Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

Since Memorial Day, several accidents have resulted in needless death and catastrophic injuries to operators and their guests operating jet skis around America. As an experienced jet ski and watercraft accident attorney who has practiced since 1979, I am amazed that one can go to a rental facility and get on a jet ski with a young child onboard with the apparent misconception that they are safe and easy to drive. How many of these same individuals would go out and rent a motorcycle and put their child on the back without learning how to operate it. I have been boating since I was a young boy and on a family vacation many years ago I almost had my leg amputated in a jet ski accident caused by the negligence of another operator playing “chicken.”

Another incident involved a friend of mine who fractured his hip as a result of a collision with another jet ski. To this day he has a permanent disability. Most jet ski injuries are caused by collisions with other boats, other jet skis, or other objects. Many times over summer weekends there is a good chance that many jet ski operators have had one too many alcoholic beverages to drink prior to operating these complex pieces of equipment. Rider error and over-confidence is the cause of most jet ski injuries and deaths. Unfortunately, most of these catastrophic watercraft accidents involve younger operators.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if the maximum speed of a vessel is less 25 mph, the operator is not required to successfully complete a PA Fish and Boat Commission approved boating course. We have found that many businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania rent jet skis, Sea-Doos, WaveRunners, Tigersharks, and other personal watercraft to individuals who do not possess boating safety educational certificates and frankly are not aware of any of the safety regulations and potential for danger and harm concerning the operation of a personal watercraft. Simply stated, there are many accidents waiting to happen and at high speeds. These often preventable accidents many times result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

If you or a loved one has been involved in personal watercraft, boating, or jet ski accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania jet ski and watercraft accident attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. Of course, the best watercraft and boating accident attorneys always offer a free no obligation consultation.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents

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Over the July 4th holiday weekend, a number of people were tragically and catastrophically injured or killed in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey by operating jet skis and boats while under the influence of alcohol.

As an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney with more than 30 years of experience handling boat accident and jet ski accident cases and after having my leg almost amputated in a jet ski accident, I am well aware of the normal dangers of operating watercraft even while in a non-intoxicated state. So far the number of personal injury accidents involving watercraft has increased substantially over last year. Jet skis make up only 3% of all watercraft but account for more than half of the accidents. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has planned a crackdown on under the influence boating violators. The operation of watercraft has its own inherent dangers, and when you add alcohol into the mix, the dangers are multiplied significantly. Most of the catastrophic boating and jet ski death accidents we have investigated have been directly related to DUI or operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission commenced a program to “crack down” on DUI over the July 4th holiday weekend. A total of 62 people died in boating related accidents in Pennsylvania last year.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating, jet ski, or other watercraft accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania jet ski accident or boating accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents

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A famous Philadelphia tourist attraction duck boat packed with tourists on a steamy July afternoon crashed at approximately 2:30 p.m. sending 37 adults and children into the Delaware River. At the time of this writing two passengers are missing, a 17-year girl and a 19-year old man and marine units are searching the river with sonar equipment. The Coast Guard has recovered 35 individuals. According to witness Talmadge Robinson, the duck boat was stopped on the river when the collision occurred. The witness was sitting ashore when he saw the barge approaching the immobile and disabled duck Boat. There was a loud bang as the duck Boat was literally “a sitting duck”. People were screaming. According to the witness, the tug boat had enough time to avoid the Duck Boat. Many of the children swam to the Camden side, not wearing life jackets, and were rescued by the police. According to witness Norman Sevara, age 41, the duck Boat hit the barge “It hit pretty hard and pulled the boat under. It went straight under.” Eight of the passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment. The striking barge named “The Resource” was owned by K-Sea Transportation and was being pushed by a tug on its port side. The duck boat is operated by “Ride The Ducks” which began operating in Philadelphia in 2003 and operates 15 duck boats in the city and operates about 90 vessels in several cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Memphis, and Branson, Missouri. “Ride the Ducks” is owned by the Herschend Family Entertainment Company which is located near Atlanta and operates Camden’s Adventure Aquarium, The Dollywood Theme Park, as well as many other water adventure parks. In a 1999 accident another amphibious tour boat The Miss Majestic sank and killed 13 passengers in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic and seemingly preventable accident. We wish all the victims the best for a speedy and complete recovery and will keep them in our prayers.

Based upon a news report, it appears that the operator of the barge and tug could be at fault and if it is determined that they caused this accident, they could be held liable for injuries and damages caused to the victims. All of the victims and their families would be well advised to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury and Pennsylvania boating and watercraft accident attorney who could advise them about their legal rights and options. In such cases, accident victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, costs of hospitalization and other related damages. For a free no obligation consultation, please contact one of our experienced attorneys at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. Our record of success speaks for itself.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents , Personal Injury

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According to reports of the United States Coast Guard, there have been 31 recreational boating and paddling deaths this summer in the First Coast Guard District stretching from the coast of Maine to New Jersey, as well as including eastern New York and Lake Champlain. Just this summer there have been 11 boating accidents in Pennsylvania resulting in catastrophic injury or death. Eight motor boats and three personal water crafts accounted for 1/3 of the deaths while the remaining 2/3 occurred on non-motorized vehicles, including canoes, row boats, kayaks and sail boats. Most of the deaths were preventable due to the lack of proper safety equipment including but not limited to life jackets. Many other injuries or deaths were caused by inexperienced operators as well as operators impaired by alcohol. The number of boating accidents has jumped by over 80% this year. Nationally, according to the Coast Guard, there were 4,789 boating accidents which killed 709 and left 3,331 injured and caused $54 million in property damage.

If you or a loved one were injured in a boating or jet ski accident, you would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced boat accident and jet ski accident lawyer who can begin a comprehensive investigation and determine where proper liability rests and recover monetary damages for physical and mental injuries.

Maritime accidents can be complex and require specialized experience. The experienced boat accident and jet ski accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily offer a free no obligation consultation to anyone injured in a jet ski or boating accident. Please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents

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It amazes me how many people ride jet skis without any type of instruction when in fact jet skis have been involved in many catastrophic accidents on the water. In fact, jet skis are the second highest ranked type of water craft that has been involved in major boating accidents across the world. Anyone who has ridden the jet ski will tell you that they are extremely responsive and ultra-sensitive to the slightest movement of the handle bar. The same maneuverability in the hands of the untrained or inexperienced operator makes the jet ski prone to waterway accidents particularly when an inexperienced rider panics.

I have witnessed many jet ski accidents as well as have been involved in one myself with my son (where I almost lost my leg) and I am astounded that many rental agencies will casually place an inexperienced rider on a jet ski in a resort area or in a waterway area where there are other boaters traveling, creating obstacles and potential risk of danger and harm for the inexperienced operator. Not only should one be instructed on how to operate the jet ski but one should also be instructed on what to do to survive if a jet ski accident occurs.

Continue reading "Jet Skis Are Not Children’s Toys – In Fact They Are One Of The Most Dangerous Types of Water Craft In Use – Jet Ski Accident Lawyer Speaks Out" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents

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It’s summertime and inevitably many boat accidents and jet ski accidents will occur. Many individuals will suffer catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of being struck by a watercraft’s propeller. For minimal costs, marine engine manufacturers can place a safety ring around propeller blades. It is estimated that this safety fix would cost approximately $5 to $10 per boat to add. Boating accidents and propeller injuries are foreseeable.

The experienced product liability lawyers at Reiff and Bily believe that boating engine manufacturers have a duty to place safety over profits and have a duty to minimize injury and prevent deaths. Recently, Lawrence Thibault, an expert witness in automobile product liability matters and the owner of Biomechanics Inc., a Pennsylvania consulting firm, told a jury in Florida how lap belts prompted a series of changes that improved safety in the auto industry leading to harness belts, padded dashboards, airbags, side airbags, and other changes. However, the boating industry is not following the auto industry in increasing safety features and is fighting a push to equip boats with inexpensive ring guards.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident or jet ski accident, it is important to have an experienced boating and product liability lawyer evaluate your claim. For a free no obligation consultation, please contact the experienced product liability lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents

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