Ski Area Accidents
Skiing and snowboarding are exciting, challenging, and rewarding winter sports, enjoyed by thousands of Coloradoans and visitors to our state. As with any sports, skiing and snowboarding have inherent risks. Skiers and snowboarders understand that there is always a risk of injury when participating in these sports. However, there is a difference between facing the natural and obvious risks involved in a sport, and being the victim of another person's dangerous and reckless conduct.
Each year, a number of Coloradoans and guests to our state are seriously injured at ski areas because of reckless behavior by other skiers or riders, or preventable negligence by ski area employees. Under
Some of the most common types of ski and snowboard negligence cases involve:
Collisions between two skiers or snowboarders, caused by one person's unsafe speed or failure to use reasonable care when entering a trail or passing another skier or rider.
Chair lift accidents, involving injuries due to a defective, improperly maintained, or improperly operated ski lift.
Instructor negligence, where an inexperienced skier is improperly taken onto terrain that is beyond his or her skill level.
Collisions with ski area vehicles or equipment, such as a collision between a skier and a snowmobile operated dangerously by a ski area employee.
Ski and snowboard accident cases can be complex and are typically vigorously defended. Each case must be promptly and carefully investigated in order to determine whether the accident was caused by preventable negligence, as opposed to an ordinary risk involved in the sport. This may involve visiting and photographing the accident scene, inspecting equipment, and interviewing witnesses, immediately after the accident. It is therefore important to consult with an attorney with experience and a solid track record in ski accident cases.