San Diego Watercraft Injury Attorneys
Boating Accidents : Personal Watercraft Injuries
Jet Skis Do Not Have A Braking Mechanism. As a Result, Many People Are Injured Every Year Because of Their Lack of Steering Knowledge.
Personal watercraft, also known as PWCs, have become a popular pastime in the warm San Diego waterways. PWCs are small, fast, easily handled, affordable, and their propulsion systems do not have external propellers, making them safer for swimmers and wildlife. However, accidents are common. Though 
jet skis are no more dangerous than any other watercraft, it is the way that people operate them that causes many injuries.
Jet ski riders have a high risk of being ejected and drowning. Research from the University of Florida shows that jet ski accidents cause greater injuries than other boating mishaps. The study found that patients sustain more closed-head injuries, trauma to the chest and abdominal injury riding jet skis.
Crashes with Jet Skiers Often Produce:
- Head injuries
- Nerve damage
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Facial lacerations
- Fractured extremities
- Burns
- Hypothermia
All of these types of injuries tend to be serious and may induce unconsciousness and end in a drowning. What adds to this cycle is the fact that jet ski injuries are one of the least publicized dangers in the recreational boating industry. Hence, most people do not properly educate themselves on the correct way to operate a jet ski because they are unaware of the dangers.
Why Are Jet Ski Accidents So Common?
Operator errors can be deadly, because jet skis are designed to achieve speeds of more than 60mph. This may result in a loss of stability and increased risk of flipping over.
However, one of the most compounding reasons for jet ski accidents is that they do not have a braking mechanism. Instead, the operator must keep the throttle down and actually accelerate to turn quickly and avoid hazards in the water.
Though, the natural tendency of most operators is to slow down when facing a hazard. Because this reduces the thrust from the jet nozzle, the operator often cannot turn the craft in time, resulting in a collision with another boat, a dock, a swimmer or the shoreline.
Contact a Jet Ski Accident Attorney
A jet skier is 7.2 times more likely to get hurt than a motor boater and 31.6 times more likely than a canoer or kayaker, according to a survey commissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard and published in 2002.
If you have been injured by another party while jet skiing, California law allows you to file a civil lawsuit to seek damages for personal injury. Contact an experienced San Diego jet ski accident attorney immediately at Jurewitz Law Group to learn about your rights and get the money compensation you need to cover your costs. Call us at (888) 233-5020.
Blog for Personal Watercraft Injuries
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