From broken bones to traumatic brain injuries to catastrophic spine injuries resulting in permanent impairment or death, ski and snowboard collisions can be physically painful, economically devastating, and life changing. But there is hope. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Ski and snowboard injury law is complicated and differs from state to state. Regardless, to obtain compensation for your injuries, you must act quickly and retain experienced lawyers to gather and preserve the evidence and timely bring your claims.
Ski and Snowboard Collisions and Injuries
Collisions between skiers and snowboarders are the most common accidents on the slopes. Collision injuries, in fact, are on the rise. Data shows that ski and snowboard-related emergency room visits were up over 50% from 2016 through 2024.
Skiers and snowboarders hitting the slopes post-pandemic are showing an increased level of irresponsibility and recklessness due to several factors, including ingesting pot gummies, magic mushrooms, or large amounts of alcohol before hitting the slopes, taking selfies and shooting video for their social media feeds, and blasting music through their headphones—all of which causes them to be oblivious to what’s happening around them. It’s all about their experience and nothing else matters.
But that’s not right. Skiing and boarding are sports requiring precise motor skills, reasonable inhibition, and looking out for others. Most states’ laws assign responsibility to the uphill skier or boarder to avoid colliding with skiers or boarders below them. A skier or boarder injured in a collision may secure compensation for his or her injuries from the uphill skier’s or snowboarder’s general liability insurance policy, homeowner’s insurance policy, and/or umbrella insurance policy.
Skiers and boarders may suffer a wide variety of serious injuries eligible for compensation, including:
- Head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, loss of consciousness, concussions, and death.
- Neck and shoulder injuries. Whiplash, fractures, torn rotator cuffs, shoulder dislocation/separation.
- Back and spine injuries. Herniated disks, traumatic spinal injuries, including paraplegia and death.
- Knee injuries. Meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, fractures.
- Hand injuries. Skier’s thumb, wrist sprains, finger fractures.
- Wrongful death. Due to the negligence or recklessness of another skier or snowboarder.
Compensation for Ski and Snowboard Injuries
If you are seriously injured in a ski or snowboard collision and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages and employee benefits
- Physical impairment
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium/loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment/quality of life
- Loss of life
- Household expenses
- Out-of-pocket expenses for home and vehicle modifications
- Punitive damages (if the party causing your injuries acted intentionally, recklessly, or was grossly negligent)
But you must act quickly. Evidence must be gathered and preserved. Experts must be hired. And your claim must be timely filed. Most states have a two-year a statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for compensation for ski or snowboard collision injuries. There also could be a shorter deadline to file a claim with your insurance company. If you don’t meet the applicable deadlines, you will be forever barred from bringing your injury compensation claim.
* * *
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a ski or snowboard collision due to the negligence of another, we stand ready to help you and your family. Please contact us for a free case evaluation. If we take your case, we will represent you on a full contingency basis, advancing all litigation expenses and court costs on your behalf. There will be no out-of-pocket cost to you. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.