South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Nine people have died while parasailing in the United States since 2002. Most of these fatalities and tourist injuries in Palm Beach and elsewhere happen because of towline separation. This usually occurs because of high winds or general equipment failure, according to the Sun Sentinel.

A parasailing accident took the life of a tourist last week in Sarasota County. These accidents -- particularly injury accidents -- are not uncommon as parasailing is a popular Florida activity that takes place with virtually no government safety regulations. The Longboat Key accident happened when a tourist from South Carolina went parasailing and plunged to the water after the tow boat's propeller failed and the parachute lost buoyancy. Officials are still investigating the accident.

Naples injury attorneys understand that visitors come to Florida to relax and have some fun in the sun. What most tourists don't expect is to be involved in an accident on the beach, on our roadways and virtually any other place they visit throughout the duration of their vacation.

A number of these parasailing companies have nothing in place to ensure their safe operation. A number of bills that aimed to impose equipment and safety standards for parasails failed time and time again in this year's state legislative session.

It is estimated that there are roughly 100 commercial parasail operators in the state of Florida. Most of these business are located in tourist-oriented cities such as Panama City, Key West, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach. A specific number of these companies is not available because no government agency tracks the industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies parasails as "kites." The FAA does nothing more than make sure they're kept out of flight paths. The Coast Guard will only license a captain and inspect a boat if they're a certain size, but they do not inspect or set standards for parachutes, harnesses, training or procedures.

Parasailing.com offers these tips for those who would like to enjoy the windy ride:

-Ask questions about the company. Ask how long the company has been in business and how many incidents have been reported.

-Make sure that the parasailing company you do business with is licensed by both the state and city or county and exists in a well-established location.

-Ensure that the boat's captain is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain.

-Check the weather report before you make plans to hit the sky.

-Before your flight, make sure that the parasailing crew gives you a safety briefing that covers evacuation procedures, the usage of hand signals and a thorough description of the parasailing experience.