Skydiving can be a thrilling experience, and is an item on most individual's bucket lists. In almost any state, there is a skydiving location where thrill-seekers can go to jump out of a plane and free-fall through the air. Novice skydivers typically dive in tandem, which means that they are connected to a professional skydiver using cables and hooks. The professional is responsible for pulling the parachute at the right altitude and making sure that everything goes smoothly during the dive.

While skydiving can be a thrilling and exciting experience, it also comes with very obvious risks. Even when a parachute has been tested and packed correctly, there are times that errors can occur and a diver may find himself without any protection as he hurdles towards the ground. Also, gale force winds can blow a skydiver off course and into power lines, trees, hillsides, or other hazards. A skydiver who jump through cloud cover may not know that there is another plane or an aircraft in their way, and may collide on the way down.

Some skydiving locations are more intensive when it comes to training than others. While some trainers will require jumpers to watch videos or go through training courses, other locations do not take the same approach, and may provide little information about the jump. Some skydiving locations require jumpers to sign contracts guaranteeing that they will not sue in the event of injury or death, or make jumpers watch videos that list the potential risks of a skydiving jump. Other locations may be relaxed about this aspect of the jump, and may not require any waivers to be signed.

Interestingly, the amount of skydiving accidents over the years hovers between 50 and 70 accidents annually. In 2013, there have only been three reported fatalities. One of these accidents happened in Canada when a skydiver hit the ground after a hard landing despite an open parachute. Another accident happened when a skydiver in Australia failed to open his or her parachute at the correct time. The last incident recorded this year happened in the Netherlands when a person committed suicide by refusing to pull his parachute during the jump.

Last year, there were 13 recorded fatalities in North America related to skydiving. DropZone reports that three of these were tandem fatalities, while at least two were low cutaways and one was a free fall collision. At least one skydiving accident last year was during a military training drill, and at least five accidents were because of hard landings after the skydiving professional made a low turn. In addition to the fatalities as a result of skydiving, there have been many injuries due to the adrenaline-rush sport.

If you are harmed or if your loved one was killed in a skydiving accident, you may have the right to seek compensation. This will be contingent upon ay waivers or contracts that you signed when you chose to jump and you will also need to determine that the skydiving company or the professional you jumped with was responsible for your accident. If the skydivers failed to inform you of how to jump, or were negligent when they took you up in the airplane for the jump, then you may be able to seek compensation.

Also, if you received an injury that was not outlined in your waiver or contract before you jumped, then you may be able to seek compensation. For example, if there was a plane malfunction and your aircraft crashed, this may be a reason to seek compensation form the skydiving company that took you up for your jump. You will want to contact a lawyer today to see if you have a case and to help you review your situation. Please use our website to contact a nearby personal injury attorney!