Winter in Minnesota gives us the opportunity to pursue some fun seasonal activities like snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, but these winter sports can also come with an increased risk of injury. If you suffer an injury on a ski hill, it’s important to realize that you may have a valid injury claim against another party. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how skiers and snowboarders can get compensation for their injuries in Minnesota.
Skier And Snowboarder Injury Compensation
There are a number of different ways that skiers and snowboarders can be injured on the mountain, and we’re not going to be able to cover every single type of injury in this blog. That being said, we’ll cover the major types of injuries that are compensable so you can get a better idea about whether or not you might have a valid claim. Some of the more common injury claims we pursue involving skiers and snowboarders include:
Collisions With Another Party – Odds are you’re not going to be the only person on the hill or mountain, which means you’ll have to watch out for other skiers. However, just like when you’re driving, you can be extremely defensive and still end up in an accident if the other party is acting dangerously or recklessly. Even if they weren’t purposefully reckless, if their inability to maintain control led to your injuries, you may have a compensation claim.
Improperly Marked Areas – Most ski mountains clearly mark their trails to help showcase their difficulty level, but if these signs are covered by snow or were not replaced after being removed for any reason, you could have an injury claim against the resort for failing to properly warn people of upcoming dangers. They may argue that you gave up your right to an injury award when you bought a lift pass, but that doesn’t absolve them from their responsibility to clearly mark dangerous areas. If areas were not properly marked, you may be able to file a negligence claim against the business.
Chairlift Malfunction – If you were injured as a result of a chairlift malfunction or negligence on the part of the chairlift operator, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. Don’t be surprised if the insurance company questions your role in the incident by working to see if you were inebriated or horsing around when the injuries occurred. This only speaks to the importance of having a legal team by your side to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Equipment Failure – If you rented your equipment from the resort, there’s a chance that you could hold them accountable if the equipment breaks or malfunctions during use. You could also pursue a defective product lawsuit against a manufacturer if a defect with the equipment played a role in your injuries.
You bear a significant amount of responsibility on the ski hill, so don’t just assume that any injury you incur will lead to a successful lawsuit. Similarly, if you cause someone else to suffer an injury, you could be held liable, so it’s important to stay within your abilities and ski defensively.
If you or someone you love has been injured while skiing or snowboarding, reach out to the team of injury lawyers at Hey Workers. We’ll review the incident, work with you to see if you have a valid claim, and we’ll put together a strong argument to help you win the largest award possible. Even if you’re not sure if you have a case, it never hurts to reach out and ask. For more information or for help with your injury case, give the team at Hey Workers a call today at (844) 439-9675.
