Boating and Jet Ski Accident Expert Witness
The navigation rules that govern a 1,000-foot tanker also govern a jet ski. Most recreational operators have never read them, and many rental companies do little to make up for that. When two recreational craft collide or a rental boat hits a swimmer, the case often comes down to which rule applied and who was supposed to give way.
Captain Stoller applies the same navigation and seamanship standards he used on ocean-going ships to recreational cases on lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
Issues Captain Stoller evaluates
- Rules of the road between recreational craft
- Lookout and safe speed on crowded lakes
- Jet ski and personal watercraft operation
- Rental company briefings, supervision, and fleet practice
- Towed water sports and swimmer strikes
- Operation at night and in restricted visibility
- Charter and guided trips with a licensed captain
- Whether admiralty law applies to the waterway
Why his background fits
The navigation rules do not change with the size of the boat. He has applied them at every scale, from supertankers to personal watercraft.
Documents to gather
Boating accident report, rental agreement and briefing materials, photos and video, GPS or phone location data, witness statements, weather and visibility data.
Common questions
Do the federal navigation rules apply on a lake?
On navigable waters, yes. Whether a particular lake counts as navigable is a legal question for counsel, but the operating rules are well settled.
Is the rental company responsible for an inexperienced renter?
That depends on what it told the renter, what it checked, and what the law in that state requires. The operational practice is what he evaluates.
Who has the right of way on the water?
No one has an absolute right of way. Each vessel has duties, and both can share fault.