Every year, thousands of people are involved in Jet Ski and other personal watercraft accidents throughout the United States. Out of the total 12 million registered recreational water vessels in the United States, 1.5 million are Jet Ski (and other brands of water scooter) owners. Although this accounts for a small portion of all registered watercraft in the country, they are involved in roughly 20% of accidents reported each year. These statistics provide insight as to the level of danger these vehicles create for riders and others in the area.
Jet Ski riders have less protection than riders on boats and other vessels. Consequently, they are more likely to suffer life-altering injuries in accidents. Many people who get injured in a Jet Ski accident require extensive medical treatment and hospitalization. They are also often forced to go through months of therapy to recover. Those harmed in Jet Ski accidents due to the negligence of others should contact a personal injury attorney in Texas as soon as possible.
The Dallas Jet Ski accident attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm have nearly 30 years of experience helping those injured due to the negligence of others recover their damages through personal injury lawsuits. Our attorneys provide aggressive and effective legal representation to ensure our clients are in the best position imaginable to move forward after being harmed. We stop at nothing to guarantee our clients are fully and fairly compensated for their injuries and suffering. If you were injured in a Jet Ski accident as a result of another person’s actions, contact our Dallas Jet Ski accident lawyers to see how we can help you.
Some of the more prevalent regulations pertaining to Jet Ski operations in Texas are:
Accident statistics published by the United States Coast Guard indicate that an average of 50 people are killed annually in Jet Ski accidents nationwide, and roughly 700 are significantly injured. The study suggests that these figures are probably erroneously low due to the fact that many Jet Ski accidents and injuries go unreported.
There are around 1.1 million personal watercraft, including Jet Skis, currently in operation in the United States, and there are very few rules surrounding their purchase or operation. The majority of Jet Ski operators know how to handle their vessels and have taken the appropriate boater training and safety courses to ensure they are safe on the water.
That being said, there is a small faction of watercraft operators who don’t have the foggiest idea what they are doing and they often cause serious injuries to themselves and those around them. Some drivers are simply too young and inexperienced, while others are drunk, or have a penchant for reckless behavior.
In order to build the strongest personal injury case possible, you will need every bit of evidence you can collect.
Talk to any potential eyewitnesses, and write down their contact details. Use your phone to record their statements. Take photos of the damage to your Jet Ski and any visible injuries as well. Any other potential evidence should also be preserved or recorded with pictures and videos. When it comes to collecting case evidence, it is better to have too much than not enough.
Other forms of helpful evidence could be:
The more of this information you are able to collect, the more compelling the case our Dallas boat accident attorneys will be able to build for you. Call us today for a free consultation.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that there were 685 deaths resulting from watercraft accidents last year. In addition, they report approximately 3,600 injuries resulting from close to 5,200 personal watercraft accidents, with an estimated 54 million dollars spent in property damage claims.
The most common reasons for Jet Ski accidents include the following:
Jet Skis and other recreational boats place riders at an increased risk of being injured in accidents. The fact that these vessels do not have off-throttle steering can create dangerous circumstances, especially for inexperienced riders. In Texas, we see an increasing amount of Jet Ski accidents year after year that send injured people to local hospitals with debilitating injuries. Although these accidents can happen in a multitude of ways, some of the most common circumstances surrounding Jet Ski accidents include:
There are many situations that increase the likelihood of Jet Ski accidents. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
There are instances where people become involved in accidents while operating Jet Skis they were renting. In some situations, the owner of the Jet Ski or the rental company can be held liable for resulting injuries or damages. In order to determine whether a rental company or an owner is liable, it is imperative to determine the following:
Working with a knowledgeable attorney from Rasansky Law Firm will ensure you are able to get the justice you deserve. Our Dallas Jet Ski accident attorneys will go to the scene of the accident to investigate the details of your claim. Our team will gather critical evidence in support of your claim, speak with witnesses, and investigate the history of the rental companies and Jet Ski owners to determine if they have a history of negligence.
Our attorneys are committed to helping our clients recover financially, physically, and mentally after being harmed. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation to explore the legal options available to help you get the maximum amount of compensation available.
When someone operating a boat crashes into a personal watercraft, they can face civil liability for any resulting damages. To pursue a personal injury claim for financial compensation, the injured rider and their Dallas boating accident attorney will have to show that the other person’s negligence led to the accident. Generally speaking, there are four distinct elements that must be proven in order to establish negligence.
The first element that must be proven is that a duty of care existed between the injured Jet Ski operator and the at-fault boater.
The next element involves proving that the boater breached the duty of care they owed to the Jet Ski rider. There are several ways this can happen, including the boat operator being under the influence, traveling too fast, or driving aggressively.
Third, the plaintiff has to prove that the at-fault boater was the immediate cause of their injuries. Jet Ski accident victims may only recover damages directly related to the negligence of the other party.
The fourth element that the plaintiff must prove is that their injuries caused damages. Quantifiable damages may include medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Negligence is the leading cause of Jet Ski and other personal watercraft accidents. If you are considering filing a lawsuit, you need to understand who could be liable for your Jet Ski or boating accident. An experienced Dallas boat accident lawyer will be able to explain the best way to proceed with your case based on your individual situation.
Some parties that are commonly liable for Dallas Jet Ski accidents are:
The Operator of a Jet Ski or Boat
Accidents are often caused by the driver of another watercraft, like another Jet Ski or a boat. To successfully prove your case against the operator of another vessel, you will need to establish the four elements of negligence discussed above.
The Owner of a Jet Ski or Boat
A Watercraft Sales or Rental Company
Companies that sell or rent watercraft are required to make sure they are safe. For example, a boat rental facility has to ensure that each of its vessels is properly maintained, regularly inspected, and safe to use. A suit may be brought against them if your Dallas boat accident lawyer is able to prove that the company failed to do so and that this failure directly led to your Jet Ski accident.
Bars or Restaurants Selling Alcohol
Restaurants and bars may be held accountable for overserving customers who then cause serious injury or damage to others. It is feasible for a restaurant or bar to be held liable if the operator of a watercraft bought alcohol from them.
Other Passengers on the Boat or Jet Ski
Passengers who conduct themselves recklessly on a boat or Jet Ski can be held responsible for any injuries if they result in the operator or a passenger falling overboard or getting hurt.
If you have been injured by a personal watercraft vehicle including a Sea-Doo (SeaDoo), Jet Ski, Wave-Runner, or any other small jet boat, let the Dallas lawyers at Rasansky Law Firm investigate your potential case. It doesn’t matter whether your accident occurred on Lewisville Lake, Lake Texoma, White Rock Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Whitney, Lake Grapevine, Lake Palestine, or Joe Pool Lake. We will explore all potentially responsible parties and get you every dollar you deserve for your injuries.
A person who does not know how to properly operate one of these types of vehicles has no business operating it – especially when in close proximity to another boat or individuals in the water. However, ignorance is no defense when it comes to the serious injury of an innocent person.
It’s important to note that jet-ski accidents, wave runner accidents, and watercraft accidents can be subject to both state and federal law. Deciphering the legal details of this type of case can be quite complex. In order to give yourself the best chance at a successful lawsuit, navigate the waters with an experienced Dallas accident lawyer that has handled numerous watercraft accidents.
All accidents involving personal watercraft have to be reported if property damage worth more than $2,000 occurred or if anyone incurred injuries beyond the scope of basic first aid. Regardless of the severity of your accident, it is usually in your best interest to report it since a lot of serious injuries are not immediately obvious and several days or even weeks could go by before you realize something is wrong.
How Can Your Dallas Boating Accident Lawyers Help Me?
Some of the things that the Dallas boating accident lawyers at Rasansky Law will do to help their client’s Jet Ski accident claims include:
We Offer a Free Consultation Regarding Your Potential Claim
We know how confusing and overwhelming it can be for someone injured in a Jet Ski accident to find a reputable Dallas boat accident attorney that can help them with their case. For your free consultation, our attorneys can visit you in the hospital, come see you at home, or host a remote consultation for your convenience. No matter how your free consultation is conducted, we will be prepared to learn how your accident happened and review your case to determine the best way forward. Our Dallas boating accident lawyers will make sure that you understand your rights and explain the best way to proceed with your claim in order to collect financial compensation for your injuries and damages.
Help You Get Medical Attention
We will push to ensure that you get the medical attention you need. We will also assist your insurance company with making sure you receive the best care possible. Your recovery should be your priority. If you are without insurance, we can work with medical professionals who understand that they will not be paid until your case is settled. If you lost a loved one in a Jet Ski accident, we will help you collect wrongful death damages.
We will track down copies of any relevant police reports, interview potential eyewitnesses, gather all pictures and surveillance videos, and fully investigate your Jet Ski accident. We will also work with accident reconstructionists and other professionals in order to establish liability against the negligent party.
After being injured in a Jet Ski accident caused by someone else, you should not have to worry about how you are going to pay your hospital bills. Our attorneys will negotiate a settlement for the maximum amount of financial compensation pursuant to Texas law. We can handle negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance carrier for a full and fair settlement that covers all your damages. If they absolutely refuse to pay an equitable amount, then our attorneys will file suit and take them to court. We are not afraid to go up against a major insurance company and its team of defense attorneys. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure the best possible outcome for your situation. We know all our clients want is to be able to put this incident behind them and move on with their lives.
In Texas, anyone who is hurt in an accident is still eligible to collect financial compensation even if they share in liability for the accident. Keep in mind, if this applies to you, your recovery will be reduced in direct proportion to your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are found to be 30% at fault for your Jet Ski accident, then your damages will be decreased by 30%. So if your compensation is $100,000, you will only be able to collect $70,000.
Every accident case is unique, but there are some damages that are commonly awarded in Dallas personal injury accidents, including Jet Ski accidents and boat accidents. These damages include current and anticipated medical bills, lost earnings, damage to property, emotional trauma, and a lot more.
Damages are typically broken down into categories, economic and non-economic. Economic damages include things you can easily show on paper, like medical bills, lost wages, property damage and more. Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering which do not have a set dollar amount and will be determined by the severity of your injuries and length of your recovery, as well as whether there will be any long-term impacts to your life.
In Texas, the deadline for filing a Jet Ski accident case, known as the statute of limitations, is two years from the cause of action, which is the day your injury occurred.
As with everything else pertaining to the law, the statute of limitations does have some exceptions. You should always talk to a qualified attorney to establish exactly how long you have before your claim becomes invalid.
Each year, more than 700 people lose their lives in Jet Ski accidents throughout the United States. Thousands more are left with life-altering injuries that lead to overwhelming pain, suffering and permanent impairments.
Although there are many types of treatment options available for the various injuries sustained in a Jet Ski accident, they come at a significant cost. People who are harmed in accidents caused by negligent or reckless drivers should never have to spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own money on treatment. The person who caused your accident can be legally required by law to compensate you.
For this reason, it is crucial to reach out to a personal injury attorney in Texas as soon as possible, following your accident, to explore legal options available for you.
The Dallas Jet Ski accident attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm have nearly three decades of experience helping clients recover from their accidents. Our attorneys strive to help our clients maximize the amount of compensation they receive for their damages, including:
Immediately following your free consultation, our attorneys get started with investigating your claim. Our team goes to the site of your accident to gather evidence, obtain medical records and police reports, and various other documents to prove the costs of your injuries and damages. Our attorneys fight to ensure each client we work with is in the best mental, physical, and financial position imaginable to move forward after being harmed.
If you were injured in a Jet Ski accident as a result of another person’s actions, contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
The attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm are happy to speak to you about your potential case free of charge. If we can help with your claim, we’ll do so for no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us 24/7 at 214-617-1886.
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