Jet Ski & Personal Watercraft Accident Claims
Personal watercraft (PWC) — including Jet Skis, WaveRunners, and Sea-Doos — are among the most dangerous recreational vessels on the water. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that personal watercraft are involved in a disproportionately high number of boating accidents relative to their share of registered vessels. The combination of high speeds, lack of protective barriers, and often-inexperienced operators creates serious injury risks on the waterways of Georgia and South Carolina.
At Roden Law, our jet ski accident lawyers represent victims throughout the coastal and inland waterways of both states. Whether your accident occurred on the Savannah River, the Intracoastal Waterway, Lake Hartwell, or the Charleston Harbor, we have the legal expertise and local knowledge to pursue full compensation for your injuries.
Georgia & South Carolina PWC Regulations
Both states regulate personal watercraft operation under their boating safety statutes. Georgia’s Boat Safety Act (O.C.G.A. § 52-7-1 et seq.) establishes minimum age requirements, mandatory boater education, and operational rules for PWC. South Carolina’s boating laws (S.C. Code § 50-21-10 et seq.) impose similar requirements, including restrictions on PWC operation after sunset and near swimming areas.
Key regulations governing PWC operation in both states include:
- Minimum age requirements: Georgia requires PWC operators to be at least 16 years old; South Carolina requires operators to be at least 16 unless supervised by an adult
- Boater education: Both states require boater safety certification for PWC operators under certain ages
- Life jacket requirements: All PWC occupants must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices
- Speed and distance restrictions: PWCs must maintain safe speeds and distances from other vessels, docks, and swimmers
- No-wake zones: Both states enforce no-wake zones near marinas, boat ramps, and shorelines
Common Causes of PWC Accidents
Personal watercraft accidents frequently result from operator inexperience, excessive speed, reckless maneuvering, and operating under the influence of alcohol. Rental operations are a particular source of risk, as companies often provide minimal instruction before sending inexperienced tourists onto busy waterways. Other common causes include mechanical failure, collisions with fixed objects or submerged hazards, and wake jumping near other vessels.
Victims of PWC accidents may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, lacerations from the jet intake, and near-drowning injuries. Many of these injuries are catastrophic, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. If your injuries were caused by an impaired operator, additional legal remedies may be available.
Liability in Jet Ski Accident Cases
Multiple parties may bear responsibility for a PWC accident, including the operator who caused the collision, rental companies that failed to provide adequate instruction or maintained defective equipment, boat manufacturers responsible for defective products, and property owners who failed to maintain safe waterway conditions. Georgia’s comparative fault rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) allows recovery if you are less than 50% at fault, while South Carolina permits recovery if you are less than 51% at fault.
Pursuing Compensation After a PWC Accident
Victims of personal watercraft accidents may recover compensation for emergency medical care, surgeries, and hospitalization, ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, and emotional distress. Our attorneys investigate each case thoroughly, working with maritime safety experts and accident reconstructionists to establish liability and maximize recovery. Contact Roden Law today for a free consultation — there is no fee unless we win your case.