The spring and summer seasons in Texas often usher in a wave of new watercraft owners and people eager to test out their newest personal watercraft on the many lakes throughout the state. However, unfortunately many of these good intentions result in devastating injuries to the watercraft operator, passengers, and any nearby swimmers. If you or a loved one have experienced orifice injuries after a watercraft accident, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries.

Personal watercraft are each designed in a very similar manner. Jet Skis, Sea Doos, and related watercraft are all propelled by a jet thrust which shoots out of the back end of the watercraft. This is what propels the watercraft forward and allows the watercraft to travel at a high rate of speed. The jet thrust is a highly recognizable part of personal watercraft and often what people think of when they hear the word “Jet Ski.” Many lakes are often overtaken by the personal watercraft jet thrust and other motorized boats during summer months as these watercraft whiz by.

However, this powerful jet thrust leads to very serious injuries. Personal watercraft appear to be deceptively easy to operate and therefore nearly any lake patron believes they are capable of operating one without much training or guidance. The failure of a manufacturer to include an operating manual also contributes to the inability to properly operate a personal watercraft. However, the slightest misstep in personal watercraft operation or the smallest product defect can lead to serious injuries, including orifice injuries.

Orifice injuries occur when a passenger is ejected from the personal watercraft and the jet thrust stream enters into any of the victim’s orifices, including the rectum, vagina, and colon. Aside from the intense pain that occurs in the moment of ejection, orifice injuries can often catch the victim off-guard, and can lead to drowning. Many orifice injuries require extensive medical procedures to repair.

Orifice injuries often require extensive hospital stays, which not only means high medical bills, but also the loss of paychecks for many individuals. As the victim of an orifice injury, you are entitled to seek the following types of damages from the responsible party:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Lost wages
• Future earnings
• Pain and suffering

It is important to speak with an attorney shortly after your injury occurs and prior to communicating any type of settlement with an insurance agent from the responsible party. The insurance company will often try to coerce you to sign a settlement agreement which will often not cover the ongoing medical expenses and other financial repercussions which you may face in the future. An experienced watercraft injury attorney will be able to better estimate the future costs related to your injuries.

If you have received an orifice injury after a personal watercraft accident, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling different types of personal watercraft injuries, and understands the pain and medical complications that can result from orifice injuries. He will work tirelessly to ensure you receive compensation for your injuries. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.