Parasailing Accident Claims

When Parasailing Goes Wrong

Parasailing combines boating, specialized equipment, and changing weather conditions into one activity.

A participant is secured to a harness connected to a parasail canopy and lifted into the air while being towed behind a moving vessel. The boat operator controls much of the experience through the vessel's speed, direction, towline, and launching and retrieval procedures.

When something goes wrong, however, there may be little time to react.

A towline can break. Strong winds can pull a parasailer away from the vessel. A harness can malfunction. A captain may misjudge the weather or operate too close to another boat, building, shoreline, or other obstruction.

The height and speed involved can turn these failures into serious accidents.

Common Causes of Parasailing Accidents

Parasailing accidents can result from equipment problems, operator errors, environmental conditions, or several contributing factors. Potential causes include:

• Worn, damaged, or defective towlines, harnesses, winches, or other equipment
• Inadequate equipment inspection or maintenance
• Strong winds, sudden weather changes, or dangerous water conditions
• Unsafe vessel speed or operation
• Inexperienced or inadequately trained operators
• Improper launching, landing, or safety procedures
• Operating too close to shore, other vessels, or fixed objects

An accident may involve more than one failure. For example, worn equipment may become especially dangerous when an operator continues parasailing as wind conditions worsen.

Towline and Equipment Failures

The towline is one of the most important parts of a parasailing system because it connects the parasailer to the vessel.

If the line snaps, detaches, or otherwise fails, the operator may lose the ability to control where the parasailer travels. Wind can then carry the person toward shore, buildings, trees, other vessels, or other hazards.

Other equipment can also fail.

Parasailing operations rely on harnesses, connectors, winches, canopies, life jackets, and other equipment to keep participants secure during the activity. Potential problems may include:

• Worn or damaged towlines
• Torn harnesses
• Failed clips or connectors
• Defective winches
• Damaged parasail canopies
• Improperly attached equipment
• Incorrectly sized harnesses
• Defective safety gear

After an accident, investigators may examine the age and condition of the equipment, previous use, inspection procedures, maintenance history, manufacturer recommendations, and whether there were signs of damage before the trip.

If defective equipment contributed to the accident, responsibility may potentially extend beyond the parasailing company to a manufacturer, distributor, maintenance provider, or another party.

Weather and Wind Conditions

Parasailing depends heavily on weather. Because a participant is attached to a large canopy designed to catch air, changes in wind speed or direction can significantly affect the activity. Strong winds may place additional stress on the towline and other equipment or make controlling the parasailer more difficult. An operator may need to consider:

• Wind speed and direction
• Weather forecasts
• Approaching storms
• Visibility
• Wave conditions
• Local weather warnings
• Conditions along the planned route

Not every weather change can be predicted. However, an accident may raise questions about whether the operator checked available weather information, recognized worsening conditions, or continued the activity when circumstances suggested it should have been stopped.

Responsibility for a Parasailing Accident

Determining responsibility usually requires identifying exactly what caused the activity to become unsafe. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• The parasailing company
• The boat captain or operator
• The vessel owner
• A tour or excursion company
• A resort
• A cruise line
• An equipment manufacturer
• A distributor or supplier
• A maintenance or repair company

More than one party may potentially share responsibility.

For example, a parasailing operator may fail to replace a visibly worn towline while a defect in the line itself also contributes to its failure.

An investigation may also examine whether the captain operated the vessel safely, whether the company adequately trained its employees, whether equipment was properly inspected, and whether weather or water conditions should have caused the trip to be delayed or canceled.

Because parasailing involves a vessel operating on navigable waters, maritime law may apply to some accidents. Which laws govern a particular claim can depend on where the accident occurred and the circumstances surrounding it.

Evidence After a Parasailing Accident

Determining why a parasailing accident happened may require examining both the equipment and the operator's actions before and during the ride. Potentially important evidence may include:

• The towline, harness, canopy, winch, and other equipment involved
• Photographs, videos, and vessel surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• GPS, navigation, and weather information
• Maintenance, inspection, and equipment replacement records
• Crew training and trip records
• Incident, Coast Guard, or law enforcement reports
• Booking documents and medical records

The equipment itself can be particularly valuable evidence. If a broken towline, harness, connector, or other component is discarded or replaced, determining why it failed may become more difficult.

Preserving that equipment may help investigators determine whether wear, improper maintenance, a manufacturing defect, or another issue contributed to the accident.

Compensation After a Parasailing Accident

Parasailing accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, severe lacerations, drowning-related injuries, and other serious harm. Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may be able to pursue compensation for losses such as:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Disability
• Other accident-related losses

Fatal parasailing accidents may also give eligible family members or the person's estate grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim depending on the circumstances and applicable law.

Morgan & Morgan May Be Able to Help

A parasailing accident can involve questions about weather conditions, vessel operation, towline maintenance, equipment defects, crew training, and the decisions made in the moments leading up to the accident.

Morgan & Morgan's maritime accident attorneys can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and fight for the compensation you may deserve.

Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation. With The Fee is Free®, you pay nothing unless we win your case.