A skydiving accident claimed the life of a student skydiver and left the instructor with serious injuries. As the accident happened on the job, the instructor may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The family of the student skydiver, whose loss must be sorely felt, may also be able to receive compensation through a civil suit. At this time, the accident remains under investigation.
The incident reportedly happened early on the morning of April 1. The two skydivers were jumping tandem in Colorado, and exited the plane from 8,000 feet up. However, the main chute and the reserve chute reportedly deployed at the same time. As a result, the two chutes became tangled.
Tragically, this may have been the student’s first time skydiving. The accident happened with a company called Sky Dive Colorado, and the instructor had done over 650 skydiving jumps in the past, including 50 tandem jumps. This was the first deadly skydiving accident in the area since 2005.
Here, the instructor was injured during the course of his employment, which may entitle him to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are provided to the victims of workplace accidents who were injured while doing work for their employer. They can go toward medical expenses, lost wages and other related expenses.
For the family of the student, their loss must surely be immense and they may well be left in shock over the tragedy. While the student was not an employee of Sky Dive Colorado, the family may still be able to collect monetary compensation through a civil suit against the company.
Source: KRDO NewsChannel 13, “Skydiving Accident Names Released,” Laurie Cipriano, April 1, 2012