Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents on Charleston’s Waterways

Personal watercraft — commonly known as jet skis, WaveRunners, or Sea-Doos — are one of the most popular ways to enjoy Charleston’s waterways. From the beaches of Isle of Palms and Folly Beach to the Intracoastal Waterway and Charleston Harbor, thousands of riders take to the water every summer. But jet skis are also involved in a disproportionate share of boating accidents relative to their numbers.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, personal watercraft account for roughly 18% of all registered recreational vessels but are involved in approximately 30% of all reported boating accidents. Their speed, maneuverability, and the demographics of their operators — often younger and less experienced — contribute to collision rates that far exceed those of conventional boats. In the Charleston area, where jet skis share congested waterways with kayakers, paddleboarders, shrimp boats, and commercial vessels, the risks are amplified.

Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents on Charleston’s Waterways

Jet skis present unique hazards compared to conventional boats. They reach speeds of 60+ mph, can change direction almost instantaneously, and provide virtually no protection to the rider. Unlike a boat with a hull, seats, and railings, a jet ski rider sits on an exposed platform with nothing to prevent ejection during a collision, sharp turn, or wave impact.

The casual, recreational nature of jet skiing also contributes to risk. Many riders — particularly tourists renting jet skis for the first time — have no boating education, no familiarity with navigation rules, and no experience with the tidal currents, boat traffic patterns, and shallow-water hazards of Charleston’s waterways.

Common Causes of Jet Ski Accidents in Charleston

• Operator inexperience — rental customers with no training or boating experience are the highest-risk group
• Excessive speed — jet skis can reach speeds that make reaction time nearly zero in congested waterways
• Reckless operation — jumping wakes, performing stunts, and riding too close to other vessels, swimmers, and shore
• Alcohol use — boating under the influence (BUI) is illegal in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 50-21-112) and is a factor in many jet ski accidents
• Failure to maintain lookout — at high speed, a rider focused on the thrill may not see kayakers, paddleboarders, swimmers, or submerged objects until too late
• Throttle confusion — jet ski steering only works when the throttle is engaged; inexperienced riders who release the throttle in a panic lose steering ability entirely, making collision avoidance impossible
• Wake and wave impacts — hitting another vessel’s wake or a large wave at speed can launch the rider off the jet ski

High-Risk Locations for Jet Ski Accidents in the Charleston Area

• Isle of Palms — popular jet ski rental location where tourists mix with boat traffic near the Isle of Palms Marina and the Breach Inlet between Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island (strong tidal currents make Breach Inlet extremely dangerous)
• Folly Beach — jet ski rentals near the Folly River and Folly Beach pier area; swimmers and jet skis share shallow nearshore waters
• Charleston Harbor — jet skis operating near the Ravenel Bridge, Fort Sumter, and the shipping channel face enormous wake from container ships and potential collision with commercial vessel traffic
• Shem Creek — the narrow, congested creek is a dangerous environment for high-speed watercraft; jet ski wakes damage docked boats and swamp kayakers
• Intracoastal Waterway — boat traffic, narrow channels, shoals, and navigation markers create collision hazards for fast-moving jet skis

Injuries From Jet Ski Accidents

Jet ski accidents produce severe injuries because riders have no crash protection:

• Traumatic brain injuries — from collision impact with another vessel, the water surface at high speed, or a dock/piling; riders are rarely wearing helmets
• Spinal cord injuries — compression fractures from high-speed impacts with waves or other vessels
• Internal injuries — high-speed water entry can force water into body cavities, causing devastating internal injuries (particularly to riders who fall from the jet ski at speed)
• Lacerations and amputations — contact with the jet ski’s intake grate or with boat propellers
• Drowning — riders ejected from jet skis and separated from the craft, particularly in strong currents or when not wearing a life jacket
• Broken bones — fractures of the wrist, arm, leg, pelvis, and face from ejection impacts
• Wrongful death — jet ski fatalities result from high-speed collisions, drowning, and blunt force trauma

South Carolina Personal Watercraft Laws

South Carolina regulates personal watercraft under S.C. Code § 50-21-10 et seq.:

• Minimum operator age — no person under 16 years old may operate a personal watercraft
• Boater education — operators born after January 1, 1988 must complete an approved boater education course
• Life jackets — every person on a personal watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket
• Operating hours — personal watercraft may not be operated between sunset and sunrise
• Speed restrictions — operators must observe no-wake zones and may not operate at excessive speed near shore, docks, or other vessels
• BUI — operating a personal watercraft with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is illegal (S.C. Code § 50-21-112)
• Reckless operation — operating in a manner that endangers life, limb, or property is prohibited

Violations of these laws establish negligence per se — if the violation caused the accident, the violator is automatically considered negligent.

Who Is Liable for a Jet Ski Accident?

• The jet ski operator — for negligent operation, excessive speed, BUI, reckless riding, or underage operation
• The jet ski owner — for negligent entrustment (allowing an inexperienced, underage, or impaired person to operate)
• Rental companies — for inadequate training, renting to underage or intoxicated customers, failure to maintain equipment, or failure to enforce safety rules
• Jet ski manufacturers — for design defects including the throttle-dependent steering system that causes inexperienced riders to lose control
• Other boaters — if another vessel’s negligence (wake, collision, failure to yield) caused the accident

Jet Ski Rental Company Liability

Many jet ski accidents in the Charleston area involve rental watercraft. Rental companies have a duty to:

• Verify the renter meets age and licensing requirements
• Provide adequate safety instruction before the rental
• Explain local waterway hazards, no-wake zones, and restricted areas
• Maintain rental equipment in safe operating condition
• Not rent to visibly intoxicated customers
• Provide properly fitting life jackets

When a rental company cuts corners on safety — providing a five-minute video instead of hands-on instruction, renting to clearly inexperienced or impaired customers, or failing to maintain equipment — they can be held liable for resulting injuries.

Comparative Fault in South Carolina

South Carolina’s modified comparative fault rule (S.C. Code § 15-38-15) allows recovery if your fault is less than 51%. In Georgia, the threshold is less than 50% (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). In jet ski cases, defendants often argue the injured rider was operating recklessly or failed to wear a life jacket. An experienced attorney can counter these arguments.

Filing Deadlines for Jet Ski Accident Claims

• South Carolina personal injury — three years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530)
• Federal maritime claims — three years under general maritime law
• South Carolina wrongful death — three years from date of death (S.C. Code § 15-51-20)
• Georgia personal injury — two years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33)

How a Charleston Boating Accident Lawyer Can Help

Jet ski accident cases involve complex intersections of state boating law, federal maritime law, rental company liability, and product liability. A Charleston boating accident lawyer from Roden Law can:

• Investigate the accident — obtain Coast Guard and SCDNR reports, rental company records, GPS data, and witness statements
• Pursue rental company liability — prove that inadequate training, defective equipment, or negligent rental practices caused the accident
• Identify product defects — the throttle-dependent steering design of jet skis is a known defect that has been the subject of extensive litigation
• Determine applicable law — whether your claim falls under federal maritime law or state law affects your available damages and procedures
• Maximize compensation — pursue full damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent disability

At Roden Law, we represent jet ski accident victims throughout the Charleston area, including Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and all of Charleston’s waterways. We handle every case on a contingency-fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

If you have been injured in a jet ski accident, call us today at (843) 790-8999 or 1-844-RESULTS for a free consultation.

About the Author

Eric Roden

Founding Partner, CEO