Orlando Lawyers for British Tourists Injured in Jet Ski Accidents

Florida has long been a popular destination for British tourists on holiday. The year-round warm weather and miles and miles of beautiful coastline are just two of the many reasons why British tourists flock to Florida. While on holiday, many choose to take advantage of the endless waterways and access to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean water by renting jet skis. Speeding around on a jet ski can be a wonderful experience; however, accidents can and do happen. Unfortunately, these accidents can result in serious, even fatal, injuries.

At Bailey Fisher, we know how frightening it can be to suffer a jet ski accident while you are a tourist in a foreign country. Along with trying to ensure that your physical injuries are properly treated, you are also forced to navigate a health care system with which you are not familiar. In addition, if the accident was the result of someone else’s negligence, you will need to navigate a totally unfamiliar legal system to seek compensation for your injury-related medical expenses, pain, suffering and other losses.

The lawyers at Bailey Fisher have successfully handled hundreds of personal injury cases in Florida and are the lawyers travel companies and their agents trust to handle cases for their British clients who have been injured while on holiday in Florida. If you have suffered injuries in a jet ski accident while on holiday in Florida, we can trust us to work diligently to hold the negligent party accountable and advocate vigorously for your rights and the full compensation you deserve for the damages you suffered.

Florida Personal Watercraft Accident Statistics

Jet skis are classified as personal watercraft by law. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 151,694 personal watercraft vehicles registered in the State of Florida in 2020. That same year there were 227 accidents, which resulted in 183 injuries and 15 fatalities.

The number of accidents almost doubled from just two years prior in 2018 when there were just 120 personal watercraft accidents. Almost half (48 percent) of all accidents involved a rented vehicle and over half (53 percent) had no previous boater education.

Causes of Florida Jet Ski Accidents

A jet ski accident can happen under a set of many complex circumstances. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s statistical report on boating accidents, the most common types of personal watercraft (PWC) accidents for 2020 include:

Collision with a vessel (101)
Collision with a fixed object (46)
Fall on PWC (25)
Falls overboard (20)
Capsizing (7)

Moreover, the most common causes of jet ski and other PWC accidents in 2020 as assessed by authorities were:

No proper look-out/inattention (71)
Operator inexperience (38)
Careless/reckless operation (29)
Excessive speed (21)
Off throttle steering-jet (16)

Common Jet Ski Accident Injuries

Riding a jet ski can be extremely fun, so British tourists often choose to rent one while on holiday in Florida. When all goes well, renting a jet ski results in a day of adventure in the Florida sun and surf. An accident, however, can cause serious injuries, including:

Broken bones
Lacerations and contusions
Head injuries
Internal injuries
Back and neck injuries
Spinal injuries, including paralysis

Who Is Liable for Injuries Suffered in a Florida Jet Ski Accident?

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Florida jet ski accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical and emotional injuries, if someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct contributed to the accident.

If you rented the jet ski, the rental company could be liable for your injuries if they failed to adhere to the strict laws that apply to jet ski rentals. For example, they must ensure that all vehicles undergo regular maintenance and that necessary repairs are made prior to renting a jet ski. In addition, they must ensure that all riders wear a life vest that is an appropriate size for them. If the rental company breached the duty of care owed to you as someone who rented their jet ski, they could be held legally liable for injuries suffered in an accident.

Similarly, if another watercraft was involved in the accident, the owner/operator of the craft might be liable for your injuries if their negligence contributed to the accident. A boater who was intoxicated at the time of the collision, for instance, would likely be held responsible for causing or contributing to the accident. A boater who was speeding or getting too close to jet skiers would also most likely be held liable under Florida law.

Compensation for British Tourists Injured in an Orlando Jet Ski Accident

If another party caused or contributed to the jet ski accident that resulted in your injuries, they may be held legally liable for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are direct expenses, such as lost wages, hospital and doctor bills, and the cost to replace or repair damaged property. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate an injured victim for the emotional trauma, pain, suffering, physical injury and diminished capacity to enjoy life, as well as permanent disability, disfigurement, the loss of a limb, or paralysis.

Experienced Legal Help for British Tourists Injured in Florida Jet Ski Accidents

If you or a family member is a British tourist who has been injured in a Florida jet ski accident, the Orlando personal injury attorneys at Bailey Fisher are dedicated to helping you seek justice and compensation for your injuries. We are the lawyers that travel agents trust to help their clients from the U.K. injured while on holiday. Let us help you navigate the Florida legal system by advocating for you and your rights as an injured victim.

We are committed to putting our experience to work helping British accident victims injured in Florida take effective legal action against those who caused or contributed to their injuries. If you were injured in a jet ski accident due to someone else’s negligence, we will investigate the circumstances of your accident and injury, help you understand all of the elements of your case, and tirelessly pursue the responsible party (or parties) to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for all of the damages resulting from your injury.

Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today for a free case evaluation. One of our experienced Orlando jet ski accident lawyers will listen closely to what happened and advise you on your best course of action. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve.