As the weather heats up, North Carolina residents throughout the state will begin to enjoy more recreational water activities, including water skiing. Unfortunately, water skiing accidents are far too common and can result in devastating injuries. We will discuss common water skiing accident injuries below as well as how victims can recover much-needed compensation to help pay for their medical expenses and for their damages in these cases.
Manufacturing Defects That Cause Water Skiing InjuriesManufacturing defects in the water ski itself can cause a devastating accident. Some personal injury lawsuits involving water skis are due to the manufacturer's negligence or defective manufacturing of the equipment. The water-ski itself could have a design defect, poor quality control, insufficient safety testing, poor quality materials or the manufacturer may have used improper processes when manufacturing the equipment.
Other times, water skiing equipment may be manufactured without proper instruction for safe use. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you prove that the third-party manufacturer or retailer negligently designed, manufactured, sold, or advertised skiing equipment that caused your severe or catastrophic bodily injury.
Common Types of Accidents Involving Skiers and TubersWhenever a water-skiing activity leads to a serious accident that causes bodily harm, the victim can suffer serious injuries. In many cases, victims crash into the water, a jet ski, natural materials such as rocks or trees or a boat at a high rate of speed, putting them at risk for broken bones and catastrophic injuries. Water skiing accidents commonly cause the following types of severe injuries:
Additionally, knee injuries, including knee sprains are some of the most common water skiing injuries. Anytime the knee is stretched too far, it may cause torn tendons and ligaments. Water skiers can also suffer injuries when their knee joint becomes thrust in the opposite direction, potentially leading to extensive time in the hospital or rehabilitation treatment and high medical bills. Severe knee injuries often require significant time off of work and a painful rehabilitation period.
Who is Liable in Your Waterskiing Accident?The first step in recovering compensation involves determining who is liable for your injuries. In many lawsuits, determining who is responsible for the accident is a major point of contention. Water skiing is a risky activity and is legally classified as a dangerous activity in many jurisdictions. As a result, water skiing accident victims must prove that someone else's negligence caused their injuries. Doing so may be difficult because water skiers take on some risk every time they get aboard a water ski.
The plaintiff will need to determine who caused the injury, whether the injury was reasonably avoidable, and their proportionate level fault attributed to the skier, ski boat operator, or any third party. Any drugs or alcohol involved will be an important aspect of determining liability. For example, suppose you were waterskiing, and a boat operator crashed into you. If the boat operator had a blood-alcohol level over .08%, which is the legal limit in North Carolina, this intoxication would demonstrate negligence.
Proving liability is often one of the most challenging aspects of a ski accident lawsuit. However, at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our legal team has the financial resources and network of experts necessary to thoroughly investigate your case and gather evidence that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries.
Consult With a Charlotte Personal Injury LawyerHave you or your loved one been injured in a Charlotte water skiing accident? If so, you may have a right to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain, and suffering. Under North Carolina law, victims of another person's negligence can bring a lawsuit for damages. It is important to remember that you only have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit, so the sooner you discuss your case with an attorney, the better. We recommend contacting Arnold & Smith, PLLC, as quickly as possible so you can schedule your free initial consultation and learn more about your rights. Call our experienced personal injury attorneys today at 704-370-2828 and have them fight for you.