Managing Attorney Jeffrey Padilla, Grand Cayman, July 2013 (Photo by Nick Perez).
Scuba Accidents
Our law firm's founder, Jeffrey W. Padilla, Esq., is a long-time certified scuba diver. His experience scuba diving gives him hands-on insight into the dangers all scuba divers face – negligently maintained dive gear, inattentive dive masters, product malfunction, improper training, etc. Those dangers sometimes result in death by drowning, “the bends” or other serious injuries.
Our scuba accident attorneys will fight to get you compensation for personal injuries and wrongful death caused by negligent scuba practices. We have over fifteen years of experience handling accident claims, and our proven record of multimillion dollar results shows that we get our clients the compensation they deserve.
WE HANDLE SCUBA ACCIDENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD
Our scuba accident attorneys are prepared and equipped to represent scuba diving accident victims who have been injured on dive trips to Florida, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten and other popular dive destinations. Many tour operators are based in New York or recruit customers in New York, making those operators potentially subject to New York law (meaning they can be held accountable in our New York court system – regardless of where the accident occurred). Scuba accident cases are generally better handled in a U.S. court rather than a foreign island court which may be reluctant to hold one of its citizens liable to you and may not appreciate the full financial value of your injuries as much as a U.S. court would.
KNOWLEDGEABLE SCUBA ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
The law firm of Padilla & Associates, PLLC, knows scuba diving and how to investigate scuba accidents whether they arise in an instructional, recreational or technical setting. In conjunction with leading experts in dive safety and seamanship our scuba accident attorneys investigate all aspects of the dive to determine if something could have been done to prevent the accident.
Our investigation usually begins on the more common causes of dive accidents, such as:
- Did the dive master carefully assess each diver's capabilities and comfort levels?
- Did the dive operator, boat captain and dive master analyze the weather and water conditions?
- Did the dive boat have all required safety signs and first aid equipment?
- Did the dive operator and dive master have the required license(s) and/or certification(s)?
- Was all rental gear properly inspected, repaired and maintained and functioning properly?
- Did the dive operator keep sufficient records of the inspection, repair and maintenance of all rental gear?
- Did the dive operator or dive master ensure that all divers were properly certified?
TIMELY REPORTING OF A SCUBA ACCIDENT IS CRITICAL
Scuba diving accidents require immediate legal consultation – blood nitrogen levels, log books, dive computer data, witness statements, boat information and all equipment must be collected, preserved and tested as soon as possible following a scuba accident.
If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries or wrongful death as a result of a scuba diving accident, please contact us immediately. Our scuba accident attorneys have the knowledge, experience and resources necessary to assemble a dive accident investigation team which can be dispatched, if necessary, to the relevant dive location to preserve relevant evidence and identify all potentially responsible parties.
CLAIMS HANDLED ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS
Scuba accident cases are handled on a contingency basis. This means that you pay us a fee only if we successfully obtain compensation for you on your scuba accident claim.
CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
Call us today at 888-542-8411 or send us an e-mail to schedule a free consultation with a scuba accident attorney with experience in all types of scuba accidents.
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