you become less connected. Therefore, any effort toward overcorrection, driving at the wrong angle, or turning too abruptly can lead to a serious accident.
That’s why a jet ski accident lawyer can often prove negligence. If the other party was drinking and/or speeding and an injury occurred, it’s much easier to show why the party’s behavior was reckless or lacked reasonable care.
Determining Negligence – What a Personal Injury Attorney Must Show
To show negligence, you need to demonstrate the following:
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The defendant had a duty to the plaintiff to exercise reasonable care
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However, he or she breached this duty
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As a result of the breach, their lack of care caused an accident
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The victim was harmed or injured as a result
For you to proceed with a lawsuit in a jet ski accident case, your personal injury attorney must prove to the court that the above four elements led to your negligence claim. Without these elements in place, you cannot proceed with your case.
When they are boating or jet-skiing, many times, boaters lift the veil of safety. People are out having fun on the water, so they may not be as careful. That is why safety is paramount. Think about it – when you drive a boat at a fast speed, you’re partially airborne.
Plus, you don’t have brakes to stop the boat. Even if you throttle down, you might not stop in time. In many instances, you don’t have enough time to respond – time that could’ve prevented an accident.
Playing It Safe While Boating
More people die in car accidents than in boating mishaps. However, there are more people who own cars than boats. Besides wearing the proper gear, such as life jackets, refraining from drinking, and navigating within the speed limit, boaters need to do the following:
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Do not weave your personal watercraft through waterways with swimmer and boater activity.
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Know the passing distance and know the rules for approaching a harbor or shore, or what constitutes the right-of-way.
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Never surfboard or water ski while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
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Don’t carry too many passengers or cargo on a ship. Check your boat’s carrying capacity and the weather conditions before you embark on a boat trip.
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Never steer a boat in a “swimming only” area or other non-boating areas.
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When water skiing or jet skiing, know the laws for the use of the equipment and safe operation. Make sure you have qualified boaters (at least 2) onboard to drive the craft and help with skis and gear.
If you get hurt while water skiing, seek medical care right away. Even if you’re involved in a crash and feel okay, it does not mean you’re really “okay.” Injuries may appear after the accident. Therefore, it is important to receive aid on the same day.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney with Direct Experience Now
Contact a personal injury attorney who has direct experience in jet ski and boating cases. If you need a jet ski accident lawyer, contact Belal Hamideh now. Contact the office at (562) 526-1224 right away.