Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accident Lawyer

Jet skis and other personal watercraft are fast, powerful, and easy to rent, which makes them one of the most common sources of serious water injuries. Collisions with boats, docks, and other riders, ejections, and propulsion-related injuries can cause broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, internal injuries, and drowning. Muggeo & Associates represents injured riders, passengers, swimmers, and families in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida.

Common Jet Ski Accidents

Collisions with other personal watercraft, boats, docks, and moorings
Riders and passengers thrown off during sharp turns or wake jumping
Swimmers and divers struck near beaches and swim areas
Operators who lose steering control after letting off the throttle
Inexperienced renters sent out with little or no instruction
Intoxicated operation
Defective throttles, steering, kill switches, and hulls
Severe internal injuries to passengers who fall off the back without proper clothing

Massachusetts Personal Watercraft Rules

Massachusetts regulates personal watercraft under G.L. c. 90B and state regulations. Among other rules, the state summary provides that:

Operators under 16 are prohibited
Every person on board must wear an approved life jacket
Nighttime operation is prohibited
Slow, no-wake speed is required within 150 feet of swimmers, shorelines, boat launches, docks, floats, and moored or docked boats
Personal watercraft may not operate within 150 feet of a bathing beach
Operation on small ponds and lakes under 75 acres is prohibited
Operating under the influence is prohibited

Violations of these safety rules can be strong evidence of negligence.

Florida and New Hampshire

Florida has its own personal watercraft and rental livery laws, including minimum age requirements and safety instruction for renters, and Florida waters see many rental accidents. See Florida Boating Accidents. New Hampshire’s lakes, including Winnipesaukee, also have their own boating rules and speed limits.

Who May Be Responsible

The operator of the jet ski or another vessel
The owner who allowed an inexperienced or impaired person to operate
Rental companies that failed to instruct, supervise, maintain equipment, or enforce age and area limits
Resorts, hotels, and tour operators that arranged the rental
Manufacturers of defective watercraft or components (see Product Liability)

Maritime Law Can Apply

Injuries on navigable waters may be governed by federal maritime law. That affects where a case can be filed, which defenses apply, and how long you have to sue. Most maritime personal injury claims must be brought within three years under 46 U.S.C. § 30106. Owners may also try to limit their liability under the federal Limitation of Liability Act, which has its own procedures and deadlines.

We represent injured people and families along the North Shore and across Massachusetts, including Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott, Beverly, Gloucester, Newburyport, Lynn, and Cape Cod and the Islands, as well as clients in New Hampshire and Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for a jet ski accident?

Depending on the facts, the operator, the owner who let someone use the jet ski, a rental company that failed to instruct or supervise renters, another boat operator, or the manufacturer of a defective watercraft. Several parties may share responsibility.

What are the jet ski rules in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts prohibits personal watercraft operation by anyone under 16, requires operators to wear a life jacket, bars nighttime operation, requires slow, no-wake speed within 150 feet of swimmers, shorelines, docks, and other boats, prohibits operation within 150 feet of a bathing beach, and prohibits operation while under the influence. Violations can be evidence of negligence.

Does maritime law apply to a jet ski accident?

Often. Accidents on navigable waters, such as coastal waters, harbors, and many rivers and lakes connected to interstate commerce, can fall under federal admiralty law, which has its own rules, including a three-year limitations period for most personal injury claims. Inland ponds and lakes may be governed by state law instead.

I signed a waiver at the rental shop. Can I still bring a claim?

Possibly. Massachusetts courts generally enforce releases for ordinary negligence, but not for gross negligence or reckless conduct, and the wording of the release matters. Different rules can apply under federal maritime law and in Florida. Have a lawyer review the document.

Can the owner limit liability for a jet ski accident?

Vessel owners sometimes file petitions under the federal Limitation of Liability Act to cap their liability at the value of the vessel. These petitions have strict procedures and deadlines, and they can be challenged, especially when the owner knew of the negligence or was operating.

Talk With a Boating and Water Injury Attorney

If you or a family member was hurt in a jet ski or personal watercraft accident, call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, text the same number, or request a consultation online. We answer calls 24/7. Offices in Salem, Massachusetts and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Maritime deadlines and notice rules can be short, so contact us promptly.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. Last reviewed November 2026.

Call or Text (978) 741-1177 to Schedule Your Consultation