Jet ski accident lawyer Robbie B. Baker, along with co-counsel, won a hard-fought battle against Yamaha that lasted approximately five years and culminated in a six-week trial in West Palm Beach. The jet ski incident claimed the life of one teen, 14-year-old Jaysell Perez, and left another, Samantha Archer, scarred and mutilated for life. Plaintiffs’ attorneys accused Yamaha Motor Corp. USA of failing to correct a known steering defect with the personal watercraft and then failing to adequately warn people that an operator could not steer without throttle. This defect was particularly dangerous for a first-time operator, such as Samantha Archer, as she had no idea that she had to increase energy in a collision avoidance situation. The jury found that this defect resulted in Perez and Archer crashing into a boat and awarded a $39,000,000 verdict. Yamaha requested that the verdict be thrown out, but a Palm Beach County Circuit Judge rejected arguments raised by Yamaha’s attorneys and denied the manufacturer’s request to throw out the verdict.
$17,500,000
Go-Cart Fire Burn
A minor child suffered full body burn injuries after an accident including loss of fingers on both hands. After key depositions of emergency personnel were taken by attorney Robert Zimmerman, he was able to prove the defendant’s negligence. Zimmerman was able to settle the case at mediation for $17,500,000, allowing the minor and his family to avoid a painful trial.
$7,000,000
Burn Injury Death / Cruise Ship Accident
A long-time employee of a cruise line suffered second and third degree burns as a result of an explosion in the boiler room while the cruise line’s ship was in port. These burn injuries proved fatal in that the cruise line employee died three days following the explosion. Robert A. Zimmerman traveled with his team of experts to Germany and inspected the dry docked vessel. Our experts determined that the boiler exploded as a result of negligence in maintenance. Shortly after Robert A. Zimmerman imposed mediation, the cruise line settled the claim with the employee’s widow and minor child for $7,000,000.00.
Florida Yahama Accident And Jet Ski Accident Injury Lawyers
Deadly Yamaha Waverunner Crash
Personal water crafts (PWC) have been around for more than 30 years. The first small PWCs were produced in the 1970s in the USA and were vehicles to be enjoyed by solo riders. In 1986, Yamaha introduced the WaveRunner, the world’s first tandem (multiple rider) model PWC.
With thousands of miles of lakes, oceans, and shorelines in the United States, it should be no surprise to the growing popularity of personal watercrafts and Yamaha WaveRunners. Consumers like them because they are small, maneuverable, and powerful; however, PWC’s like a Yamaha WaveRunner can often cause far greater injury than other boating accidents. This is often due to the lack of seat belts and the increased chance of going airborne or being ejected from the WaveRunner during a collision. In some cases, a defective product leads to serious injury or death.
Intoxication (boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol)
Negligence
Speeding
PWC victims sustain more brain injuries (closed-head injury), more traumas to the chest and/or abdomen, and more broken bones compared to riders in a boat.
Justice for Yamaha Waverunner Accident Victims and Jet Ski Accident Victims
Our attorneys, along with co-counsel, accused Yamaha Motor Corp. USA of failing to correct a known steering defect with their 2001 personal water craft and then failing to adequately warn people that an operator could not steer without throttle. The safety warning was inexplicably removed from the 2001 owner’s manual even though the danger still existed and had been listed in prior operating manuals (from 1986 to 2000). This product defect claimed the life of first-time teen operator Jaysell Perez and seriously injured her friend Samantha Archer when they collided with a boat. Perez had no idea that she had to increase energy in a collision avoidance situation. After a six-week trial, a jury found that the Yamaha steering defect resulted in Perez and Archer crashing into a boat and awarded a $39 million verdict.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed on a Yamaha Wave Runner personal watercraft, a jet ski, or was in a boating accident and would like to learn more about your legal rights–
If you or someone you love has been harmed by the negligent or wrongful conduct of another, our South Florida personal injury attorneys are here to help you understand your legal options and fight for the fair recovery you deserve. In every instance, we work to recover the maximum compensation our clients are owed for their medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Throughout the process, we will remain consistently accessible to you—we even provide clients with our personal contacts so that they can always reach us with questions or concerns.
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