South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
In Florida, residents and visitors alike can enjoy a number of water activities, including jet skiing. While many people partake in the activity without incident, a number of individuals in Florida are injured while jet skiing each year. If you’ve been injured in a jet ski accident, it is important to seek the help of a reputable Miami injury attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have helped numerous victims obtain the justice and compensation they deserve, and we can help you as well.
According to the United States Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Statistics, there were more than 764 injuries and 808 deaths on personal watercrafts and jet skis in the year of 2011. Information compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard from 2000 also shows that jet skis are disproportionately involved in more than 30 percent of all boating accidents and nearly 40 percent of all boating injuries.
In the state of Florida, an individual must be at least 14 years of age to operate a personal watercraft or jet ski. A person must be at least 18 years of age to rent a personal watercraft or jet ski. It is against the law for a person to knowingly allow someone under the age of 14 to operate a personal watercraft or jet ski.
Jet ski accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, including jet ski operator inexperience or error, driver distractions, reckless driving, speeding, lack of safety warnings, lack of training, jet ski design or manufacturing defects, or operating the jet ski under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care while operating a jet ski. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. In order to establish negligence, a plaintiff must prove the following elements. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to exercise reasonable care, the defendant violated this duty, the plaintiff’s injuries were a direct consequence of the defendant’s actions, and actual damages resulted. Each of these elements must be present in order for a plaintiff to be able to recover damages.
Compensation for injuries resulting from a jet ski accident will vary based on the specific circumstances of the case. In general, however, a plaintiff may be able to recover damages for medical bills, lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, and more. In cases in which the injuries are extremely serious, the plaintiff may also be able to recover compensation for future pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and future lost income.
If you’ve been hurt in a jet ski accident, it is important to consult a qualified Miami boat accident lawyer who understands this area of law. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our attorneys have helped numerous victims recover the damages they deserve for their harm. We proudly represent clients throughout South Florida. To learn more about your legal rights and options, do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us online today.
More Blog Posts:
Court Address Pain and Suffering Damages Issue in Florida Car Accident Case, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 18, 2016
Florida Court Rules in Cruise Injury Case, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 18, 2016
Limousine Accidents in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 18, 2016