Riding a jet ski at Longview Lake or revving up on the Missouri River is an easy and fun way to spend a summer day in the Kansas City area. But it’s not as easy to recover from the injuries you suffer when your day of recreation turns into a trip to the emergency room.
Jet skis move fast, they offer no bodily protection, and when something goes wrong, the consequences are often serious.
At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers help individuals who have been seriously injured in Kansas City jet ski accidents caused by someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior. Whether the crash involved a rental watercraft, another rider, or a mechanical failure, we work to hold the right parties accountable to you.
You should never be left to deal with the consequences of someone else’s negligence. Call Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation. We can evaluate your case and help you explore your legal options for obtaining compensation for your injuries and losses.
Key Takeaways for Kansas City Jet Ski Accidents
- Jet ski accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries such as spinal damage, brain trauma, or permanent disability.
- Common causes include reckless operation, rental company negligence, and defective or poorly maintained watercraft.
- Kansas City waterways, including Lake Jacomo, Blue Springs Lake, and the Missouri River, see a surge in jet ski crashes during warmer months.
- Most jet ski accidents are preventable and often caused by someone else’s lack of care.
- Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers knows how to hold manufacturers, rental companies, and negligent riders accountable for Kansas City jet ski accidents.
- Our firm is built for high-stakes injury cases like these.
- Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers works hard to maximize your recovery so you can focus on healing and moving forward.
Why Choose Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers for Your Jet Ski Accident Case?
After years of working closely with families affected by serious injuries, we’ve seen how one negligent act can derail a life. That experience drives us to provide more than legal help. We offer guidance, clarity, hope for the future, and an ally who won’t back down until we obtain the results you need. Here's how we approach every case:
Personal, one-on-one attention
We’re not a volume law firm. We take on a limited number of cases, so every client gets our full attention. When you hire us, you’re not passed off to someone you’ve never met. You work directly with attorneys who know your name, your injuries, and your goals.
Results that speak for themselves
Our firm has achieved some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Missouri, including multiple multimillion-dollar results in high-stakes catastrophic injury cases. We build every case as if it’s going to trial, and insurance companies know it.
Focused on life-changing injuries
Jet ski injuries can leave you unable to work, care for yourself, or enjoy life the way you did before. We understand the long-term impact of brain injuries, shattered limbs, and spinal damage, and we work with trusted experts to calculate the real cost of those losses.
You don’t pay unless we win
There are no up-front fees to work with us. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we secure compensation for you.
Respected leadership in the Kansas City legal community
Our firm is deeply rooted in Kansas City. Both founding attorneys were born and raised here. We serve on local legal boards, support area nonprofits, and have built a reputation across Missouri and Kansas for excellence in catastrophic injury litigation.
Kansas City Waterways Pose Serious Risks for Jet Ski Riders
With summer temperatures rising, Jackson County lakes like Longview Lake, Blue Springs Lake, and Lake Jacomo draw thousands of visitors each year. Jet skis are a favorite on these waters, but they’re also a leading cause of water-related injury.
Jet skis are fast, powerful, and often operated by riders with little or no training. When something goes wrong, whether it’s a collision, a flip, or a throttle malfunction, the rider has little protection. Even at moderate speeds, an impact can cause life-altering trauma.
Common injuries from jet ski accidents in Kansas City include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
- Bone fractures and soft tissue damage
- Amputations
- Facial injuries or disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Many victims of accidents involving jet skis, boats, and other watercraft are treated at Truman Medical Center, Research Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Hospital, or Children’s Mercy Hospital for emergency care, surgery, and long-term rehabilitation.
Rental Companies May Be Liable When They Cut Corners
Jet skis are often rented by vacationers, tourists, or weekend riders with little experience. In Missouri, no boating license is required for operators born before 1984, and even younger operators can rent after completing a short course. That leaves a wide gap in safety, especially when rental companies fail to take reasonable precautions.
A Kansas City jet ski rental company may be liable if it:
- Rented out damaged or poorly maintained equipment
- Failed to provide life jackets or basic safety gear
- Did not offer any training or instruction on safe use
- Ignored bad weather warnings and allowed rentals to continue
- Failed to restrict operation in busy or hazardous areas
We will investigate whether a rental company ignored safety protocols or failed to inspect the jet ski before sending someone out. If they cut corners and someone got hurt, they should be held responsible.
Defective Jet Skis and Product Liability Claims
Even experienced riders can be injured when the equipment fails. Defective or poorly designed jet skis are responsible for a surprising number of accidents, many of which go unreported or are wrongly blamed on operator error.
Some common mechanical and design failures include:
- Throttle or steering malfunctions
- Engine failures or stalls during operation
- Electrical problems or warning system failures
- Fuel system leaks that cause fires or explosions
- Cracks in the hull or water leaks
- Safety feature failures (such as kill switches)
Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers has experience taking on product liability claims involving national manufacturers. When we investigate these cases, we bring in engineers and other experts to inspect the watercraft and determine exactly what went wrong.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Jet Ski Accident in Kansas City?
Jet ski accidents often involve more than one cause and more than one responsible party. Figuring out who can be held legally accountable depends on what happened, where it happened, and whether a person, company, or manufacturer failed to meet their obligations to keep others safe.
Possible liable parties in Missouri jet ski injury claims include:
- Another jet ski or boat operator: If another rider was speeding, intoxicated, distracted, or ignored boating laws, they may be legally responsible for the crash and your injuries.
- Jet ski rental companies: Rental operators must inspect and maintain equipment, provide safety gear, and avoid sending riders out in unsafe conditions. Failing to do so can make them liable.
- Manufacturers of defective watercraft: If a design flaw, mechanical malfunction, or poor construction caused the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be responsible under Missouri product liability laws.
- Event organizers or property owners: In some cases, a third party may be liable for unsafe conditions at a private lake, boat launch, or organized event.
Determining fault in jet ski crashes isn’t always obvious. At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we conduct thorough investigations, often bringing in accident reconstructionists, engineers, and product safety experts in cases involving catastrophic injuries. Our goal is to hold every responsible party accountable, whether that’s an individual rider or a national corporation.
What to Do After a Jet Ski Accident in Kansas City
If you’ve already sought medical treatment, that’s the right first step. Jet ski crashes often cause internal injuries or head trauma that may not be immediately visible. Prompt medical evaluation not only protects your health but also creates a record that supports your claim.
Once you’ve addressed urgent care needs, here are the next steps you can take:
- Hire a lawyer: A personal injury attorney can immediately start preserving evidence, identifying liable parties, and protecting your claim.
- Keep all appointments: Continuing medical care helps your recovery and strengthens your case by documenting your condition over time.
- Create a journal: Note your symptoms, pain levels, emotional distress, and how the injury has affected your work and daily life.
- Avoid talking to insurers: Let your lawyer handle all communication with insurance companies to avoid statements that could hurt your case.
- Preserve evidence: Save receipts, photos of injuries or damage, and any rental agreements or documentation from the crash.
Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers will guide you through every step. You won’t be left guessing what to do—we take care of the legal side so you can focus on recovery.
Missouri Law on Jet Ski Injury Claims
Jet ski injury cases fall under Missouri personal injury law, and there are specific rules that can impact how and when you file a claim. At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we’ve handled serious recreational injury cases throughout Missouri, and we make sure every legal detail is addressed from the beginning.
Missouri’s pure comparative fault system
In Missouri, injury claims follow a pure comparative fault rule. That means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the crash. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, but you are not barred from recovery.
This rule often comes into play in jet ski collisions, where both riders may share some responsibility. It also underscores the need for an experienced personal injury lawyer who will beat back efforts to shift undue blame onto you for the accident. We conduct a detailed investigation to determine fault and defend your right to pursue damages.
Statute of limitations in Missouri
Missouri allows 5 years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim. For wrongful death cases, the filing deadline is 2 years.
These deadlines are strict. If you miss them, you may lose your right to seek compensation even if the facts of your case are strong. We recommend speaking with a lawyer as soon as possible to preserve evidence and avoid missed deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kansas City Jet Ski Accidents
Here are some of the most common questions we hear from clients after serious jet ski accidents in Kansas City. If you don’t see your question here, we’re always happy to speak with you directly.
What should I do if I didn't get the name of the person who hit me?
It’s not uncommon for victims in jet ski crashes to be too injured or disoriented to gather information right away. If you don’t have the name of the other rider or boat operator, we may still be able to track them down using incident reports, witness statements, rental logs, or surveillance footage from nearby docks or marinas. Don’t give up on your claim just because you don’t have all the details.
Are jet ski accidents reported to the police in Missouri?
In Missouri, boating accidents—including jet ski crashes—must be reported to the Missouri State Highway Patrol if they result in serious injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage. If you’re unsure whether a report was filed, we can help obtain official records and make sure any required documentation is complete for your case.
Can I still file a claim if I signed a waiver with a rental company?
Yes, possibly. Jet ski rental waivers don’t give companies a free pass to be negligent. Missouri courts often reject waivers if the company failed to maintain safe equipment, provide life jackets, or warn you of known risks. We can evaluate the terms of the waiver and help determine whether it can be challenged.
What if my child was injured on a jet ski?
Children under the age of 14 are not allowed to operate a jet ski in Missouri unless accompanied by an adult. If a rental company ignored this rule or failed to supervise young riders, they may be liable for the injuries. We’ve represented families in serious injury cases involving children and understand how sensitive and urgent these situations are.
Can I still file a claim if I live outside Missouri?
Yes. If the accident happened in Missouri, you can file a claim here. We can represent out-of-state visitors injured while boating or riding jet skis on Missouri lakes or rivers.
How much does it cost to hire Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers?
You don’t pay anything up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case. If there’s no recovery, you owe us nothing.
Talk to a Kansas City Jet Ski Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was seriously injured while riding a jet ski on a Kansas City waterway, we want you to know: you don’t have to figure this out alone.
You may be dealing with physical pain, financial stress, and the uncertainty of what your future looks like. We’ve helped families through those same situations and know what it takes to win serious injury cases in Missouri.
Our law firm is proud to be based in Kansas City, serving clients across Jackson County and throughout Missouri. We’ve earned some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the state, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
We’ll walk you through your legal options and explain how we can help. You focus on your recovery while we handle the rest.