Beaumont Boat Accident Attorneys

Southeast Texas is known for its beautiful rivers, lakes and bayous. From the Neches River to Sabine Lake, there’s nothing more enjoyable than exploring the waterways on your own personal watercraft. However, the risk of injury is also great. 

When tragedy strikes on the water, you need a boat accident lawyer who truly understands personal injury law. Since 1976, our attorneys at Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P., have recovered billions for injured Texans. We’re seasoned trial lawyers, dedicated to fighting for the rights of hard-working individuals and their families. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a boating accident, we are here to help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.

Injury Causes In Watercraft Accidents

A personal watercraft (PWC) is quite the popular water sport device however the sheer number of accidents and injuries associated with these machines is larger than one would expect. Those working behind federal and state statistics have revealed watercraft injuries are estimated at a yearly economic impact of $235 million (in excess of) with around 4,000 accidents. Unfortunately many injuries do not get reported to the authorities so personal watercraft injury statistics are not wholly accurate.

Better legislation (laws and rules) and educational programs (optional and compulsory) have helped reduce the rate of watercraft accidents and injuries in recent years but the following PWC injury causes are noteworthy because their contribution to statistics are many times the direct result of flaws with design and operation of the machine.

Off Throttle

All recreational water vessels including boats and personal watercraft (PWC) steer with thrust. The main difference in steering between a PWC and a conventional boat is that the latter contains a downward faced, exposed propeller, that can be used to steer the boat to some degree even when its not generating any momentum. The personal watercraft, on the other hand, uses a jet nozzle to generate thrust, which means it can only be steered effectively when the throttle is engaged. When the throttle is released on a PWC (known as off-throttle), the steering ability drops in proportion to the reduction of thrust.

With some models reaching 250 horsepower and speeds up to 70 mph, a personal watercraft can coast about 100 yards in the direction it was traveling after the throttle has been released. What compounds the danger of steering loss is the fact there are no brakes available while coasting. According to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 24% of the accidents associated with personal watercraft have cited loss of control or steering loss as a contributing factor. In Florida, where there are a high number of personal water recreation vehicles used, the number is far higher, making it the second most common cause of accidents.

Manufacturers have been working on a solution to this problem and some newer models have modifications in place, however for the vast majority of these watercraft on the market today the problem of steering loss still prevalent as a design flaw that can cause severe injury or death.

Jet-Thrust Injuries

In a personal watercraft such as Jet Ski, WaveRunner or Sea-Doo, a powerful stream of water (sometimes referred to as a jet stream or jet drive), is produced to propel the craft forward. The large volume of water used in the jet stream comes from the craft’s impeller drawing in the body of water the craft is floating in and forcibly pumping it through a steering nozzle located at the end of the craft. The reaction is the movement of the boat in the opposite direction, similar in principle to how a rocket works.

The danger associated with the jet stream produced in these personal water vehicles cannot be ignored. It has been estimated the gallons per minute of water displacement can range between 800 and 5,000 depending on a variety of factors. This means on average 50 gallons of water a second can be traveling through the exit nozzle with 800 pounds of force to create the jet thrust the craft uses for forward movement.

Falling off a personal watercraft is a very common occurrence and is an expected event when learning how to operate or ride one. What is unexpected for most riders however is being seriously injured from landing in the path of powerful jet water flow behind the craft. Unfortunately, this happens more frequently than realized and can cause a person to have internal organ damage, orifice injuries including severe complications to the anus or rectum and vagina.

Manufacturers are fully aware of this problem and yet have not taken measures to create a design for personal watercraft that takes jet thrust accidents into consideration. It is therefore an inherent danger with most all PWCs.

Boat Explosion

Explosions of watercraft happen more frequently than realized and its important to understand the causes, resulting injuries and what you can do. Although fires and explosions can and do occur on traditional water vehicles, personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, Sea-Doos and Waverunners are more susceptible to explosions because of their design.

The United States Coast Guard defines a personal water craft as one that is less than thirteen feet in length, able to carry up to four people, and uses a jet stream for forward movement. While all personal watercraft have inboard engines they do not have a bilge blower which is a fan used to ventilate gas fumes in and around enclosed engine compartment spaces. Without this fan clearing out gas vapors in a PWC, the standard method required by the USCG is to passively vent the gas through openings when the watercraft is in motion.

The problem arises when the personal watercraft has not been in motion and has accumulated gas vapors. If the evaporation from as little as 1 tablespoon of gasoline has entered the engine compartment with ignition it could cause a fire explosion resulting in very serious burns, injuries and possibly death. There are many reasons flammable gas could enter the engine compartment ranging from defects in the fuel lines, cracked gaskets, fuel tank holes, poor servicing, inferior parts, faulty manufacturing and more. These same reasons also lead to the unintended transfer of electricity from the electrical system components aboard the craft which ignite the fuel-air mixture and produce the explosion.

Whatever the reason for the explosion of a Jet Ski, or similar craft, the resulting injuries can be severe. The victim is often left with deadly burns and complications from impact after being thrown from the watercraft. Impacts from hitting the shore, other vehicles, property and the water itself can causes disfigurement and life long debilitating injuries. Many times jet boats like the Waverunner and Sea-Doo have been documented exploding at the dock, in a driveway, on a trailer causing fires injuries and other property damage.

Understanding Your Potential Compensation 

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2023 recreational boating statistics, 3,844 boating accidents occurred across the nation. These led to 564 deaths and approximately $63 million in property damage. Common contributing factors included distracted or inexperienced boat operators, improper lookouts, speeding and machine failures.

More often than not, these accidents could have been avoided. If you suffered serious injuries and property damage in a boating accident due to another person’s negligence or a defective product, you may be due compensation for the following:

• Loss of income or wages
• Property loss
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of consortium

If you are planning to pursue a personal injury claim, it’s important to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney. Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P., has been helping victims of boating accidents for over 45 years, and we have the resources to investigate the situation thoroughly and present a strong case on your behalf. We are ready to help you identify responsible parties and gather evidence to prove liability.

Get The Justice You Deserve: Call Us Today

Injuries from a boating accident can leave you with mounting medical bills and lost wages. Let our experienced boat accident attorneys at Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P., fight for your right to fair compensation. Call (409) 838-1000 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation today.