Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
One of the many perks of South Florida’s great weather and over abundance of beaches is the access to all of the many water sports and activities, including jet skiing, all year-round. Although most jet skiing experiences go without incident, a few unfortunate accidents do occur, and sadly, can result in serious injuries.
Earlier this year, in May, at least three people were rushed to the hospital after a jet ski with two passengers crashed into a boat near Picnic Island. A few days later, there was another jet ski accident in Miami Gardens, in which one of the injured parties was a minor.
According to the United States Coast Guard, there were a total of 675 injuries involving a personal watercraft last year. A personal watercraft (PWC) is distinguished from other water vessels for being operated by sitting, standing, or kneeling on it. PWC laws and safety precautions attempt to prevent potential injuries to operators and others that may be in the water, by imposing age limits and speed limits, and requiring the use of life jackets and kill cords. However, despite these regulations, some accidents are inevitable. The most common PWC injuries include concussions, burns, broken bones, and whip lash. These usually occur as a result of collisions with other boats, through reckless driving, speeding, underage operation, driving under the influence, and loss of control. Other less common causes of PWC injuries are drowning, explosions, and defects.