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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Safety at Sea

Can Dad be liable if he lets his otherwise responsible son go out with the jet ski? Yup.

F.A., a 22 year old young man was wind-surfing in a North-South direction when he was
run over by N.G., a 13 year old boy who was operating a jet ski in a West-East direction. L.G., the father of the 13 year old boy had purchased the jet ski less than a month before. The wind surfer had his leg amputated. The father of the 13 year old operator was found liable.

Can a father protect himself? Yup. Read on:

Most non-maritime lawyers who handle these cases know nothing of the Limitation of Liability Act. There are circumstances where the owner of a jet ski can limit his or her liability for accidents caused by a third

person to the value of the jet ski after the accident, which is frequently between $2000 and $3000. The time limit for filing an action to limit liability is 6 months after a written claim is received. Many jet ski owners never think to seek out legal counsel when an accident occurs.