Pasco County Wrongful Death Attorney :: Two Killed in Zephyrhills Skydiving Accident

A skydive instructor and student were killed last month from blunt trauma after their parachutes failed to deploy during a jump over Zephyrhills.

The instructor’s helmet camera video showed that the 25-year-old student apparently lost consciousness during his descent. The 41-year-old instructor managed to reach him, but it was too late as their parachutes never deployed.

Both men were from Iceland and had successfully completed two previous jumps earlier in the day.

The men jumped separately, not in tandem.

Both men had backup automatic activation devices, but they didn’t have time to fully inflate.

Authorities are still investigating whether the accident was the result of human error or an equipment problem.

If a parachute malfunction did lead to the death of these two men, their families could possibly be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the skydive facility that provided the equipment. However, recovering compensation in accidental cases like these can be complex. Generally, when defective equipment or negligent behavior causes death, a victim’s family has the right to sue for damages. But, when someone is killed in a dangerous activity like skydiving, a legal theory known as assumption of risk could limit a family’s right to recovery. The theory behind this is that skydiving is known to not be 100 percent safe, so when someone participates in the activity, they assume to take on the risk of serious personal injury or even death.

When your loved one is involved in a fatal accident, you may be at a loss for what to do and how to go about obtaining financial compensation so that you can continue to take care of your family. Regardless of what type of activity your loved one was participating in, a Pasco County Wrongful Death Attorney at Whittel & Melton can protect your legal rights as well as the interests of your family. While it is common for people that partake in inherently risky activities to sign release waivers, we can investigate the accident and fight the insurance companies so that you can recover the maximum compensation possible.

If you have lost someone close to you in a fatal accident of any kind in Zephyrhills or elsewhere in Pasco County, please contact a Pasco County Wrongful Death Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today online or call 727-847-2299 for a free initial consultation. We never charge any fees until we win a recovery for you.