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In recent years, the parasailing industry has received a great deal of national attention, primarily because of several accidents and deaths that have involved the activity in the state of Florida. Recreational parasailing has been around for many years and it generally involves an individual being harnessed to a parasail (which is a parachute-like canopy) that is attached to a towrope that is pulled by a boat. Once the boat gets past a certain speed, the parasail rises up, lifting the individual into the air.

When it comes to water-related recreational activities, Fort Myers personal injury lawyer Randall Spivey has seen the devastating impact that accidents can have on individuals and their families. But changes are in the works with respect to the sport of parasailing. A Florida panel, and most recently the Florida Senate, has passed a bill that would provide parasailing companies with safety guidelines, as well as require certain insurance, equipment and licensing.

The Requirements of the Bill

According to Insurance Journal, the bill proposes that "operators carry $1 million in insurance, have a license issued by the Coast Guard and have certain equipment onboard." Senator Maria Sachs, who sponsored the bill, noted that the parasailing bill was her first priority, and stated that the injuries that have occurred thus far during the activity could have been prevented.

Along with the million dollar insurance requirement for operators, the bill proposes to institute certain other "common sense" rules, such as the requirement for each vessel to be equipped with specific weather devices that have access to real-time forecasts, as well as a requirement for boats to cease operations when the winds are over 20 miles per hour, the gusts are at least 15 miles per hour or higher and there's a lightning storm seven miles away or closer.

The Effect of the Bill

The Parasail Safety Council notes that Florida has approximately 120 parasail operators, which is considered to be the most in the country. The Council has kept track of the number of parasailing-related injuries and deaths across the nation for years, and they report that between the years of 1982 and 2012, there have been 73 deaths due to parasailing accidents and at least 1600 injuries that took place during approximately 150 million parasail outings.

Although the bill still needs to be approved by the House prior to it going to the governor, those who support it say that the requirements and guidelines would "weed out" the shady businesses that negatively impact the industry as a whole. One owner noted that her business has already been doing what is required by the law, and she is hoping that if the industry becomes regulated, insurance rates will decrease.

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries while participating in a parasailing activity, let a skilled Fort Myers personal injury lawyer at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. help you learn more about your rights under the law. Call us for a consultation today.