Can I Recover Damages for a Skiing Accident?
The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the world’s best skiing mountains making it a popular local sport. There is no doubt, however, that the sport carries a high risk for personal injury. Skiers may sign a waiver that they are risking a skiing accident without the ability to sue but if you were injured by another skier or snowboarder, or by a ski area operator; you may be entitled to recover damages for your injuries.
Many skiing injuries are the result of collisions with other skiers or riders, chairlift accidents, or other ski area operator negligence. Ski area operator negligence can involve issues such as heavy machinery operation mistakes or malfunctions, in-area avalanches, or improperly marked boundaries.
Read MoreAre you suffering from a Skiing or Snowboarding injury?
With Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain ski areas all in our backyard, there are plenty of opportunities to sustain a personal injury while skiing or snowboarding.
Types of Accidents
Winter conditions and skier abilities are unpredictable and as such, there are many ways to sustain a serious injury while skiing or snowboarding. Snowboarding alone has been attributed to result in more accidents than any other winter related sport. A few common accidents include:
- Colliding with another skier or boarder
- Crashing into the lift riblets
- Falling from a cliff
- Getting caught up in an avalanche
- Equipment failure
Anyone who has ever been on the slopes has certainly been embarrassed by a bad fall. But have no doubt, serious injury can result.
Types of Injuries
- Brain trauma
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
In order for your injury to merit a “personal injury, with legal consequences, “negligence” must have occurred. Yes, the back of your lift ticket has all sorts of exclusions and ommissions by the operators of the ski area and assumptions of risk made by the bearer of the lift ticket. However, if you have sustained a personal injury as a result of a skiing or snowboarding accident, contact the personal injury attorney firm Tario & Associates for a free consultation at 360-671-8500.
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