Attorney Michael Rehm - (916) 233-7346

The Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills are home to several active skydiving drop zones, including Skydive Lodi at Lodi Airport (KLOD) — one of the largest drop zones in the United States — and operations at smaller regional airstrips. Skydiving accidents cause injuries ranging from hard landings and equipment malfunctions to mid-air collisions and aircraft accidents on jump runs. Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in skydiving accidents at Sacramento-area drop zones and throughout Northern California.

Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery.

Drop Zone Operator Liability

A drop zone operator has a duty to maintain safe facilities, properly train and supervise jumpmasters and instructors, maintain aircraft in an airworthy condition, and provide equipment that meets applicable standards. Under California negligence law, a drop zone operator who fails any of these duties and causes injury is liable for the resulting harm. For tandem students — first-time jumpers attached to a certified instructor — the operator controls virtually every aspect of the jump, and the standard of care is correspondingly high.

Waivers and Their Limits

Most drop zones require participants to sign liability waivers before jumping. A signed waiver is a defense the operator will raise, not an automatic bar to recovery. Under Civil Code section 1668, contracts that exempt a party from liability for willful injury are void as against public policy. California courts have further held, following Tunkl v. Regents of the University of California (1963) 60 Cal.2d 92, that waivers in certain contexts are unenforceable as against public policy. Critically, California law does not permit a waiver of liability for gross negligence. City of Santa Barbara v. Superior Court (2007) 41 Cal.4th 747. Whether a waiver bars a particular claim depends on the specific facts and conduct at issue.

Equipment Defects

Parachute malfunctions, defective automatic activation devices (AADs), reserve parachute failures, and defective harness systems can give rise to strict product liability claims against manufacturers under Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, Inc. (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57. Whether GARA (the General Aviation Revitalization Act) applies to parachute equipment is unsettled — no definitive California authority has addressed the question. This issue requires case-specific analysis.

Aircraft Negligence on Jump Runs

Jump aircraft operate under 14 C.F.R. Part 105 (Parachute Operations). A pilot who maneuvers negligently during a jump run, fails to maintain proper altitude, or exits jumpers in an unsafe position may be liable for resulting injuries. The aircraft owner is liable under Public Utilities Code section 21404 for harm caused by the aircraft's operation with the owner's permission.

Statute of Limitations

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit — tolling doctrines may apply depending on the facts.

Related Pages

• Sacramento Aviation Accident Attorney
• Sacramento General Aviation Accident Attorney
• California Aviation Accident Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm represents skydiving accident victims throughout Sacramento County and California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (916) 233-7346 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.