Miami Snorkeling & Scuba Diving Accident Lawyer
Scuba diving is one of the safest water sports, but it is not entirely without risk. The same goes for snorkeling. Both are exciting, adventure sports in which most people can practice their entire lives without a serious incident. Accidents in scuba diving often revolve around buoyancy control errors or miscalculations in gas management. Other dangers include power boats, hypothermia, and diving in unsafe weather conditions. When a diver is part of a private dive group, the dive company bears a large degree of responsibility for their divers’ safety. The Miami snorkeling & scuba accident lawyer at Spencer Morgan Law takes on all types of diving accidents, whether your injury or your loved one’s death occurred as part of a dive group or not.
Diving Company Negligence
While divers are generally required to make reasonable and responsible decisions for themselves, diving companies are also responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their clients, whose experience level can be anywhere from beginner to advanced diver. Common injury or fatality cases that can happen under the supervision of diving companies (who may be liable in certain scenarios) can include the following:
- Lack of supervision
- Losing track of divers
- Diving in unsafe driving conditions due to weather, currents, or boat traffic
- Running out of oxygen
- Rapid ascent
- Too many dives in a given time period
- Other accidents resulting in nitrogen narcosis
- Decompression sickness
- Hit by a water vessel
- Defective equipment
- Worn out or damaged equipment
- Slip, trip, and fall on the boat deck
Boat or Jet Ski Operator Negligence
Another major danger to divers, who may be diving with a diving company or on their own, is careless or reckless boat and jet ski operators. Boat and jet ski operators can be held liable for injuries or fatalities they cause due to speeding, reckless operation, improper lookout, or intentionally or unintentionally getting too close to other water users, including snorkelers, swimmers, and scuba divers. Such third party boat operators can be held liable in addition to or instead of a diving company if the accident occurred during a company dive.
Defective Product Claim
Bringing a defective product claim against a manufacturer may be relevant if a regulator, tank, dive computer, or other piece of gear was defective and was the cause of the accident. A defective product claim is different from a personal injury claim against a dive company or rental company that was negligent in maintaining their equipment. Defective scuba products were either designed or manufactured with dangerous flaws, as opposed to being dangerous due to excessive wear and tear.
Call a Miami Snorkeling and Scuba Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one were harmed during a commercial diving tour or during a diving or snorkeling trip on your own, a Miami snorkeling and scuba accident lawyer is here to listen to your case and help you determine your next steps. Call Spencer Morgan Law today at 305-423-3800 to schedule a free consultation regarding compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and much more.