Can I Sue for Personal Injury from a Ski Chairlift Accident?
Riding a ski chairlift, tram or gondola is generally considered to be very safe but when a ski chairlift accident happens the injuries sustained can be very serious or even life threatening. Data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) gathered since 1973 shows 12 deaths linked to chairlift malfunctions through the 2015/2016 ski season. Between 1973 and 2016 the industry gave approximately 16.7 billion lift rides to skiers, hikers, snowshoers and snowboarders. This data leaves us with a current annual fatality rate of 0.14 per 100 million miles traveled on ski lifts; far lower than annual fatality rates of riding an elevator or in a motor vehicle. There has not been a ski resort industry related fatality from a chair lift malfunction since 1993. In addition, U.S. fatalities on ski lifts are a fraction of those experienced on European ski resorts.