Waverunners, Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and other personal watercraft, are immensely popular in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida’s coastline. Jet Ski rentals are a common offering for tourists, and many permanent residents have their own vessels. T
here is a popular saying that, “It’s impossible to be sad on a Jet Ski.” They are, of course, great fun; however, our Fort Myers boating accident lawyers know that the truth is these craft can also be extremely dangerous.
Florida leads the nation in boating fatalities, with 81 deaths and 685 reportable accidents in 2024, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Lee County remains among the top counties for personal watercraft crashes. T
he state has over 1 million registered vessels, with nearly as many unregistered but actively used. Personal watercraft are widely used, yet 65% of fatal crash operators lacked formal boater education. Many deaths could have been prevented with proper life jacket use.
To contact Garvin Injury Law for a free case review, call (239) 277-0005.
Why Choose Garvin Injury Law For Your Jet Ski Accident Claim?
- Injury law is all we do. We have extensive knowledge and understanding of Florida state and federal injury laws and how to build your strongest case.
- We have over fifty years of experience protecting the rights of Fort Myers personal injury victims.
- We get results. We have a proven record of recovering the maximum possible compensation for our clients.
- We pay all costs of pursuing your claim, and you pay nothing until we win for you.
How a Fort Myers Jet Ski Accident Attorney Can Help You
A Fort Myers jet ski accident attorney will evaluate your claim and advise whether they believe you have a valid claim for damages. If they represent you, they will investigate your accident to help determine its cause and the parties liable for your injuries.
An experienced Fort Myers jet ski accident attorney will act quickly to help discover and collect necessary supporting evidence and to build your strongest case. They will also help ensure that your damages are all considered and accurately valued to help determine the value of your claim.
Your attorney can help resolve your case as quickly as possible. However, if a fair settlement can not be reached, they can take your case to trial to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Your chances of recovering the maximum possible compensation significantly improve when an experienced Fort Myers personal injury lawyer represents you.
Jet Ski Injury in Fort Myers?
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Who Is Liable For Your Jet Ski Accident?
At Garvin Injury Law, our team of personal injury attorneys represent victims of personal watercraft accidents in Fort Myers, Naples, and the Florida Keys (including Key West). While many of these cases focus on accountability from the negligent PWC (Personal Water Craft) operator, in many instances, this is not the only responsible party.
A jet ski accident lawyer at our Fort Myers firm can help you determine whom to sue. Other defendants may include:
- The PWC rental company. Although waivers of liability that are often signed prior to a rental can complicate a Jet Ski injury claim, they will not always foreclose on it. That is because businesses cannot insulate themselves from liability for gross negligence, as defined in F.S. 768.72. Gross negligence is conduct that is so reckless or wanting in care, that it constitutes a conscious disregard or indifference to the life, safety or rights of those exposed to it.
- Examples might be allowing rentals during unsafe weather conditions, failing to maintain equipment, or renting to operators who are underage or clearly intoxicated. Even if there is no evidence of gross negligence, we may still be able to challenge the validity of the liability waiver.
- The PWC manufacturer or distributor. These would be product liability claims that would allege the Jet Ski, Waverunner, or other PWC was defectively-designed or manufactured or lacked adequate warning instructions.
- For example, several PWC makers have been held liable for failure to warn of the potential for serious internal injuries caused by contact with a blast of high-pressure water from the jet thrust propulsion system. The most well-known PWC manufacturers are Kawasaki (Jet-Ski), Bombardier (Sea-Doo), Yamaha (Waverunner), and Polaris.
- Private PWC owner. If the owner of the vessel is someone different than the operator, they may be liable for injuries sustained on that vessel.
Our Fort Myers jet ski accident attorneys can help you identify all possible avenues of recovery following a personal watercraft accident.
Types Of Fort Myers Jet Ski Accidents
Many PWC accidents resulted in very serious injuries and even death. Lacerations, broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries were among the leading injuries reported.
The most common types of Florida Jet Ski accidents, as outlined by the FWC, include:
- Collision with a vessel;
- Collision with a fixed object;
- Fall on PWC;
- Fall overboard;
- Grounding and;
- Capsizing.
More than half of these accidents involve a personal watercraft that is either rented or borrowed.
While rental units account for only 2 percent of the personal watercraft on the water, they account for 40 percent of accidents. Nearly half of those injurious accidents involved an operator who had less than 10 hours of experience. Another 61 percent of operators in these cases had no boater education.
Due to high speeds, lack of experience using a PWC, and the exposed nature of a rider, Jet Ski accidents can become fatal — if a loved one was killed in PWC crash, contact our wrongful death lawyers in Fort Myers to pursue justice for them.
Leland and Susan have been incredible to work with. They have so much compassion. They offer piece of mind when circumstances are out of your control. I would recommend them to everyone.
Rachel Gallaway
Common Causes of Jet Ski Accident in Fort Myers
The primary causes of personal watercraft accidents were:
- Operator inexperience;
- No proper look-out / inattention;
- Carelessness / recklessness;
- Excessive speed;
- Sharp turn;
- Alcohol use;
- Equipment failure.
Rental agencies (most often located in areas like Captiva, Sanibel, Marco Island, Fort Myers Beach, and Key West) must ensure their equipment is free from defects, properly maintained, and in good working order. Users must be properly trained, not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and of a proper age to operate the equipment safely.
State statistics show that 30 percent of serious and fatal accidents are reported in accidents involving riders under the age of 21. Manufacturers, sellers, rental companies, and private owners of PWCs have a responsibility to end-users, and it is important they be held accountable when they fall short.
Because personal watercraft injuries are often so severe, it is important to discuss all potential legal avenues with a Fort Myers drowning lawyer you trust.
Jet Ski Components That Can Lead To Injuries
Numerous manufacturers of jet skis exist, and they all differ in some ways. However, they do have many standard features that can contribute to accidents and injuries.
Some of these features lead to injury because of driver error. However, some may cause injury because they are defective, or the jet ski has been negligently maintained or repaired.
Some important jet ski components that operators need to be aware of and educated about include:
- The engine– Most jet skis have internal combustion engines that are designed for speed. If a rider is inexperienced and does not know what to expect when they twist the throttle, they may be unprepared for the fast acceleration and burst of power. Additionally, if a mechanic is not experienced with jet ski engines, they may create problems that can lead to an accident.
- The impeller– Water passes through the impeller when the jet ski is in use, forcing the water out of the back of the jet ski and pushing it forward. If an impeller is defective or improperly maintained, it may not operate properly and cause an operator to lose control and crash.
- The steering nozzle– The impeller pushes water through the steering nozzle, which is located behind the impeller at the back of the jet ski. The steering nozzle turns when a rider turns the handlebars. If a steering nozzle gets stuck or malfunctions in some other way, the rider can lose control, be thrown off the jet ski, or crash.
- Electronics– Many jet skis have complicated electronic components similar to cars. If the electronics fail because of a manufacturer defect or negligent maintenance, there can be a sudden loss of control, causing an accident.
- The drive shaft– A driveshaft connects the jet ski’s impeller to the engine. If it is defective or negligently maintained, it can result in accidents.
Our Fort Myers jet ski accident attorneys are highly knowledgeable about jet skis, how they work, and the numerous possible causes of jet ski accidents. We know what to look for and how to identify the cause and liability for your accident.
Contact Garvin Injury Law Today For A Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a jet ski accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. Proving causation and liability in jet ski injury cases can be challenging. You need the help of an experienced Fort Myers jet ski accident attorney.
At Garvin Injury Law, our attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover the maximum possible compensation for your damages.
Contact the Garvin Injury Law jet ski accident attorneys in Fort Myers, Florida, today at (239) 277-0005, or online for a free case review.