The manufacture and development of personal watercraft revolutionized the boating and watercraft industry in the 1970s. Watercraft became more affordable and not as bulky, meaning that an average person could own a personal watercraft without leasing out a slip at a marina or taking out a giant loan. However, along with this new step in watercraft came the prevalence of watercraft accidents and injuries stemming from personal watercraft. Personal watercraft do not offer as much protection as a larger boat may offer to its passengers, and therefore any accident on a personal watercraft can have serious and lasting injuries.

Polaris was once a leading manufacturer and seller of personal watercraft. While the company now solely focuses on snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and electric vehicles, its personal watercraft are still available in many used vehicle forums. Polaris first manufactured a personal watercraft in 1991 with the 1992 model SL650. The company continued to produce and manufacture personal watercraft until 2004. Therefore, the majority of its personal watercraft are older models that have not been updated by the company in over ten years. As a result, many of these models are sold with certain defects and other issues that may be traced back to Polaris or another retailer.

However, Polaris personal watercraft may also be incorrectly maneuvered by an inexperienced watercraft operator, leading to an accident as well. Therefore, it is important to consult with a watercraft attorney prior to bringing any claim to ensure you have correctly identified the appropriate party.

Similar to any personal watercraft, the use of the Polaris personal watercraft can lead to many different types of injuries and accidents. Personal watercraft unfortunately tend to lead to more accidents involving inexperienced operators. Since personal watercraft often tend to market the product based on the ease of operation, many watercraft operators do not take the time to correctly learn how to operate the personal watercraft. Therefore, if a small mistake occurs, they may be unable to easily rectify the error, which could result in a crash.

Polaris may still be held liable for any defects which occurred during the manufacture of their products. For example, the throttle design has led to numerous accidents and resulting injuries due to the inability to steer the watercraft. An impact of the Polaris personal watercraft during a collision may throw a passenger off the watercraft or may cause an explosion. Either scenario could lead to serious and life-threatening injuries based on the actions of others. An experienced watercraft accident attorney will be able to help you trace down the responsible party for your watercraft accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured while riding on a Polaris Personal Watercraft, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has had years of experience in handling personal watercraft cases. If you have a question regarding your ability to file a claim after a Polaris watercraft accident, Tony Malley can assist you in filing any claims or determining your eligibility to file claims. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.