A New York man’s Florida vacation was cut tragically short this February when he was killed during a hang-gliding training session at Dunnellon Airport as part of a program offered by U.S Hang-Gliding Inc. The 40-year-old had already completed two flights that day and was being lifted into the air when his glider rotated and plunged at least 30 feet to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
While U.S. Hang-Gliding Inc. operates in Florida for the winter, the organization is based in New York. Like tens of millions of others, the accident victim had come to Florida to enjoy warmer weather and participate in activities he couldn’t do in the wintry conditions of home. While such activities lure vacationers to sunnier climes, they are not without risks. Common recreational activities in Florida include:
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Boating
- Riding personal watercraft
- Watersports
- Surfing
- Skydiving
- Swimming
- Biking
- Motorcycling
All of these activities have the potential to injure tourists engaging in them while visiting the Bradenton area. It’s a sad reality that people who come to Florida for fun may instead suffer broken bones, back injuries, head injuries or in the most tragic cases, death.
Justice for injured tourists
While the death of the hang-glider rider is believed to be an accident, many injuries are caused by the negligence of others, including property owners, resort employees and vehicle operators. In situations where a driver, a property manager or anyone else is negligent and causes you to suffer an injury, you may be able to recover compensation for those injuries under Florida law. After any type of accident, fall or other incident causing injury, it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Contact the Manatee County vacation injury attorneys at the Florida law firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn more about your rights and your options after an accident.