Jet Ski/Sea-Doo Accidents

During the summer months, the unparalleled beauty of Michigan’s abundant lakes and waterways draws a multitude of vacationers from both inside and outside the state. In certain locations, the waters are teeming with Jet Ski/Sea-Doo type vehicles (technically called “Personal Watercraft” or “PWC”). Since our region of the country only provides a limited number of warm days, the PWC season can seem all too short.

Unfortunately, PWCs are not always operated with the skill and care that these vehicles demand. Most boaters take safety seriously, but others disregard their responsibility to their fellows in the water. The thrill and excitement of operating a PWC may lead to individuals operating the vehicle at unsafe speeds and in inappropriate locations, which contributes to the high number of Jet Ski/Sea-Doo accidents.

At the Neumann Law Group, our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of vehicle accidents, including Jet Ski/Sea-Doo accidents. We offer all accident victims a free consultation, during which we will explain your rights and how we can help connect you to compensation from the at-fault party.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Jet Ski/Sea-Doo Accidents?

PWC accidents can occur when there is a collision with another craft on the water, where a submerged object collides with the hull, where the vehicle strikes a swimmer, or even in the absence of collision, such as when the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed and crosses a large wave or wake from another boat. The list of how you may be injured on a PWC is endless.

Many times, people rent PWCs for the day. The expense of purchasing such a vehicle puts it out of the reach of many people, but near any larger body of water in Michigan, there will be vendors renting them for daily or hourly rates. Many times, these vendors do not provide adequate training or instruction on how to operate the PWC. Moreover, the vehicles might not be in good repair and require maintenance. These failures can lead to legal claims against the vendor. However, vendors will uniformly require the execution of a liability waiver before turning over the keys. Identifying a viable claim and navigating around a liability waiver is complex.

Comparative Fault in PWC Accident Cases

Another important feature of PWC claims is the allocation of fault. The injured party may have played no role in the accident, but in some instances, he or she may have been partially negligent. For instance, if you were kayaking in open, flat water and were struck by a PWC, its operator could be 100% liable for any injuries you sustain.

On the other hand, if two PWCs collide on the open water, there is a chance that both operators will be found to be at fault – it all depends on the specific facts at issue and the available evidence. Importantly, even if one operator was partially at fault for an accident, that does not prevent them from filing suit and recovering damages against another negligent party. So long as an accident victim is not more than 50% liable for an accident, he or she may recover damages.

Speak with an Experienced Traverse City PWC Accident Lawyer About Your Case Today

Given the complexity of the law surrounding boat and PWC accidents, securing legal advice as soon as feasible is imperative. If you are injured, or if a family member has suffered a disabling injury or death in any type of boating accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Neumann Law Group for a free consultation. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, give the Traverse City boating accident lawyers at the Neumann Law Group a call at 800-525-6386. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless and until we can connect you with the compensation you deserve.