Parasailing Accident Litigation

Our Attorneys Hold Negligent Parties Accountable for Parasailing Injuries

Seasoned legal representation offering justice for you and your family

Between three and five million outdoor enthusiasts engage in parasailing each year in the United States, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). And, the U.S. Coast Guard estimated that about 33 percent of all parasailing activity in 2013 took place in the Sunshine State. However, despite the potential hazards and the serious nature of parasailing accident injuries, this industry remains lax in regulations, resulting in preventable tragedies. The experienced attorneys at Osborne, Francis & Pettis understand the anger and frustration experienced by the victims of this inadequate oversight, and we fight aggressively to obtain maximum compensation for you and your loved ones, and to send a message to those responsible.

Common parasailing accidents and causes

Parasailing is a dangerous water sport quite popular in Florida. It involves being towed in the air behind a speed boat while you are harnessed into a parasail wing, which is similar to a parachute. While parasailing, you are “flown” in the air, much like a kite. Though exhilarating and thrilling, the inherent dangers are plentiful when safety measures are not carefully observed. Common parasailing hazards include:

• Faulty equipment
• Inadequate weather-tracking equipment
• Operator negligence/error
• Inclement weather/high winds
• Colliding with obstacles, such as power lines, antennas, bridges and buildings
• Hard landing on the boat deck or shore
• High-speed water landings
• Becoming entangled in the harness in the water and drowning

Florida parasailing laws

Prior to 2014, parasailing was almost completely unregulated in the state of Florida. This finally changed with the passage of the White-Miskell Act, which took effect October 1, 2014. Though this new parasailing law takes steps in the right direction, it’s still lacking comprehensive safety regulations that would surely prevent many more accidents and injuries. Following are some of the key provisions of the White-Miskell Act:

• Operators are required to keep a weather log, and they are prohibited to operate during certain weather conditions, such as high wind, rain, fog and lightning.
• Appropriate weather gear is required for proper weather report monitoring at sea.
• Operators are required to carry a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance.
• All operators must be licensed by the Coast Guard.
• Operator adherence to applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations is required, such as FAA notification of parasailing flights, specific visibility markings on the parasails and a 400-foot altitude limitation.

Unfortunately, a leading cause of parasailing accidents is not addressed in this law. Minimum equipment safety standards and regular inspections would go a long way towards decreasing tragedies caused by faulty equipment.