Cases We Accept

• Vehicle Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Child Injury & Abuse
• Birth Injuries
• Wrongful Death Lawsuits
• Defective Products & Liability

Blog

Defective Products & Liability

• Toy Dart Gun Playset Recalled
• Hunting Gear Could Cause Serious Fall

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Latest News

• Toyota Tundra Recall Includes All 2000 to 2003 Models...Posted on 3/12/2010
• California Man Experiences Unexpected Acceleration in Toyota Prius...Posted on 3/11/2010

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Library

Defective Products & Liability

• Recognize the Symptoms of Lead Exposure from Children’s Toys
• Shopping Centers and Premises Liability (Part A)

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q:

What is a personal watercraft?

A: A personal watercraft (PWC) is a recreational watercraft that 1-4 people can ride or sit on in the water. PWCs have an inboard engine that creates thrust to propel the vehicle through the water. WaveRunners, Jet Skis and Sea-Doos are popular examples of types of personal watercrafts. 

Personal Watercraft Uses 

PWCs are lightweight and relatively inexpensive compared to boats, which make them an attractive option for both recreational and non-recreational purposes.   

PWCs are commonly used for:

• Towing surfers so they can catch waves
  
• Rescuing swimmers at lakes and beaches
  
• Studying marine life
  
• Rescuing flood victims
  
• Enforcing laws on lakes and rivers
  
• Coaching rowing teams
  
• Target practice by the U.S. Navy
  
  

Personal Watercraft Injuries and Fatalities  

Every year the U.S. Coast Guard compiles data on recreational boating, including personal watercraft usage. In its 2007 annual report, the Coast Guard compiled the following casualty data on PWCs: 

• Drowning Deaths: 14
  
• Other Deaths: 53
  
• Injuries: 982
  
• Total Casualties: 1,049
  

 
The highest number of casualties from recreational boating were attributed, in order, to open motorboats, followed by personal watercrafts, cabin motorboats, canoes/kayaks, and lastly, pontoon boats. 

Personal Watercraft Safety Tips 

The National Association of Rescue Divers recommends that PWC operators follow certain safety tips to avoid accidents: 

• Check state regulations on Jet Skis
  
• Wear safety equipment like a life jacket and eye protection
  
• Attach a whistle to your life jacket to summon help, if needed
  
• Stay clear of swimming areas and wildlife
  
• Never operate a PWC at night
  
• Don't engage in boating under the influence (BUI)
  
  

If you have been injured in a personal watercraft accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. 1-800-410-2769

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.

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of 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
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.