Jet Skis, and other personal watercraft s (PWC), are widely popular among children and teenagers, but experts question how safe the vehicles are for inexperienced and immature operators. Over 100 children are injured or killed annually in personal watercraft accidents. Additionally, in a study conducted by the University of Florida , trauma surgeons found that children injured in accidents involving personal watercrafts were more seriously injured than those involved in motorboat collisions. Some doctors, like Dr. Elizabeth Beierle, believe that parents can help prevent serious injuries to their children and those in their Jet Ski's path. She said, I think that parents need to be made aware that these are dangerous vehicles and the reason that they're dangerous is because of the fact that there are people, i.e. - children, that are just too young to operate them and parents need to be aware and need to be made aware that these are not toys. Common injuries from a Jet Ski or other personal watercraft accident include :

Closed-head injuries
Trauma to the chest
Abdominal injuries
Spinal injuries

Many personal injuries from a PWC are similar to those experienced by motorcycle riders and occur when a personal watercraft operator strikes an obstacle and is ejected from the vehicle. Common personal watercraft accidents include collisions with:

Other vehicles
Docks
Tree stumps hidden in the water
Other fixed objects

Parents should implement rules concerning their children's personal watercraft usage and follow tips including the following :

Check with your state to determine licensing requirements for boaters under the age of 18
Use a life jacket and make sure it fits properly
Keep hands, feet, hair and clothing away from the pump intake
Never operate a Jet Ski in less than 24 inches of water
Make sure an adult is present whenever a child is operating a personal watercraft.

If you or your child has been injured to due a personal watercraft accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. We will evaluate your case for FREE - 1-800-410-2769.

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Case Results

$ 3.5 million Settlement for
auto injury

Our eighteen-year-old client was driving on an interstate into the early morning sun. As he drove over a rise in the road, he struck a car that was disabled and stopped in the middle of the road because a 150-pound wheel and tire detached from a tractor-trailer rig traveling in the opposite direction. The lugs holding the tire had broken off, causing the tire and wheel to travel across the median strip, and hit and disable the stopped vehicle.
Awarded: $ 3.5 million

$1,000,000 Jury Verdict for
86 year-old woman

Our client an 86 year-old woman sustained an injury after being struck by a bus. The inattentive bus driver was warned by a passenger that the woman was crossing in front of the bus but could not stop in time to avoid impact.
Awarded: $1,000,000

$785,000 Settlement for
crushed ankle

Our client was operating his motorcycle on a two-lane road when a large box truck made a U-turn into his path of travel. The client attempted to avoid the collision by laying his motorcycle on its side. Unfortunately his lower leg and ankle came in contact with the truck causing seven fractures and soft tissue injury.
Awarded: $785,000

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Jet Skis safe for children?

A: Jet Skis, and other personal watercrafts (PWC), are widely popular among children and teenagers, but experts question how safe the vehicles are for inexperienced and immature operators. Over 100 children are injured or killed annually in personal watercraft accidents. Additionally, in a study conducted by the University of Florida , trauma surgeons found that children injured in accidents involving personal watercrafts were more seriously injured than those involved in motorboat collisions.

Some doctors, like Dr. Elizabeth Beierle, believe that parents can help prevent serious injuries to their children and those in their Jet Ski's path. She said, "I think that parents need to be made aware that these are dangerous vehicles and the reason that they're dangerous is because of the fact that there are people, i.e. - children, that are just too young to operate them and parents need to be aware and need to be made aware that these are not toys."

Common injuries from a Jet Ski or other personal watercraft accident include:

Closed-head injuries
Trauma to the chest
Abdominal injuries
Spinal injuries

Many personal injuries from a PWC are similar to those experienced by motorcycle riders and occur when a personal watercraft operator strikes an obstacle and is ejected from the vehicle.

Common personal watercraft accidents include collisions with:

Other vehicles
Docks
Tree stumps hidden in the water
Other fixed objects

Parents should implement rules concerning their children's personal watercraft usage and follow tips including the following:

Check with your state to determine licensing requirements for boaters under the age of 18
Use a life jacket and make sure it fits properly
Keep hands, feet, hair and clothing away from the pump intake
Never operate a Jet Ski in less than 24 inches of water
Make sure an adult is present whenever a child is operating a personal watercraft.

If you or your child has been injured to due a personal watercraft accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. We will evaluate your case for FREE - 1-800-410-2769.

The personal injury attorneys at The Kiley Law Group are dedicated to helping the victims of:

Car, motorcycle, truck, van or bus accident
Single vehicle accidents such as SUV or 15-passenger van rollovers
Pedestrian accidents such as a hit and run
Defective products such as ineffective airbags or seatbelts, prescription drugs with unpublicized side-effects, or hazardous children's toys
Child injury and child abuse such as negligence
Birth injuries such as trauma during labor or cerebral palsy

We Serve Clients Across the State of Massachusetts & Salem, New Hampshire
The firm's headquarters are in Andover, MA and serves the following cities in Massachusetts: Boston, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Reading, and Salem, MA and Salem, New Hampshire.

Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a respected member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

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Kiley Law Group
342 North Main Street
P.O. Box 3040
Andover, MA 01810
Phone: 978-474-8670
Fax: 978.474.8946
Toll Free: 800-410-2769

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