Who’s Liable for a Parasailing Accident?

Parasailing is a thrilling yet dangerous sport. Parasailing accidents typically occur during landing and can result in serious or even fatal injuries. Maritime injury lawyers at Gross & Schuster, P.A. can help you recover damages for such injuries.

You can seek a wide range of damages for parasailing injuries. However, you must consult an experienced personal injury law firm such as ours to ensure you get compensation. Here is a look at some of the most common causes of parasailing accidents and who may be responsible.

Common Causes of Parasailing Accidents

According to the Parasail Safety Council, an estimated 3 to 5 million people participate in parasailing each year. More than seventy confirmed fatalities and nearly 2,000 injuries have occurred to date. Some of the most common of these include:

Substandard Equipment – This is the leading cause of parasailing accidents and injuries. When parasailing companies use worn-out ropes, unsafe harness systems, or inadequately secured towlines, accidents occur.

• Weather Conditions – Another major cause of parasailing injuries is adverse weather conditions.
• Boat Pilot Errors – The boat pilot is responsible for a safe flight and landing. Errors on the part of the pilot can lead to serious injuries for the person in the air.
• Improper Landings – Parasails can rise hundreds of feet into the air. If the towline breaks, the fall can result in fatal injuries. Strong winds can also drag the parachute and cause a collision with a building or another object.

If you have suffered injuries for any of these reasons, our lawyers can help you recover damages. Our lawyers have extensive experience in handling parasailing accident claims.

Parasailing Injury Liability under Florida’s White-Miskill Act

The White-Miskill Act was passed in 2014 to oversee parasailing activities in Florida waters. Under this Act, all parasailing operators must legally comply with specific standards. If they fail to do so and accidents occur, they can be held directly liable.

Under the Act, the companies must comply with the following standards:

• All operators must use reliable weather-tracking equipment.
• The operators must not undertake parasailing activities under adverse weather conditions.
• A weather log must be maintained by parasailing operators.
• Only operators licensed by the Coast Guard are permitted to engage in parasailing.
• Parasails must have visible markings and can’t fly more than 400 feet above the ground.
• Operators must carry $1 million in liability insurance.

If the companies made any of the mistakes above, they may be liable for your suffering. If you believe their actions led to your injuries, reach out for help from a lawyer.

How Can Our Pensacola Parasailing Accident Attorneys Help?

Here at Gross & Schuster, P.A., our Pensacola parasailing accident lawyers work with you to seek maximum damages for your parasailing injuries. We can help you recover the full range of both economic and non-economic damages from the operators.

If you are ready to speak to a Pensacola parasailing injury attorney, we offer free consultations. Call us now at 850-434-3333. You can also fill out the following online contact form.