Boating and Jet Ski Accidents in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Summer weekends in Northeastern Pennsylvania mean boats, jet skis and swimmers on Harveys Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack and the region's smaller lakes and rivers. Most days end safely. But when a boat or personal watercraft is operated carelessly, injuries can be severe, and the rules for who pays are different from a car accident.
Common boating and watercraft injuries
Collisions between boats, or between a boat and a dock, swimmer or tuber.
Personal watercraft (jet ski) accidents, often involving inexperienced or young operators, sharp turns and wakes.
Falls overboard and propeller injuries, which can cause deep lacerations and amputations.
Towing accidents involving tubes, water skis and wakeboards.
Dock and marina injuries from poorly maintained surfaces, ladders and walkways. See who is liable for a slip and fall.
Who can be responsible
Boat operators owe a duty to operate safely: keep a proper lookout, follow speed and no-wake rules, keep a safe distance from swimmers and other boats, and stay sober. Depending on the facts, responsibility may extend to:
The operator who was driving carelessly.
The owner who let an inexperienced or impaired person operate the boat or watercraft.
A rental company that failed to give proper instructions, safety equipment or a seaworthy vessel.
A manufacturer of a defective boat, engine or watercraft. See defective product injuries.
Boating under the influence
Pennsylvania treats operating a boat while impaired much like drunk driving, with a 0.08% blood alcohol limit for most operators. An impaired operator can be held responsible for the injuries they cause, and a criminal case doesn't have to finish before an injury claim moves forward. See drunk driver accidents for how impairment affects a claim.
Insurance is different on the water
Boats are not covered by Pennsylvania's auto insurance system, so the first-party medical benefits and tort options that apply to car crashes generally don't apply here. A claim may be paid through a boat or watercraft policy, a homeowner's policy or an umbrella policy, and some operators carry no coverage at all. Identifying every possible source of coverage early is important. Your own health insurance may also have a right to repayment. See liens and subrogation.
Children and passengers
Many people hurt on the water are passengers or children who had no control over how the boat was driven. Claims for injured children follow special rules. See child injury claims. If a boating accident takes a life, see wrongful death claims in Pennsylvania.
What to do after a boating accident
Get medical care right away and keep records of all treatment.
Get the names of the operator, owner and any witnesses, along with the boat's registration number.
Take photos of the boat, the scene and your injuries.
Find out whether the accident was reported. Serious boating accidents in Pennsylvania generally must be reported to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Pennsylvania's two-year filing deadline generally applies to boating injury claims.
Hurt on a lake or river in NEPA? Joyce, Carmody & Moran is a Luzerne County personal injury firm with an office at 9 N. Main Street, Suite 4, in Pittston. Personal injury cases are typically handled on a contingent-fee basis: the attorney's fee comes from a recovery, and if there is no recovery there is no attorney's fee. Clients may still be responsible for certain case costs depending on the outcome and the written fee agreement, which we explain before you sign. Call 570-602-3560 or request a free consultation.
Let’s Work Together
When you work with us, you can expect clear communication, thoughtful strategy, and a team that is fully invested in your goals. We take the time to understand your needs, tailor our approach, and stand with you through every step of the legal process. Let’s move forward — together.