Parasailing, sometimes referred to as parakiting, is a recreational activity where people are towed behind boats while attached to a parachute-like canopy called a parasail wing. The canopy fills with air and begins to rise as the boat pulls it forward, and the forward motion of the boat keeps it and the parasailor in the air.
Parasailing can be a fun, thrilling activity, but it can also be dangerous. Parasailing has led to an estimated 1,895 injuries and 79 deaths, according to the Parasail Safety Council.
Parasailing can be safe when equipment is properly tested and up to date, proper precautions are taken, and responsible, experienced operators are running the show. However, a general lack of regulations regarding parasailing in the United States can lead to dangerous conditions which can lead to parasailors being injured or killed.
Call us today at 800-718-4658 for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured or killed while parasailing. You may be eligible for a financial recovery, and we won’t charge a fee unless and until we obtain a recovery.
The Dangers Of Parasailing
Most parasailors aren’t familiar with the risks of parasailing, so they place themselves at the mercy of the parasail operators. Unfortunately, parasail operators may care more about profit than safety and operate as often as possible, even when dangerous weather or equipment conditions are present.
Parasailing companies can make many mistakes which can lead to injury or death, including:
- Failing to properly maintain their equipment
- Overloading their equipment with too much weight
- Failing to provide parasailors with adequate instruction and training
- Operating in unsafe locations or weather
Mistakes such as these can cause many things to go wrong, including:
- The parasail wing or harness can fail
- The tow rope may break due to high winds or poor maintenance
- Parasailors may be carried into buildings or trees
- Parasailors may suffer hard falls from great heights
The most dangerous accidents, according to the Parasail Safety Council, are when the tow line separates from the boat in high winds, leading to unplanned water landings. 95% of parasailing fatalities occur when parasailors cannot escape from their harness after an unplanned water landing in high winds, leading to drowning.
Factors which commonly cause or contribute to parasailing accidents include:
- Parachute failure
- Harness failure
- Tow line failure
- Tandem failure
- Winch failure
- Tow boat failure
- Weather
- Errors by those operating tow boats
- Parasailing in densely developed areas
Parasailing Injuries
Most parasailing injuries occur when the parasailor hits the ground or water. Numerous injuries can result from parasailing, including:
- Gashes, grazes, cuts, and torn flesh
- Bruises
- Damage to ligaments
- Broken bones
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Joint dislocations
- Emotional trauma
- Drowning
Broken ankles, as well as damage to the knees and spine, can occur when parasailors aren’t able to properly brace for a landing. Broken hands and wrists are common when parasailors try to break impacts.
Your Rights After A Parasailing Accident
You may be able to hold many parties liable after being injured in a parasailing accident, including:
- The parasailing company
- Parasailing equipment manufacturers
- Management companies which own parasailing business locations
- Parasailing equipment wholesalers
- Cruise lines or hotels which organize parasailing activities
- Hotel concierge desks which refer people to parasailing operators
You can often successfully pursue injury claims in California even after signing injury waivers. Liability waivers, under California law, may not prevent lawsuits over injuries which result from gross negligence, recklessness, illegal conduct or intentional torts.
The attorneys at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are experienced at handling injury claims against cruise lines, so if your parasailing accident occurred outside of the United States, you can rest assured we have the experience to obtain a recovery for those injured out of the country.
Call us today at 800-718-4658 so we can identify if you have a valid parasailing injury claim. We can pursue a claim for a financial recovery on your behalf if equipment failure or negligence caused your parasailing accident.
Parasailing Accident FAQ’s
Do I need to pay money out of pocket for a parasailing lawyer?
No. The lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not charge a fee unless and until we obtain a recovery for our client. Any fee we charge in this scenario is merely a small percentage of any recovery obtained. We never charge an up-front fee and you will never owe us even a penny out of your own pocket.
How much money can be recovered for my parasailing injury?
The size of the recovery in a parasailing injury claim will vary based on several factors, including:
- Level of pain and suffering
- Severity of physical and mental injuries
- Wages lost while recovering from injuries
- Loss of earning capacity due to injuries
- Costs of ongoing care and rehab
- Medical expenses and bills
- Loss of future earnings and companionship in wrongful death claims
- Punitive damages, when warranted
Will my parasailing injury case go to court?
Probably not. Most parasailing injury cases, and most of our cases in general, are settled out of court because insurance companies fear and respect Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers. Insurance companies know we will beat them in court so they typically settle out of court with us to save time and money.
What if the insurance company offers me a settlement?
You should contact our experienced parasailing accident attorneys before accepting any settlement offers from insurance companies. Not only will accepting settlements involve signing away your legal right to pursuing further legal action, but insurance companies will not offer you a fair settlement if you don’t have a lawyer because they won’t respect you without a lawyer. They’ll offer you a pittance and dare you to take them to court, knowing you can’t win in court without a lawyer.
What if I signed a liability waiver before my parasailing accident?
Liability waivers do not protect those guilty of gross negligence in California. Gross negligence is the lack of any care to prevent harm, or an extreme departure from what someone reasonably careful would do in the same situation to prevent harm.
You should contact our experienced parasailing injury lawyers to discuss the validity of your parasailing injury claim.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit if I’m injured while parasailing?
You have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in California.
What should I do if I was injured while parasailing?
Collect as much information about your accident as possible by writing a first-hand account and assembling any video or pictures of the activity and equipment. Then, contact the experienced parasailing accident lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
California Parasailing Accident Lawsuits
Our attorneys will do everything in their power to recover fair compensation for you if you or a loved one was injured or killed while parasailing. When you choose Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers to represent you, you can rest assured you’re being represented by a team of highly-experienced injury lawyers who have recovered over $750,000,000 on behalf of injury victims since 1990.
Call us today at 800-718-4658 for a free consultation, or use the texting feature on this page, if you or a loved one was injured or killed while parasailing. You may be entitled to financial compensation.
