Charlotte Paddleboard Accident Lawyers

As temperatures rise, North Carolina residents and tourists alike will be enjoying the outdoors more and more. Paddleboarding is a recreational activity that has gained significant popularity in the last five years. It is a sport that is relatively easy for beginners with no experience to pick up. However, paddleboarding can be quite dangerous. Every year, North Carolina residents die in paddleboard accidents.

In many cases, inexperienced paddleboarders get on their boards without a life jacket or other safety equipment. In some cases paddleboarders are injured after being swept too far away from the shoreline, by wind gusts, and being unable to swim back to shore. In other cases, swells will make paddleboarding dangerous and knock paddleboarders off their boards into the water. Indeed, most paddleboard deaths are caused by drowning when the paddleboarder has become separated from his or her board and cannot swim back to shore.

Even though paddleboarders are advised to wear flotation devices and attach themselves to their paddleboard to avoid becoming separated, many people do not heed these warnings. They often choose to get in the water without the recommended safety gear. Perhaps the weather is nice, and the sun is out when they begin their paddleboarding, so they think they do not need safety gear. Unfortunately, the weather can turn in an instant and create deadly conditions for paddleboarders.

There are different types of classes available for individuals who would like to learn how to paddleboard in Charlotte. These classes teach new paddleboarders the danger of paddleboarding without being adequately trained. They also teach riders how to use leashes, life jackets, and provide tips to minimize drowning risks. Instructors show students how to balance correctly and propel themselves on paddleboards.

The risk of injury is much higher for paddleboarders who do not have any experience in the sport and who have not attended any training. As a result, instructors must be vigilant when they train new paddleboarders. When an instructor has failed to provide students with training and proper warnings or how to act in dangerous situations, it is possible that they can be held liable for students who are injured after taking a training course.

In most cases, a paddleboarder’s death due to drowning results from his or her choice to forgo using safety devices, such as a life jacket. In these instances, the deceased individual’s family will not be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. However, there are limited instances in which another person or company may be responsible for the paddleboarder’s injury or death.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury after paddleboarding, it is worth taking the time to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation that will cover medical bills associated with your injury and any other losses you have endured, such as lost wages and pain and suffering. Examples of a third parties negligence that could cause paddleboard accidents and injuries include the following:

• A lifeguard in charge of watching the water fails to notice a paddleboarder who is in distress and does not reach him or her in time to prevent a serious injury or death due to drowning
• A jet ski or boat operator acting recklessly and colliding with the innocent paddleboarder
• The training instructor of a paddleboard class failing to teach the new paddleboarder how to use safety equipment correctly, and the student becomes injured as a result
• The paddleboarding accident is due to the paddleboard manufacturers failure to provide a reasonably safe product
• The paddleboarder becomes injured due to a lack of warning about dangerous weather conditions, such as when a lifeguard fails to tell the paddleboarder about a dangerous coming storm

Becoming injured in a paddleboard accident can be devastating, cost you significant medical expenses, and require you to take time off of work to recover. If you have been injured in a paddleboard accident, it is worth taking the time to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. You will rest easier knowing that you have pursued all avenues for recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact the experienced Charlotte personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to schedule your free initial consultation today.