Ski & Snowboard
Accident Attorney
in Lone Tree, Colorado

Common Causes of Ski
and Snowboard Accidents

While the cause of ski and snowboard accidents vary, the more common causes include:

• Collisions with objects, including trees or barriers
• Collisions with other snowboarders or skiers
• Poorly lit or located signs and warnings
• Poor slope maintenance
• Reckless or out-of-control snowboarders and skiers
• Slope obstructions
• Ski lift operator error
• Faulty equipment
• Ski equipment malfunction
• Inadequate instruction from ski or snowboard instructors
• Negligence of the ski or snowboard resort management or employees

Common Ski and
Snowboard Injuries

Some of the common injuries from ski or snowboard accidents include:

• Fractures or broken bones
• Head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Shoulder dislocations
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
• Hand, wrist, or thumb injuries
• Lower extremity fractures
• Shoulder separations

The Colorado Ski Safety Statute

In 1979, the Colorado Ski Safety Act was established by the Colorado legislature. According to the Ski Safety Statute, certain risks and dangers are "inherent in the sport of skiing." Therefore, participants on the mountain or resort are required to share responsibilities to enforce safe skiing. For instance:

• The downhill rider always has the right of way.
• When traversing the mountain, merging skiers must yield the right of way to skiers crossing downhill.
• Skiers should recognize their ability and ski within the suitable terrain.
• All skiers should avoid any reckless actions or behavior that can cause harm to themselves or others.

Responsibilities of Skier and Snowboarders

Under the Colorado Skier Responsibility Code, skier and snowboarders have the following rights and responsibilities:

• Always stay in control in order to enable an emergency stop and avoid a head-on collision
• Give the right of way to anyone ahead of you
• Do not stop on the ski trail to create an obstruction
• Use adequate safety equipment to ensure safe skiing
• Follow all posted signs and warnings
• Know your ability to load, ride, and unload safely
• Avoid closed trails

Who is Liable When an Accident Occurs?

Ski and snowboard accidents are quite common. As a result, ski resorts depend on liability waivers to get protection from claims or lawsuits. When you buy a pass, you sign away your rights to sue the ski resort for negligence.

Furthermore, Colorado law presumes that the uphill skier is liable in a ski accident. When an accident occurs, liability may be attributed to:

• Negligence: When a ski accident is caused by the negligence of another skier, medical professional, ski resort employee, or the ski resort on the slopes, the party responsible may be held liable.
• Defective Product: If the snowboarding accident was due to defective equipment, the manufacturer may be held liable.
• Recklessness: If your lack of attention, control, or carelessness caused the ski accident, the Colorado court might shift the blame onto your own recklessness. In a situation like this, recovering compensation for your injuries may be difficult.

Work with an Experienced Ski
and Snowboard Accident Attorney

Being injured in a snowboarding accident can be a painful and emotional experience. Such an accident can have a devastating, long-term impact on your physical, financial, and mental health. However, you don't have to go through it alone. If you were hurt in a ski accident, it is crucial that you retain a knowledgeable Colorado personal injury attorney immediately to help protect your rights and for proper guidance.

At Landry Law, P.C., we have devoted our careers to handling personal injury and snowboard accident cases. We can help:

• Fight vigorously to protect your rights and represent your best interests
• Review every detail of your case and carry out a comprehensive, private investigation
• Gather all relevant information, pieces of evidence, and other necessary documentation
• Establish fault and prove liability
• Determine and estimate case-value
• Negotiate a fair financial settlement with the insurance company
• File a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, where applicable

Attorney Scott P. Landry can fight compassionately to protect your rights and help pursue fair financial compensation to cover medical costs, lost income, future medical treatment, pain and suffering, or loss. Having us on your side can improve your chances of a favorable outcome in your personal injury claims.