Causes of Boating and Jet Ski Accidents

cartwrightlaw - May 16, 2022 -

Man on a flyboard without helmet surrounded by wave runners

The Bay Area is a great place to get out and enjoy everything our waterways have to offer, including boating and jet skiing. While there is plenty to enjoy while you are on the water, if you are injured in a watercraft accident due to someone’s negligence, you can find yourself facing considerable losses and a difficult journey toward healing. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this way, don’t wait to reach out to an experienced boating accident attorney in San Francisco for the legal guidance you’re looking for.

Common Causes of Boating Accidents

Boating and jet skiing are popular pastimes in Northern California, but an accident can quickly put a damper on the festivities. Accidents on the water can have any number of causes, but some are more common than others.

Operator Inexperience or Inattention

We all recognize that driving is a serious undertaking that requires our focused attention and a commitment to safety. When boat operators take to the water, however, they don’t always take their responsibility for safety as seriously as they would behind the wheel of a car, and it can lead to trouble.

Boating is a dangerous activity that comes with the all too real possibility of drowning, which makes adhering to all the rules of the waterway and focusing one’s attention entirely on proceeding safely paramount. Further, boat operators are more likely to lack the necessary skill and experience to operate a boat safely.

Boating under the Influence

You would not get behind the wheel of your vehicle while under the influences of alcohol or drugs, and boat operators shouldn’t either. Too many operators think it is harmless to have drinks while boating, but boating under the influence can prove exceptionally dangerous.

Excess Speed

Excess speed is a sign of reckless and aggressive boating, and it is just as dangerous on the water as it is on our roadways. Boat operators who move too quickly through the water decrease the amount of time they have to react safely to dangers ahead and significantly increase the risk that any ensuing accidents will prove deadly.

On Your Jet Skis

When you are on your jet skis, you rely upon all the following to help you maximize your fun in the sun safely:

Your own safety training
Your own experience
Your own careful observance of the rules of the waterway

When you’re on your jet ski, however, you’re exceptionally vulnerable to the negligence of others in your midst, and jet ski accidents tend to be very serious.

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced San Francisco Boating Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a boating or jet ski accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, the accomplished Bay Area boating accident attorneys at The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc., have considerable experience guiding challenging claims like yours toward beneficial resolutions. We’re committed to helping you, too, so please don’t wait to contact or call us at (415) 851-6486 for more information today.