What Are the Most Common Jet Ski Injuries?

We have come a long way since Kawasaki introduced the first jet ski in 1972. Today’s version moves through the water like a knife slicing through butter. However, like other types of watercraft, jet skis also introduce the element of danger. From sharks lurking underwater to an inexperienced operator moving too fast, jet skis can cause a wide variety of injuries.

According to the United States Coast Guard (USCG), nearly 20 percent of all watercraft accidents involved at least one personal vessel such as a jet ski. In 2017, which is the latest edition of the USCG’s Recreational Boating Statistics, 624 people received some type of injury that was caused by a personal watercraft accident.
Jet skis place operators at a higher risk of suffering from a serious injury because the personal watercraft is not as protective as a high-powered motorboat. Add one or more other factors, and operating a jet ski can lead to an accident that causes a serious injury.

Common Jet Ski Injuries

Whether you are about to take your first jet ski ride or you have amassed years of operating the most powerful jet skis, you should learn about the most common types of jet ski injuries. Knowing what potentially awaits you on the open water can help you take steps to prevent a jet ski accident.

Concussion

Unlike for motorcycles, many states have not enacted mandatory helmet laws for the operators of personal watercraft like jet skis. Leaving the head vulnerable to a high-impact collision can trigger severe head trauma that requires emergency medical care. However, most head injuries that result from a jet ski accident involve suffering from the symptoms of a concussion.

You can experience one or more of the following symptoms that are associated with a concussion:

•        Lethargy
•        Headaches
•        Dizziness
•        Confusion
•        Losing consciousness
•        Nausea
•        Chronic fatigue
•        Memory loss

Unlike many other types of common jet ski injuries, a concussion cannot be treated by surgery and/or an aggressive treatment plan. You simply have to allow time to pass before the symptoms of a concussion mitigate.

Whiplash

When a violent movement causes your body to contort to an unusual position, you become susceptible to suffering a whiplash injury. Your head, neck, and back move into positions that trigger a considerable amount of pain. You can avoid this common type of jet ski injury by taking much wider and slower turns. Recovering from whiplash requires you to stay off your feet as much as possible.

Deep Bruises

The lack of protective gear makes a jet skier vulnerable to suffering from one or more deep bruises that are caused by two different types of impacts. First, crashing into another water vessel can cause serious bruising throughout the body. Second, the strong up and down movements in water can cause you to hit parts of the jet ski.

Applying ice to deep bruises is the first act of medical attention, followed by a lengthy period of inactivity.

Fractures

Once again, the lack of protective gear makes you susceptible to suffering one or more fractures that are caused by a collision. The arms and legs are especially vulnerable because they are not protected properly and both limbs typically sit in direct range of an oncoming water vessel or stationary object.
Weeks, if not months in a stable cast allow a fracture to heal.

Lacerations

Like other types of water vessels, jet skis contain jagged edges that when impacted hard, can result in serious lacerations. You also have to consider the sharp objects impacting you on a boat or a stationary object. Open wounds can result in bacterial infections that if not treated immediately, can exacerbate the seriousness of the original injury.

The USCG states lacerations constitute 17 percent of common jet ski injuries.

Sprains 

Sprains develop when one or more tendons overstretch or become damaged. Baseball pitchers experience sprains in the wrist and elbows because of overextension of the arm. For jet skiers, sprains develop most often in the shoulder because of the strength required to maneuver the solo water vessel.
Reducing your jet ski’s speed is one way to prevent sprains.

Common Causes of Jet Ski Accidents

One of the questions the personal injury lawyers at Morgan & Morgan hear frequently about common jet ski injuries is what causes the incidents. Because they require low maintenance and are a relatively affordable way to move on open water, the popularity of individual watercraft has soared in recent years. Just the increase in the number of jet skiers has increased the number of the most common jet ski injuries.

However, as with most other types of water vessels, several other factors cause common jet ski injuries.

Recklessness

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), recklessness accounts for nearly 26 percent of all personal watercraft crashes. That is more than a quarter of all accidents that involve jet skis. Operating a jet ski at an unsafe speed is one of the main contributors to the high accident numbers. Another example of recklessness is when an operator takes jet skis out into unsafe waters.

Operator Inexperience

They look so easy to operate. Step on a platform, turn the key, and off you go. However, operating a jet ski requires more skill than riding a bicycle with training wheels. You need to gain plenty of experience before you challenge the high sea. Operator inexperience ranks as one of the most common causes of jet ski injuries. Inexperience can lead to events such as traveling too fast or not making a wide enough turn.

Operating Under the Influence

There is something about the open water that motivates watercraft operators to drink a lot of alcohol. The recreational element of operating a jet ski makes it seem like drinking and operating is all in good fun. However, intoxication remains just as much of a problem operating a jet ski as it is for operating a motor vehicle. Alcohol consumption has caused some of the most violent watercraft crashes. Booze impairs motor skills and leads to poor decisions on the open water.

Mechanical Issues

Not all jet ski accidents result from operator error. Many tourists rent jet skis during vacations and because some jet ski rental shops fail to maintain their inventory of jet skis adequately, the watercraft can break down at the worst possible time. At Morgan & Morgan, our team of highly rated personal injury attorneys has successfully represented clients that received injuries because of a jet skis’ mechanical issues.

Work with a Team of Experienced Jet Ski Accident Lawyers

If you suffered one of the common jet ski injuries, you should contact a personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan. We will discuss your case with you during a free case evaluation and if you agree to hire us, we will immediately start investigating your case to determine liability.

Schedule a free case evaluation today by submitting the short online form or by calling our office.