Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A 51-year-old retired astronaut was killed Sunday afternoon while riding on a jet ski with his 22-year-old son off of Pensacola Beach.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials claim the man’s 26-year-old son crashed into them with another jet ski.
According to reports, the 26-year-old hit the rear of his father’s jet ski, knocking his father into the water.
The man was pulled onto the beach where friends apparently performed CPR. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The man’s two sons were not injured.
The fish and wildlife agency is still investigating the crash.
Jet skiing can be an enjoyable water activity when performed safely and under the supervision of experienced professionals. Unfortunately, some people that engage in jet skiing, tubing, wakeboarding or waterskiing behave recklessly putting themselves and those around them at serious risk for injury or death. Jet ski accidents tend to occur between other riders and fixed objects in and around the water. While no one expects to be injured by another driver when jet skiing, these accidents can and do happen.
According to the U.S. Coastguard, a person is more likely to sustain injuries on a jet ski than on any other type of personal watercraft. Victims of jet ski accidents may suffer head trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries end even death. While collisions are one way jet ski drivers may become injured, defective equipment may also cause just as severe injuries including severe burns, amputation and carbon monoxide poisoning. When defective equipment is to blame for a serious jet ski accident, the fault may lie with the rental company that supplied the damaged jet ski or with the manufacturer who sold a defective product.
The Florida Jet Ski Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you and your loved ones obtain the compensation to which you are entitled to following a jet ski or boating accident. Wrongful death and personal injury claims involving jet ski or personal watercraft accidents usually contain complicated legal and technical issues. At Whittel & Melton, we can help you hold the reckless or negligent parties responsible for your losses accountable for their actions so that you can obtain full and fair compensation for your suffering.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one due to a reckless jet ski driver or a defective or poorly designed jet ski, contact the Florida Jet Ski Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call us statewide and toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).