If you're considering going skydiving, there are a few things that you should know before jumping. Skydiving is an exhilarating bucket-list activity for many but it is also one of extreme risk. Skydiving is currently at an all time high in regards to safety, with only 13 fatal accidents out of 3.3 million jumps in 2018.

That is a stark improvement from 2012, where it was over twice as dangerous. Despite that, you should still be aware of your rights in case of any unforeseen injuries that may occur and the compensation you could be entitled to. Knowledge can be the difference between getting the reimbursement that you deserve, or being left on the curb.

Waivers

If you're planning to go skydiving, they're almost certainly going to have you sign a waiver. It will probably say things like how you can't sue for any damages, because you accept all of the risks associated with skydiving. It may seem ironclad, but it's not. A waiver does not protect anyone against serious negligence. If they fail in their duties to protect you beyond a reasonable level, then you are well within your rights to seek reparations for any damages suffered.

Training

Before going skydiving in any capacity, you are likely to be given a short training course to let you know about certain possible dangers, and what to do in specific situations. Try not to forget anything that's covered in these lessons. Remembering them is important for a few reasons, both for safety and legal purposes. The lessons are meant to educate you and teach you how to keep yourself safe. If they do their job correctly, then you'll be safer for having listened to them. If, however, they do not then that could be a sign of negligence in your training.

Liability and Negligence

If they have acted within the bounds of negligence, then you have a case. If the injury came about as a failure of either the equipment or a co-diver, in a situation that any reasonable person could have predicted as a possibility that they were not sufficiently prepared for, then they have likely been negligent.

In short, keep an eye out for whether they are taking sufficient precautions against things that any reasonable person could see as possibilities while skydiving. If you notice a dangerous fault, and end up being injured due to that fault, then you'll know that you are in the right to contact a lawyer, waiver or no waiver.

Guard yourself with knowledge like this and more by contacting us.