Florida’s Parasailing Law
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
Florida’s parasailing law was the first law of its kind in this country to regulate the parasailing industry. It has been in effect since 2014 and it requires Florida parasailing operators to carry a bodily injury liability policy of at least $1 million dollars per occurrence for an annual aggregate amount of $2 million dollars.The owners/operators are required to have proof of insurance from a state-licensed insurer or eligible surplus lines carrier available at all times. Customers are entitled, upon request, to be provided with the insurer’s name, address and insurance policy number.
Owners/operators of a parasailing vessel must also maintain a valid United States Coast Guard license authorizing them to transport paying customers.
Additionally, the law requires parasailing operations to monitor weather conditions and, under certain circumstances, stop service. Parasailing vessels must now be equipped with a VHF marine transceiver and a separate electronic device capable of receiving National Weather Service forecasts and current weather conditions.
Parasailing is prohibited if currently observed winds reach a sustained wind speed of more than 20 miles per hour, or if wind gusts are 15 miles per hour higher than the sustained wind speed; and if the wind speed during gusts exceeds more than 25 miles per hour.
Parasailing is also prohibited if rain or fog results in a visibility of less than a half a mile or if lightning storms come within 7 miles of the parasailing area.
The law, the White-Miskell Act, was the product of a tragic accident that occurred in 2012. Kathleen Miskell died after her parasail harness broke and she fell 200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Similarly, it honors Amber White and her sister who lost their lives in 2007 when their parasail rope broke.
This law regulates the Florida’s approximately 100 commercial parasailing operators that offer adventure seekers the opportunity to fly high above the state’s breathtaking coastline while suspended underneath parachutes.
As of September 2, 2016, the Sun Sentinel reported, “In the nearly two years since the state Legislature passed the first law regulating the business, there have been no deaths, no injuries and just two reported accidents.”
That is surely good news for Floridians and vacationers alike.
Want to talk about your boat, truck, parasail, or car accident case? Just speak to a lawyer at Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni Fernandez & Walsh. Come in for a free case review. We believe better experience equals better results. Let us show you how by scheduling an appointment at lawyers@justicepays.com.