Is It Really Safe to Rent and Ride on a Jet Ski If You Have Little or No Experience on One?
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.