Flowrider Accident and Injury Lawyers

When you go on vacation, part of the fun is to try new things that you don’t get to experience at home. On cruises, shore excursions, and sometimes the ships themselves play host to all manner of unique activities to try. Most of the time, you get a fun experience and go on with your vacation, but for some unlucky people, these activities may lead to permanent injury or even death.  In our fifty years of experience, there is perhaps no other shipboard activity that has caused as many injuries as the Flowrider.  We have successfully handled numerous catastrophic injury flowrider cases.  In our view, the Flowrider attraction, primarily found on Royal Caribbean ships, is simply too dangerous for an inexperienced rider to safely handle.  Sadly, Royal Caribbean does not do enough to properly warn its passengers of the dangers of this activity, and as such, many more passengers will be unnecessarily injured.    

Severe Injuries Are Common With Flowrider Surfing Accidents

Flowriding is a relatively new sport that was invented in the 1980s, a mixture of surfing, skateboarding, bodyboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and similar sports. A FlowRider is a machine that uses an approximately three-inch high sheet of water to create an artificial wave designed to mimic an ocean wave, but on the FlowRider, the wave is stationary. Many flowriders are novices, but there are also world championship events in the sport, where riders perform tricks similar to surfing competitions.

The FlowRider is capable of a full capacity flow of more than 100,000 gallons of water per minute, creating waves up to six feet high. Water flows at a speed of 20 to 35 miles per hour, with a much higher flow rate than a real ocean wave.

While flowriding has the potential to be fun and harmless, it can also be quite dangerous, particularly for amateur riders who have little to no experience with the activity, such as the typical cruise ship passenger. As a water sport, flowriding carries the danger of accidental drowning, and the speeds and energy involved in the activity mean that falls are common. Consequences of FlowRider accidents may include:

• Broken bones
• Sprains, strains, and bruises
• Dislocations
• Lacerations
• Head, neck, and spine injuries
• Paralysis
• Drowning
• Death 

Cruise Lines Are Liable For FlowRider Accidents

As the venue hosting a dangerous activity, cruise lines may be liable for injuries resulting from accidents onboard, including FlowRider accidents. Although a cruise line will attempt to shield themselves from liability by making you sign a liability waiver before allowing you to ride a FlowRider or similar activity, this does not absolve them of liability in all cases.  In fact, Federal law actually voids any such waiver!  If a cruise line is found liable for your injury, you are likely eligible to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages and more.

Frequently Asked Questions