Claiming Compensation for a Water Sports Injury

What can I do if I suffer a Water Sports Injury?

Before you even take part you should ensure you have specialist travel insurance in the event of an injury.  Most general travel insurance will not cover water sports so make sure you read the small print!

If you have an accident you should:

• Seek medical advice.  Not only can the doctor tend to your injuries but he will be able to assess the extent of your injuries and evaluate the likely effect they will have on the rest of your life.
• Get the details of any witnesses to the accident.  They can be contacted later to provide witness statements which may prove vital if you have to go to court.
• Report the accident to the police and the tour operator.  Either one of them will make a valuable accident report.  If the accident was caused by faulty equipment, the police can commission an accident report finding the true cause.

Can I claim financial compensation for a Water Sports Injury?

With extreme sports you are often told of the danger and therefore deemed to accept the likelihood of having an accident.  However, no matter what the water-sports company tell you, they still have a duty of care towards you, the customer.  They have a duty to ensure that instructors are adequately trained and that equipment is safe to use.  They have a duty to ensure all users of their facilities are as kept as safe as possible.  Furthermore, they must ensure that non-users, for example, bystanders or people in a nearby boat, are not injured by the water-sports users or equipment.

The injuries suffered from water sports can range from the minor to the devastating.  Fractured limbs can result from falling off a water ski, or limbs can be severed by boat propeller blades.  Drowning can happen, resulting in brain damage through oxygen starvation, and even death.  For this reason, water sports operators are required by the laws of most countries to follow very strict guidelines.

What happens if the Water Sports Injury was Incurred Overseas?

It is often difficult to obtain compensation from an overseas operator, as you may need to sue in a foreign country with an unfamiliar language and unfamiliar laws.  However, if the water sports event was organised or even recommended by a tour operator, hotel or travel agent, you may be able to claim against them, as they have a duty to ensure all operators they use have been assessed as safe.

Whatever and wherever the injury, our accident specialists are trained lawyers and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.  Contact us at LEGAL REQUEST for a FREE CONSULTATION and we can assess whether you can make a claim for compensation.