Jet skis and other personal watercraft are popular vacation rentals. People make arrangements with businesses to rent these small but powerful vessels for an exciting afternoon or weekend on the open water. Most people who rent Jet Skis return them without any major incidents.
However, sometimes those renting personal watercraft during a vacation end up sustaining major injuries as a result. People can break bones, sustain brain injuries and incur many potentially life-altering injuries in personal watercraft crashes.
Who might be liable for an incident involving a jet ski or similar personal watercraft?
The rental business
In some cases, incidents involving jet skis or other personal watercraft are clearly the responsibility of a rental business. Issues resulting from poor vessel maintenance or a lack of safety equipment are often the fault of the company providing these vessels for consumers.
Even if the business had the customer sign a liability waiver before going out on the water, negligence regarding repairs and safety equipment can expose a company to legal and financial liability.
Other boaters
Many incidents involving jet skis and other small personal watercraft are the fault of other people operating larger vessels. Those who are under the influence of mind-altering substances or distracted at the helm could overlook personal watercraft that they should watch for carefully. The result of that negligence may ultimately be serious incidents and preventable injuries.
Determining who is liable is only the first of many steps toward justice after an incident with a personal watercraft results in injury or death. Those affected by personal watercraft collisions may need help evaluating the situation and holding the right party accountable for preventable injuries and the expenses they generate.