Injured by a Paddleboarding Accident? Call This Law Team
Standup paddleboarding has become a popular aquatic activity in the last few years‚ especially in San Diego’s warm‚ coastal waters. But‚ like any activity that takes place on a body of water‚ the sport comes with inherent dangers. In 2016‚ there were 15 paddleboard-related deaths in the United States‚ all from drowning. Paddleboard enthusiasts claim this is largely due to inexperience and lack of training. Many of those injured or killed on standup paddleboards rented them from vendors‚ who may not have explained the dangers‚ or given instructions on how to engage in the activity safely.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a standup paddleboarding accident‚ you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the party that rented or sold you the board. To find out more about your legal rights and options‚ contact the experienced San Diego personal injury attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. Call (888) 233-5020 for a free case evaluation.
One Paddleboard Case in the News
A distraught family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Santa Barbara‚ and one of its tenants‚ the Santa Barbara Sailing Center. The claimants allege that the Sailing Center rented a standup paddleboard to their son without inquiring about his ability to swim; did not help him select an appropriate life vest; and did not advise him on how to wear the Type-V life vest he was given-which has to be activated by pulling a cord. The victim could not swim‚ fell off his board‚ and drowned. The lawsuit also claims that Sailing Center employees rented the victim a standup paddleboard that was not appropriate for an individual who couldn’t swim‚ and did not recommend or require that he use a leash to tether his ankle to the paddleboard in case he fell off.
What Is the Rental Duty of Care?
Vendors who rent equipment‚ such as paddleboards‚ are charged with three primary duties:
- Inspect: They must inspect the equipment they are renting for safety and function. If they find any defects‚ they must repair the equipment or take it out of service until it is repaired.
- Instruct: They must instruct the renter in the proper use of the equipment‚ and how to safely transport‚ store‚ and‚ possibly‚ maintain the equipment.
- Warn: The vendor has a duty to warn users of the potential hazards associated with using‚ transporting‚ storing‚ and‚ possibly‚ maintaining the equipment. The vendor must also inform the renter of “foreseeable” hazards of misuse of the equipment. This means that the vendor can’t simply rely on claiming that the renter “misused” the equipment to avoid liability. If the vender could have reasonably foreseen the misuse‚ they can still be held liable for failure to warn the renter of the hazards of misuse of the equipment.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one while using a piece of rental equipment‚ and you feel the accident was the result of a vender’s negligence‚ you need to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. For nearly two decades‚ Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has been representing injury victims‚ getting them the compensation they deserve. Call our San Diego office for a free consultation at (888) 233-5020.
