Personal Watercraft Accidents Best Avoided by Focusing on Safety

Although personal watercrafts (PWCs) like jet skis may be fun, personal watercrafts (PWCs) are responsible for 848 injuries and 42 deaths in the year 2009 according to the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2009, out of the 4,730 recreational boating accidents, 22 percent of them involved PWCs.

The PWC accident involving music professional Sean Kingston has focused national attention on a rash of such accidents in Florida recently. In early May, a 27-year-old woman was killed, and another man was injured in a jet ski accident. When two jet skis crashed in another incident, a 14 year-old-girl had to have part of her leg amputated.

This past Memorial Day weekend, Sean Kingston was driving a jet ski with a passenger on the back when they crashed into a bridge. Both people were thrown from the PWC and suffered serious injuries. Sean Kingston suffered a broken jaw, fractured wrist and water in his lungs. He is expected to make a full recovery. In the accident involving Sean Kingston, they were actually racing the jet skis when the accident occurred.

The rules for operating a PWC in Georgia are as follows:

1) Persons may not legally operate a PWC if they are less than 12 years of age

2) Persons only may legally operate a PWC when they are 12-15 years of age if they:

Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Dept. of Natural Resources

or

Are accompanied by a competent adult

or

Are under the direct supervision of a competent adult

3) Persons who are 16 years or older may operate a PWC in Georgia as long as they are carrying proper identification on board. (i.e. a driver’s license or other government issued identification)

Most of the jet ski accidents that occur are caused by a number of factors:

• Drunkenness
• Inexperienced operators
• Speeding
• Recklessness
• Collisions
• Accidents with swimmers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a boat or jetski we invite you to contact our office to speak with our Georgia Boat Accident Attorneys. Our law firm handles personal watercraft accidents throughout all of the waterways and lakes of Georgia including Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair and Lake Tobesofkee. Our Georgia boating accident attorneys handle accidents involving all types of boats and personal watercrafts. If you have been seriously injured in a Georgia watercraft accident, we invite you to contact Montlick & Associates for a free consultation to discuss your rights to compensation. We work hard for our clients and are committed to our goal of being known as the best Atlanta personal injury lawyers in Georgia.

Our Georgia personal watercraft accident lawyers are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.