Can You Sue Someone for a Ski Accident?

You can generally sue someone for a ski accident resulting from negligence. If another skier, snowboarder, ski resort representative, lift or equipment manufacturer, or other party did something to cause your accident, a lawsuit could enable you to receive fair compensation for damages.

A Colorado Springs ski accident lawyer will evaluate any medical costs, pain and suffering, lost income, and other losses you’ve suffered. They will build and present your case to liable parties and file a lawsuit against those parties if necessary.

Do Waivers Protect Liable Parties After a Ski Accident?

While ski resorts generally require skiers, snowboarders, and other specific visitors to sign liability release waivers, these waivers are not catch-alls. If resort owners or employees, other skiers or snowboarders, or another party’s negligence led you to crash while on the slopes, you could sue those parties

Colorado’s Ski Safety Act establishes clear parameters that ski resorts must follow to protect patrons. Among the requirements detailed in the Act are:

• Taking measures to ensure the safety of ski lifts
• Placing clearly visible signs at the beginning of slopes that show the difficulty of the trail
• Clearly marking ski area boundaries
• Marking and blocking off any hazards on or near the ski area, such as exposed pipes
• Providing all necessary warnings on ski tickets

These are just a handful of the ways that ski resorts must protect guests and employees. The Act explains that if any representative of a ski facility violates the recommendations listed in the law, they are negligent and responsible for the consequences of their negligence. Thus, victims of their negligence can file a lawsuit or take other appropriate action to receive compensation for their injuries and other losses.

Types of Ski Accidents That Could Allow You to Sue

The ski slopes can be dangerous, particularly when others endanger you through negligence. Some examples of skiing (or snowboarding) accidents for which you may file a lawsuit include:

• Collisions with fixed objects
• Accidents caused by running off the trail
• Lift-related accidents, including falls, collisions, and stoppages that lead to exposure-related ailments
• Non-contact injuries, such as ligament tears
• Accidents involving your child
• Accidents resulting from defective equipment
• Wrongful deaths

Ski resorts, equipment manufacturers, and other liable parties may have substantial insurance to cover accidents like yours. Whether you and your ski accident attorney elect to pursue one or more insurance claims or ultimately choose to sue, your lawyer will demand fair compensation from anyone who owes it to you.

Should I Hire a Colorado Ski Accident Lawyer After Suffering Injuries On (or Near) the Slopes?

There are many reasons why you might find it beneficial to hire a ski accident attorney to advocate for you:

• It costs you nothing out-of-pocket: Many personal injury firms offer their services on a contingency basis. Thus, you don’t pay an hourly fee or a flat rate, nor do you pay any upfront fees. Instead, they pay all the upfront costs of pursuing your claim and only receive payment if you receive compensation.
• They possess relevant experience that could prove immensely helpful in ski accident cases: A lawyer who has taken on major insurers or negligent ski resorts has priceless experience on their side. Such experience enables a lawyer to remain calm when cases become challenging, as they’re operating in familiar territory.
• They offer resources you might not otherwise have access to: Many firms have experienced attorneys, paralegals, support staff, and experts on hand who they frequently tap to help with cases like yours. 

Most importantly, having a Colorado ski accident lawyer handling your case will mean you can spend more time focusing on your recovery. The effort you put into your health could have long-term ramifications for your quality of life, so you’d be wise to accept a lawyer’s help and prioritize healing.

How Ski Accident Lawyers Secure Compensation Through Claims and Lawsuits

Just as it’s urgent for first responders to locate someone who’s suffered an injury while skiing, a personal injury team must build your case as urgently as possible. After you hire an attorney, they will not waste a moment in managing these tasks:

• Obtaining any witness accounts, video, and other evidence related to your accident
• Documenting medical costs, lost income, and other damages
• Engaging liable parties in settlement negotiations
• Suing liable parties if you cannot settle your claim
• Representing you in all necessary court proceedings

An attorney’s primary goal is to resolve your case as soon as possible—and, more importantly, to resolve it fairly.

Damages Lawyers Seek in Ski Accident Cases

Ski accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, but even less severe injuries may result in:

• Hefty medical bills
• Lost income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Mental health services
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death

The journal Sports Health explains how injuries that may require surgeries, including torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), remain common among skiers. If you need a Colorado Springs catastrophic injury lawyer for an exceptionally costly injury, many firms have them on staff, ready to fight for you.

Call Matlin Injury Law Today for Your Free Consultation About Hiring a Colorado Ski Accident Lawyer

Attorney Brian Matlin goes above and beyond to empower clients, answer their questions, and secure fair compensation for injured Coloradans. Matlin Injury Law is familiar with ski resorts throughout Colorado, from Vail to Telluride, Breckenridge, and Steamboat. Our lawyers have handled cases involving many such resorts, and we’re prepared for them and other liable parties to fight your claim.

Allow a Colorado ski accident lawyer from our team to fight for you. Call Matlin Injury Law today to learn more about us and complete your free consultation, which comes with no obligation to hire us afterward.