Who’s Responsible for Injuries Sustained While Tubing or Skiing Behind a Boat?

There are lots of ways to have fun out on the water. For many people, it can be fun to simply spend the day staying on the boat or maybe swimming near the boat. But many others like to do a little water skiing or be pulled by a boat while riding in an innertube. But, as is the case with any other boating-related activity, safety is essential. It can be very easy for things to go wrong if people don’t follow good water safety measures or generally act recklessly. Boats can be very powerful and have the potential to cause serious physical injuries and substantial property damage.

Common Tubing & Water Skiing Injuries

When a water skier falls, they don’t always fall into the water with a gentle splash. They often hit the water at a high rate of speed, which can result in traumatic injuries. Injuries to ankles, back, and the head are very common. Given the nature of water skiing, shoulder injuries such as dislocations and fractures are also common water skiing injuries. 

While people who are tubing don’t fall the way water skiers do, that doesn’t mean they can’t get injured. Muscle sprains and soft tissue injuries are both commonly associated with tubing accidents. Being towed too quickly over wakes can cause back injuries, as can coming in contact with other objects in the water, such as downed branches and rocks.

Causes of Tubing & Water Skiing Injuries

Very often, water skiing and tubing injuries are the result of the boat’s operator cutting corners on safety. In some cases, the tow line isn’t properly secured or worn out and damaged. Or there might not be someone who can act as a spotter for the skier/tuber while the boat operator is focusing on the boat. Or the boat operator can be generally negligent by going too fast, boating too closely to hazards in the water, boating under the influence of alcohol, and towing too many tubes at a time.

Liability for Tubing & Water Skiing Injuries

In some cases, a person water skiing or tubing might get injured when the person towing them is negligent, but they can also be injured if another person boating nearby is reckless. If you’ve been injured while tubing or water skiing, the boat’s owner should have insurance that will cover the damage. However, a lawsuit may be necessary if the insurance company tries to deny coverage or if a person’s injuries result in damages greater than the policy maximum. 

Contact a Michigan Boating Accident Lawyer

If you were injured while water skiing, tubing, or while doing any other type of boating activity, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a boating accident lawyer as soon as possible. It’s very important to make sure that your claim is handled correctly and that you recover all of the compensation you are entitled to. This includes monetary losses like medical bills as well as things like lost income and pain and suffering. 

At Goodwin & Scieszka, you’ll be able to get help from a lawyer experienced in handling Michigan boating accident cases. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Image: Unsplash / Kostiantyn Li