What are the most common types of jet ski or personal watercraft (PWC) injuries?

Injuries caused by jet ski or PWC accidents are likely due to the rider's position on the vehicle and the possibility of being thrown from it while the PWC travels at high speed.

Personal watercraft go by many names, such as sea-doo, jet ski, and wave runner, and misled by their size, some people believe an accident involving a small personal watercraft cannot be serious or cause severe injuries. However, statistics show a different picture, with an average of 40-50 jet ski riders dying in the U.S. annually. Typically, there are another 600-700 non-fatal injuries per year resulting from jet ski accidents, including:

  • Whiplash
  • Pelvic injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Deep bruises
  • Fractures
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Damage to major organs
  • Orifice injuries
  • Amputations
  • Crush injuries
  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Torn ligaments
  • Damaged joints
  • Head injuries
  • Hypothermia
  • Broken bones
  • Drowning

Additionally, most modern PWCs carry 1-4 people positioned like when riding a motorcycle. The injuries can be just as severe and costly, especially when they require extensive medical care. For example, victims of such accidents may face weeks, months, or even years of physical therapy. You can seek remuneration for your medical expenses and other losses from a liable party with the help of a maritime accident lawyer when dealing with PWC accidents resulting from:

  • Collisions with other vessels
  • Groundings
  • Striking stationary objects
  • Passengers falling from the PWC
  • Sudden starts/stops
  • Break-neck turns

In the case of PWC accidents, the main issue is training, specifically the lack thereof. Jet skis, for instance, are purely recreational, unlike many vessels on the water. That means that riders and passengers are rarely experienced seafarers, and most don’t know navigational rules and seamanship. In addition, PWCs are widely available for rent at tourist destinations nationwide, and jet skis are also fast and challenging to control. Generally, the leading causes of jet ski accidents include:

  • Pilot inexperience
  • Wake jumping
  • Speeding
  • Spinning out
  • Disobeying navigation rules
  • Lack of adequate training
  • Reckless behavior
  • Watercraft malfunction
  • Operating under the influence
  • Poor maintenance
  • Failing to consider weather conditions
  • Towing accidents
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this site is not formal legal advice, also the site does not allow you to form an attorney-client relationship.