When you are going snorkeling or scuba diving recreationally, you want to know that the equipment you’re using and the support you’re receiving is the best possible in the industry. You don’t want to find out that the service you’ve used is using faulty equipment or that your diving buddy wasn’t trained adequately.
Unfortunately, there are people who offer these services who end up harming tourists and visitors to Florida because they have malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. They may have badly trained teams or negligent operators who put people’s lives at risk.
Some of the dangers that you could run into while snorkeling or scuba diving include:
- Out-of-air emergencies
- Injuries from improperly maintained equipment
- Dangerous weather conditions
- Poor supervision
- Inadequate training
- Boat run over accidents
An experienced crew and trainer should prevent these accidents from occurring by adequately training and preparing visitors before they dive or go out into open water.
What can you do if you’re hurt while participating in a water activity?
If you’re hurt, the first step is to seek medical care. Whether you’re dealing with Caisson disease, which is better known as decompression sickness or the bends, or you have a drowning emergency, it’s vital that you receive medical care to help get those issues under control and get you on the road to recovery.
After you are medically stable, it’s reasonable to look into seeking compensation from the operator who caused your injuries. You may be able to file a claim against a scuba diving instructor or their company, for example, if they did not properly maintain the gear provided to you. Similarly, if your injuries were a result of injuries from weather changes on open water, the operator of the activity could be held liable for failing to keep track of dangerous weather conditions.
You may be able to pursue a claim if you’ve been hurt as a tourist
As a victim of serious injuries, you have rights. You can look into making a claim against the parties responsible for your injuries, so you can focus on your recovery and have the compensation that you need to support you as you heal.