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Wakeboarding and Waterskiing
Wakeboarding and water skiing causes thousands of accidents every year. Unfortunately, the injuries they sustain are often because the driver and the passenger who was in charge of monitoring the skiers’ safety failed to follow safety rules.
While water skiing or wakeboarding, the driver must adhere to several safety rules in order to minimize potential injury to the person in the water. This includes:
- Designating a person to watch the skier at all times so the operator can look ahead for other hazards such as rocks, buoys or other boats
- Discussing appropriate hand signals with the skier, including go, slow down, and stop
- Making sure all tow lines and other equipment is in good shape
- Holding a bright orange or red flag high in the air to alert other boats to keep clear of the area
- Avoiding shallow water and objects the skier might collide with
- Avoiding excessive speeds or sharp turns
- Stopping immediately if the skier falls, becomes tangled in the rope, or experiences any other problems
- Circling back to the skier immediately, flag raised, to protect him or her from other boats
- Approach the fallen skier from the right side so the boat operator can see the skier at all times
Unfortunately, many injuries occur when the skier or wakeboarder becomes entangled in the rope, falls and is dragged, or collides with an object or another boat. These injuries can be prevented if the operator of the boat is paying attention and avoids hazards and stops immediately when problems arise.
If you or a loved one is injured in a water skiing or wakeboarding accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately.
Tags: boating accidents, boating injury, drowning, wakeboarding, water recreation, water skiing, waterskiing