Story developing as of June 30, 2026. Last updated: June 30, 2026, 9:00 AM ET. The facts below are attributed to CBS News Miami (reporting by Ana Maria Soler, updated June 25, 2026), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Miami Fire Rescue, and may change as the investigation continues.
The personal injury lawyers in Miami for boating accidents at the Perazzo Law Firm, have learned that two men were hospitalized after two personal watercraft collided in the waters near the Miami Marine Stadium, north of the Rickenbacker Causeway, according to CBS News Miami. Per the FWC, two jet skis — each carrying two men — were traveling in that area when they collided. Per Miami Fire Rescue, two of the men, both described only as in their 40s, were taken to Ryder Trauma Center as a precaution in serious but stable condition and are expected to survive. Multiple vessels carried out a water rescue. The investigation is active.
In Florida, a person injured in a jet ski or boating collision can generally report the crash, seek medical care, and — separately from any FWC investigation — explore a civil injury claim. A jet ski rider can suffer an array of injuries such as spinal cord damage. Boating accident investigations are handled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which looks at how a crash happened. A civil claim is different: it asks whether another operator (and sometimes a rental company or other party) was negligent and caused harm. Florida generally applies a comparative-fault rule, so more than one party can share responsibility. Evidence — witness names, photos, vessel and rental records, and medical records — tends to matter most when gathered early. Speaking with a licensed Florida attorney can help a person understand their specific options. This is general information, not legal advice.
What Happened, According to the Reporting
Two personal watercraft collided in the waters north of the Rickenbacker Causeway, near the Miami Marine Stadium, CBS News Miami reported. The key details from official sources:
- The collision (per FWC): Two jet skis, each carrying two men, were traveling in the area north of the Rickenbacker Causeway when they collided.
- The injured (per Miami Fire Rescue): Two of the men, described only as being in their 40s, were taken to Ryder Trauma Center as a precaution. They were in serious but stable condition and are expected to survive.
- The response: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the city of Miami Fire Rescue responded, and multiple vessels performed a water rescue.
- The investigation: The cause of the collision had not been released, and the men’s identities were not made public. The FWC investigation is active.
No cause or fault has been determined or reported, and nothing in this article should be read as suggesting how or why the collision happened. The points below are general Florida boating-law background — not a comment on this specific incident.
Boating and Personal-Watercraft Collisions in Florida: General Background
South Florida’s waterways are among the busiest in the country, and personal watercraft — commonly called jet skis — are a fixture on them. When watercraft collide, the resulting injuries can range from minor to severe because riders are largely unprotected. The legal picture that can follow a serious collision generally involves a few moving parts.
Who Investigates Boating Accidents in Florida
In Florida, boating accidents are investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the state agency with primary responsibility over boating safety and on-water incidents. An FWC investigation generally focuses on how an accident happened and whether any boating laws were violated. That is a separate question from civil liability — whether someone injured can recover compensation for their losses.
The Criminal-vs-Civil Distinction
It helps to keep two tracks separate:
- The investigation / any criminal track: Handled by FWC and, where applicable, prosecutors. This addresses whether laws were broken.
- The civil track: A private injury claim brought by an injured person (or their family). This addresses whether another party was negligent and should compensate the injured person.
These tracks can run at the same time and reach different conclusions. An FWC finding is not the same thing as a civil-court outcome, and a person can generally pursue a civil claim regardless of whether anyone is criminally charged.
How Watercraft-Collision Injury Claims Generally Work
In a civil claim arising from a boating or jet ski collision, the central questions are usually:
- Operator negligence. Did an operator do something unreasonable — for example, operating in a way that breached the duty to operate a vessel with reasonable care? This is fact-specific and decided on the evidence.
- Rental-company responsibility (in some cases). Where a jet ski was rented, a rental business may have its own legal duties — for example, around safety instruction, equipment condition, or other obligations imposed by Florida law. Whether a rental company bears any responsibility depends entirely on the facts.
- Comparative fault. Florida generally follows a comparative-negligence approach, meaning responsibility can be divided among multiple parties, and an injured person’s own conduct can factor in. How fault is apportioned is decided case by case.
Because every collision is different, none of this predicts an outcome in any particular case. It is a general map of the issues that tend to come up.
Why Evidence and Witnesses Matter Early
On the water, the scene changes fast and physical evidence can disappear. Witnesses on nearby vessels or the shoreline may be hard to track down later. As a general matter, information such as witness names and contact details, photos or video, vessel and rental documentation, and prompt medical records tends to be most useful when gathered early. Seeking medical evaluation promptly also matters for health reasons, independent of any legal question.
Timely Boating-Safety Reminders
With summer on the water in full swing across Miami-Dade, general boating-safety practices — operating at safe speeds, keeping a proper lookout, wearing appropriate flotation, staying aware of other vessels, and following all FWC and Coast Guard rules — help reduce risk for everyone sharing the water. These are general safety reminders and not a comment on the collision described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who investigates boating accidents in Florida?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is the state agency that generally investigates boating accidents, including personal-watercraft collisions. Its investigation focuses on how an incident happened and whether boating laws were violated, which is separate from any civil injury claim.
Who can be responsible in a jet ski collision?
It depends on the facts. Responsibility may involve a vessel operator whose conduct was negligent, and in some cases other parties — potentially including a rental company that owed its own legal duties. Florida’s comparative-fault framework allows responsibility to be shared among more than one party. Fault is always determined on the specific evidence.
What if I rented the jet ski?
Renting does not automatically resolve who is responsible. A rental business may have legal duties of its own under Florida law, and an injured renter or passenger may still have options depending on the circumstances. Whether and how a rental company is involved is highly fact-specific, and a licensed Florida attorney can review the details of a particular situation.
What should I do after a watercraft crash?
General steps people often take include seeking medical attention promptly, ensuring the incident is reported to the proper authorities, and — where it can be done safely — preserving information such as witness contacts, photos, and any rental or vessel paperwork. This is general information, not legal advice, and does not address any specific incident.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Florida?
Florida law sets deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, for filing injury lawsuits, and those deadlines vary depending on the type of claim and the parties involved. Some claims also involve special notice rules. Because missing a deadline can affect a person’s ability to pursue a claim, it is generally wise to confirm the applicable timeline with a licensed Florida attorney rather than rely on a general rule.
A Note on This Developing Story
This remains a developing story. As of publication, the cause of the collision and the identities of those involved had not been released by officials, and the FWC investigation was active. We do not speculate about how the collision occurred or who, if anyone, may be at fault. We send our best wishes to those injured and to their families.
If you or a loved one has questions about a boating or personal-watercraft injury in Florida, you can learn more about our practice areas or contact us our office to speak with someone about your situation.
Sources: CBS News Miami, “[Reporting on Miami jet ski collision near the Rickenbacker Causeway],” by Ana Maria Soler, updated June 25, 2026; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC); Miami Fire Rescue.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article or contacting the personal injury lawyers in Miami at The Perazzo Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The facts of the incident described are attributed to CBS News Miami, the FWC, and Miami Fire Rescue and may change as the investigation develops. This is attorney advertising. The Perazzo Law Firm — Miami, Florida.