Expert Advocacy

Southern California Personal Watercraft Safety Statistics

Personal watercraft (PWC) injuries account for about one-third of all boating- and watercraft-related injuries per year in southern California, according to the California Department of Boating and Waterways. PWC accidents are especially common along California’s southern coast and on Lake Perris.

Southern California sees more personal watercraft injuries each year than the rest of the state. A significant percentage of these accidents take place on inland lakes, such as Lake Perris and Silverwood Lake. For instance, about 10 percent of all California PWC accidents each year occur on Lake Perris, while about 28 percent of all California PWC accident each year occur along the Southern California coast. The Colorado River is also a frequent site of PWC and other boating-related injuries.

You can help protect yourself from a PWC accident by following a few simple steps:

• Always wear a properly-fitting personal floatation device (PFD) while riding a PWC, as required by California law;
• Never drive or ride on a PWC if you’ve been drinking; and
• Avoid excessive speeds, as speeding is a key factor in many California personal watercraft accidents.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a PWC accident, the skilled San Diego personal watercraft injury attorneys are prepared to help. We can put our experience to work for you at every step of the process, from filing an insurance claim to fighting on your behalf in court. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.