Have you been involved in a jet ski accident in St. Louis, MO? You may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses. Our St. Louis jet ski accident lawyers can help you maximize your financial recovery.
At Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re led by a former insurance defense attorney. Our team boasts more than 30 years of legal experience. We have a winning reputation – and for a good reason. We’ve won millions in damages for our clients, including some of the top verdicts in Missouri state history.
Give yourself the best opportunity to win your jet ski injury case. Call our St. Louis, Missouri law firm for help at (314) 400-0000. We offer a free consultation and are standing by to schedule yours right now.
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How Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Jet Ski Accident in St. Louis
If you’re injured while riding a jet ski in St. Louis, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with some serious trauma. This isn’t the time to concentrate your energy on an insurance claim or lawsuit – you need to focus on getting better. However, you’ll miss out on much-needed compensation if you wait too long to take action.
That’s where Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Hire our personal injury lawyer in St. Louis to give yourself the opportunity to get better. Let us handle your fight for compensation. We’re experienced litigators with a demonstrated ability to win tough cases just like yours.
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers will handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Investigating the circumstances surrounding your jet ski accident to determine cause and liability
- Gathering essential pieces of evidence to serve as building blocks for your case
- Working closely with respected experts as we build and value your injury claim
- Defending you against claims that you share responsibility or are entirely at fault
- Negotiating with other parties and insurance companies to get you the best possible settlement deal
We’ll be more than ready to take your fight to court if you aren’t offered a fair settlement. As experienced trial attorneys, we welcome the opportunity to argue passionately for accident victims in front of a jury. Insurance companies know this well and tend to want to avoid going up against us at trial. This can be a huge asset to you during the claims and negotiation process.
How Common Are Jet Ski Accidents?
According to the United States Coast Guard, hundreds of jet ski accidents are reported on waterways across the nation every year.
The number of injuries and deaths resulting from these personal watercraft accidents has increased in recent years.
Back in 2018, there were a total of 1,055 jet ski accidents nationwide, resulting in 634 injuries and 42 deaths.
By 2020, 1,564 jet skis and other personal watercraft were involved in boating accidents.
Those jet ski accidents resulted in:
- 66 fatalities, and
- 896 injuries.
That’s a 48 percent increase in total accidents, a 57 percent increase in fatalities, and a 41 percent spike in injuries in just two short years.
On an average day, there are 4 to 5 accidents involving jet skis and other personal watercraft across the country.
What Are the Leading Causes of Jet Ski Accidents in St. Louis?
While anything can potentially cause a jet ski accident, some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Speed
- Improper lookout
- Operator inattention
- Operator inexperience
- Alcohol use
- Force of wake/wave
- Machinery failure
- Navigation rules violation
- Sharp turns
- Weather
Many jet skis are rented, not owned. In 2020, more than a third of all personal watercraft accidents involved a rental.
Individuals who rent, rather than own, jet skis may be less familiar with using the equipment and navigating St. Louis waterways safely.
Who’s Liable For My Injuries After a St. Louis Jet Ski Accident?
Under Missouri state law, anyone who contributes to a boating accident with a jet ski can be liable for resulting harm.
A thorough investigation might reveal that one or more of the following parties are liable:
- Other jet ski operators
- Passengers
- Jet ski rental companies
- Boat operators
- Other personal watercraft operators
- Jet ski manufacturers
Our St. Louis boating accident lawyers will work diligently to determine who’s responsible for causing you to get hurt. Seeking damages from all at-fault parties can help to increase the odds of maximum financial recovery.
What Damages Can I Get If I’m Hurt in a Jet Ski Accident in Eastern Missouri?
Whether you’re exploring the Mississippi River, the Lake of the Ozarks, or another waterway near St. Louis, an accident can be costly. Fortunately, Missouri law allows you to seek compensation if someone else is at fault.
Traditionally, both economic damages and non-economic damages are available.
Economic damages cover the financial costs of your jet ski accident, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Funeral costs, if a jet ski accident results in wrongful death
Non-economic damages make up for the pain and suffering you experience, such as:
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic pain
Don’t let insurance companies control the conversation about what your case is worth. Hire Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers and make them negotiate honestly and consider the full scope and impact of your jet ski injuries.
Jet Ski Operators Are Vulnerable to Severe, Catastrophic Injuries
There’s not much to protect you if your jet ski is involved in a maritime accident. Whether you’re struck by another vessel or hurt in another type of jet ski accident, there’s a good chance that you’ll be badly injured.
Our St. Louis jet ski accident attorneys are here to help you seek full compensation for every one of your jet ski injuries.
Call us for help if you’ve suffered:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Burn injuries
- Loss of a limb
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Eye injury
- Hearing loss
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injury
- Lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Trauma resulting from loss of oxygen
- Drowning injury
Our St. Louis wrongful death attorneys can also provide assistance if you’ve lost a family member in a fatal jet ski accident. Don’t hesitate to contact our law office in St. Louis, Missouri to discuss your rights and options. Our team is standing by to take your call now.
What Happens If I’m Blamed For a Jet Ski Accident in Missouri?
Don’t panic – you can still recover compensation as long as you’re not solely to blame.
Missouri has pure comparative negligence rules. Sharing blame won’t bar a financial recovery, but it will affect how much money you can get.
Your damages will be reduced to reflect your contribution to the jet ski accident. The more at fault you are, the less money you’ll be able to get.
Let’s say you’re assigned 50 percent of the blame for a jet ski accident because you weren’t paying attention. If your damages total $100,000, you’ll be awarded $50,000.
You can probably see why other negligent parties would try to blame the victim and point fingers at you. The more liability you share, the less money they’ll have to pay for your medical bills and lost wages. So, it’s important to fight back and defend yourself against these kinds of tactics.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers will anticipate these efforts and have a strategy in place to protect you. Contact our law office to learn more today.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Jet Ski Accident Lawsuits in Missouri?
You generally have five years to file a lawsuit to recover damages for an injury and three years to file a wrongful death case. If you miss the deadline that applies to your case, you’ll forfeit the right to seek damages for your injuries.
There are times when the statute of limitations might be different. However, this could mean having less time to act, not more.
The best way to preserve your legal rights is by calling our experienced St. Louis personal injury attorneys as soon as possible after your personal watercraft accident. Our team can begin to work on your case as soon as you ask for our help. This increases the likelihood of a timely claim and a successful result.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our St. Louis Jet Ski Accident Lawyers
Did you recently get injured in a boating accident with a jet ski in St. Louis, Missouri? Contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to compensation, and our St. Louis jet ski accident lawyers are ready to help you maximize your recovery.
Put 30+ years of experience and a demonstrated ability to win tough cases in your corner. Call our law office to get started. Your first consultation is free. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, there’s no risk to ask for our help.
You only pay if we win your jet ski injury case. There’s zero risk involved, so get in touch with our award-winning legal team now.
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