Los Angeles Jet Ski Accident Attorneys
A jet ski accident can leave you with traumatic injuries, mounting medical bills, and questions no one prepared you for. Personal watercraft (PWC) crashes are among the most dangerous incidents on California waterways, and according to U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating data, personal watercraft remain one of the leading vessel types in reported recreational boating accidents and fatalities.
At Cohen & Marzban, our experienced Los Angeles jet ski accident attorneys understand the unique mix of state boating law, federal maritime principles, and insurance tactics that shape these cases. Backed by more than 40 years of combined experience and over $2 billion recovered for injured clients, our jet ski accident lawyers in Los Angeles build aggressive cases against negligent operators, rental companies, and manufacturers so you can focus on your recovery.
Common Causes of Jet Ski Accidents in Los Angeles
Understanding why personal watercraft crashes happen helps our team pinpoint liability and build a stronger claim. As your trusted jet ski accident attorneys in Los Angeles, we investigate every contributing factor on the water and on shore.
- Operator inexperience: Many riders climb onto a jet ski with little or no training. The California Division of Boating and Waterways requires a California Boater Card for most operators, but rental customers and first-time riders often lack the skills to navigate wakes, boating traffic, or open water.
- Reckless and excessive speed: PWCs can exceed 60 mph. Sharp turns, wake jumping, and aggressive maneuvers near other vessels cause some of the most serious jet ski collisions in Los Angeles County.
- Boating under the influence (BUI): California law prohibits operating any vessel, including a jet ski, while impaired. Alcohol remains a leading factor in fatal boating accidents nationwide, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Operator inattention: Riders distracted by passengers, phones, or surroundings often fail to spot swimmers, kayakers, or moored boats until it is too late.
- Improper rental practices: Rental companies that skip safety briefings, hand keys to underage riders, or release defective PWCs may share legal responsibility for your injuries.
- Defective equipment: Failed steering, throttle malfunctions, faulty kill switches, or missing safety lanyards can turn a routine ride into a serious crash.
- Wake jumping and unsafe maneuvers: California Harbors and Navigation Code prohibits jumping a wake within 100 feet of another vessel, yet this remains a frequent cause of jet ski collisions.
- Crowded waterways: Marina del Rey, Long Beach Harbor, Castaic Lake, and the Los Angeles coastline experience heavy summer traffic, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Nighttime operation: California prohibits PWC use from sunset to sunrise. Operators who break this rule create dangerous, often catastrophic conditions for others.
What to Do After a Jet Ski Accident in Los Angeles
The hours and days following a personal watercraft crash often determine whether you recover full compensation. Here is what every injured rider, passenger, or swimmer should do to protect their health and their claim.
- Get medical attention immediately. Adrenaline and cold water can mask spinal injuries, internal bleeding, and concussions. A prompt medical exam also documents your injuries for the insurance claim.
- Report the accident. Under the California Harbors and Navigation Code, operators must report any boating accident involving death, disappearance, injury beyond basic first aid, or significant property damage to the Division of Boating and Waterways.
- Preserve evidence at the scene. If safely possible, photograph the watercraft, your injuries, the location, water conditions, and any visible damage. Save the rental agreement, waiver, and receipts.
- Get witness contact information. Other riders, boaters, lifeguards, and beachgoers may have seen what happened. Their statements can prove critical when insurers dispute fault.
- Do not give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters call quickly and ask leading questions designed to minimize your claim. Speak with a jet ski accident lawyer in Los Angeles before responding.
- Contact Cohen & Marzban as soon as possible. PWC evidence disappears fast. Rental records get archived, surveillance footage at marinas gets overwritten, and witnesses become hard to track down. The sooner we begin investigating, the stronger your case will be.
Common Jet Ski Accident Injuries
Jet ski riders have no airbags, no seat belts, and no enclosed cabin. Even at moderate speeds, a collision or fall can cause life-altering harm. Our Los Angeles jet ski accident attorneys regularly handle cases involving:
California Jet Ski Laws Every Rider Should Know
Understanding California's PWC rules is essential for both safe operation and a strong jet ski accident claim. When another rider, operator, or rental company violates these statutes, that violation often serves as powerful evidence of negligence in your case.
Compensation You May Recover After a Jet Ski Accident
A successful jet ski accident claim can pursue both the bills you can count and the harm that is harder to put a price on. Our exceptional Los Angeles jet ski accident lawyers fight for every category of damages allowed under California law.
Economic Damages
These cover the financial losses you can document:
- Emergency room, hospital, surgery, and rehabilitation costs
- Future medical care for long-term or permanent injuries
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent a return to work
- Property damage to the jet ski, gear, or other belongings
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
Non-Economic Damages
These compensate for losses that are real but harder to quantify:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium money damages for spouses
Punitive damages may also be available in cases involving intoxicated operators or extreme reckless conduct.
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