Resort Injury Lawyer Blog

David Sierazki, age 31, is the latest victim of the STILL unregulated parasailing industry. He died last week in the second parasailing fatality in the Tampa Bay area in a year. The engine died in the boat that was pulling him, and he plunged from 800 feet up into the water. When pulled out, he was unconscious and unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead after unsuccessful CPR attempts.

"I can't believe we haven't gotten smarter as an industry," said Mark McCulloh, chairman of the Parasail Safety County, who was quoted in a Tampa Tribune article on the incident.

McCulloh said the industry needs strict rules for parasailing, including maximum wind speed allowances, height restrictions, equipment inspection and tow lines.

Florida legislators have failed to address this continuing problem and need to pass the Amber May Law to bring some regulation to this rogue industry.

As reported by The Today Show, fifteen-year-old Amber May White died while parasailing from head trauma along with internal injuries, sustained when she crashed into a building when the parasail on which she was riding snapped, while vacationing with her family in Pompano Beach, Florida. Amber May's sister Crystal also suffered head injuries in this tragedy. John Elliott Leighton represented the family in the lawsuit against the parasail operators and the resort where Amber May was killed. Mr. Leighton has spearheaded legislative efforts to bring some regulation to this rogue industry. His efforts in Tallahassee have resulted in a bill which he and the family hope to make law this year.

Continue reading "ATTN: FL Legislators - Another Parasailing Death! " »

The Parasail Safety Council estimates that there were more than 384 parasailing accidents in the USA from 1980 through 2009 -- 83 of which resulted in serious bodily injury and 28 in death. These statistics are based United States Coast Guard reports, state and local law enforcement, local reporting agencies, individual accident reports, eye witness accounts from parasail operators, and other sources deemed reliable.

There are currently no licensing requirements, qualifications or industry standards to become a parasail operator. This encourages rogue operators to prioritize profit over safety.

SIGN THE PETITION in support of The Amber May Law to regulate the parasailing industry.

Safety Tips from The Parasail Safety Council

1. LICENSING. Make sure you parasail with a fully licensed (state & local) company operating from a well established location, insured by a licensed insurance company. Don't pay for your ride on the boat! this operator may not have a licensed or be insured.

2. ESTABLISHED OPERATORS. Only parasail with established business operators. Don't be afraid to ask how long they've been in business, if there business permits are current with the City, and if the operator onboard is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain.

3. HIGH WINDS. You should avoid parasailing in high wind conditions (over 15 knots at sea level) due to an increased difficulty and complications during emergency water landings. *updated 09/2010*

4. VISIBILITY. Never go up in rain, fog or an approaching storm.

5. PASSENGER AGE AND WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS. Parasailing is not recommend for individuals under the age of 16 or who's weight exceeds 300 lbs.

6. TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. Educate yourself on the different types of parasail equipment, passenger support devices (e.g. Harness, Tandem Bar, Ridged Chair) methods being offered.

7. PRE-FLIGHT SAFETY BRIEFING. Make certain that you get adequate safety briefing prior to your flight. This safety briefing should include; a) a description of the activity itself, b) safety procedures in the event of an unexpected emergencies, c) the proper use of hands signals while airborne, d) evacuation procedures during a water landing, fire or capsizing, e) precluding any participant who appears to be afraid or intimidated prior to their aerial excursion.

8. ALTITUDE. Parasailing at an altitude of more than 600 feet is discouraged, especially in close proximity to the shoreline or other objects. The recommended altitude for using hand signals and recovery during water landings over open ocean is 600 and 300 feet over small lakes, bays or sounds. (figures based on ideal wind and sea conditions with limited traffic)

9. ASK QUESTIONS. Ask all the right questions. How long have you been in business? Do you have Insurance by a licensed Agent in this State? Is is good flying weather today?

10. RELEASE FORM. Read the release form carefully before you sign it.

11. Parasailing does have physical requirements, especially in the the event of a water landing.

© Anthony Aneese Totah Jr | Dreamstime.com
UPDATE: The 27-year old Florida vacationer from Georgia whose parasail crashed into the sand, dragged her along the beach, and slammed her into beach umbrellas and a volleyball court post during Labor Day weekend... has died. Six days after parasail operators launched her and her fiance into 34 mph gusting winds over Clearwater Beach, she lost her life from the resulting injuries.

There are no laws regulating when parasailing companies can or cannot take customers out on the water, despite the string of parasailing accidents that continue to be reported.

Legislation has been proposed multiple times to tighten regulation on the industry and each time it has failed. One of the proposed laws would have banned parasailing when gusts were 23 mph or higher.

SIGN THE PETITION in support of The Amber May Law to regulate the parasailing industry.

The mother of 15-year-old Amber May White filed a negligence lawsuit against the parasail operators and the resort where Amber May was killed. Amber May died while parasailing from head trauma along with internal injuries, sustained when she crashed into a building when the parasail on which she was riding snapped. Amber May's sister Crystal also suffered head injuries in this tragedy. The parasailing operators took the sisters up despite warnings from the weather service about high winds and seas. The equipment used by the parasailing company was inadequate and faulty, the operator ignored weather warnings, and the parasailing should never have been within 2000 feet of land or structures. Nevertheless a precious life - yet another - is gone and cannot be replaced.

THIS MUST STOP! It is time for a serious call to action. The rogue parasailing industry MUST be regulated before more catastrophic injuries occur.

PLEASE JOIN ME and sign the petition in support of The Amber May Law.

I have been calling for the regulation of the parasailing industry since the tragic death of Amber May White more than three years ago in Pompano Beach, Florida. Terrible accidents and serious personal injuries continue. The latest occurred just two days ago during the Labor Day weekend, and was reported by the St. Petersburg Times. On Sunday afternoon a 27-year-old Florida vacationer from Georgia and her fiancé saw their happy holiday weekend turn ugly when their parasailing adventure in Clearwater went dangerously awry. The tether between the woman's harness and the towboat snapped, crashed her into the sand, dragged her along the beach, and slammed her into beach umbrellas and a volleyball court post. She was left with life-threatening injuries. Her fiancé landed in the water, sustaining minor injuries. As of last night, the woman was in a St. Petersburg Medical Center in critical condition.

Chief lifeguard Donavan Burns of Clearwater Beach stated that there was "a significantly sized storm... we saw it coming for hours." He said the winds picked up and were gusting over 34 mph in the area. Burns said they closed down the entire beach because of lightening, just after the incident.

As the St. Petersburg Times reports, there are no laws regulating when parasailing companies can or cannot take customers out on the water, despite the string of parasailing accidents that continue to be reported.

Former state Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, proposed legislation to tighten regulation on the industry three years in a row, the last time in 2006. Each time it failed. The proposed law, among other things, would have banned parasailing when gusts were 23 mph or higher.

In yet another example of a rogue industry run wild, a parasailing catastrophe was averted only by sheer luck. On Monday June 7, 2010, the state of Florida witnessed two more injuries occurring from the unregulated parasailing industry. The Miami Herald reported that a father and his six-year-old daughter were bounced across the water into a sea wall when their parasail malfunctioned east of Miami's Bayside Marketplace. They were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment of what fortunately were only bumps and bruises.

"Their injuries could have been much worse," said Jorge Pino, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Pino said that authorities are looking into whether the tow rope snapped or if a person from the boat cut it.

This incident is all too familiar and only reinforces the urgent need to pass the Amber May Law, to bring some regulation to this rogue industry. As reported by The Today Show, fifteen-year-old Amber May White died while parasailing from head trauma along with internal injuries, sustained when she crashed into a building when the parasail on which she was riding snapped, while vacationing with her family in Pompano Beach, Florida. Amber May's sister Crystal also suffered head injuries in this tragedy. John Elliott Leighton represented the family in the lawsuit against the parasail operators and the resort where Amber May was killed. Mr. Leighton has spearheaded legislative efforts to bring some regulation to this rogue industry. His efforts in Tallahassee have resulted in a bill which he and the family hope to make law this year.

Continue reading "The Rogue Parasailing Industry Runs Wild...Again!" »