Can I Recover Compensation for a Skiing Accident?

 Posted on December 29, 2021 in Personal Injury

Colorado is well-known for its ski slopes. Our state’s many ski resorts attract visitors from all over the country during the wintertime. Skiing and snowboarding can be great fun but are also at times dangerous. There are a number of ways for accidents to happen on Colorado’s ski slopes, and in some instances, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries. However, whether you will be able to recover depends on a number of factors. Your accident will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis by a qualified attorney to determine whether seeking damages is the right course of action for you.

What Does Colorado’s Ski Safety Act Do?

If you plan on participating in these winter sports over the holidays, you should be aware of the Colorado Ski Safety Act. This act limits the liability of ski resort operators for injuries that occur on their property. Ski resorts cannot be held liable for accidents and injuries “resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing.” The act effectively recognizes that skiing and snowboarding are risky activities that may result in injuries even if the resort has done everything possible to promote safety.

Inherent hazards would include things like changing weather conditions, the chance of crashing into something, and natural variations in terrain and steepness. They would not include, for example, an accident caused by a malfunctioning ski lift that was overdue for service.

The Ski Safety Act does not, however, protect ski resort operators who cause preventable injury through negligence or recklessness. Injured winter sports enthusiasts may still be able to recover against the ski resort itself if they can prove that the resort was careless or reckless as to its customers’ safety.

What if Another Skier or Snowboarder Caused My Injury?

In many cases, ski accidents were caused not by any negligence on the slope operator’s part, but by another customer. It can be possible to recover against someone who was using the slopes or resort grounds in a careless or reckless fashion when they injured you. Whether recovery is likely in this situation will depend heavily on exactly how the accident occurred.

Certain types of collisions with other people on the slopes may be considered part of the inherent risk of skiing or snowboarding. There is always a risk that an inexperienced or out-of-his-depth skier will crash into you, or a falling snowboarder will roll into your path.

It is best to seek the advice of an attorney who can consider your unique situation and determine if you may have a claim to pursue.

Call a Larimer County Personal Injury Lawyer

If an injury caused by someone else’s carelessness has put a damper on your holidays, Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. may be able to help. Our Fort Collins personal injury attorneys will evaluate your case for any possible claims. Call us at 970-225-2190 to arrange a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.coloradoski.com/sites/default/files/uploads/Colorado-Ski-Safety-Act.pdf