Skiing is a common leisure activity people enjoy in Utah and across the nation. Skiing accidents are luckily few and far between these days, however, here in Utah, people are more prone to injury or death due to skiing accidents. This is because of the sheer volume of ski resorts and the number of people who ski here. If you enjoy skiing as a hobby, it is important to understand what to do in the event of a ski accident, on the off chance that you or a family member becomes involved with one.
Who Is Liable In Skiing Accidents?
Liability often changes due to the state that the accident occurs in. In Utah, skiing accidents apply negligence law. For Utah skiers, each person has the responsibility to “ski reasonably and within control.” Depending on the situation, several different parties could potentially be at fault. If the accident occurred due to a collision, typically the person who hit into the other individual is liable. As in, the uphill person who collides with the downhill person will be at fault.
However skiers who are merging onto the hill also have the obligation to yield to traffic coming down the hill. So for example, if a skier was coming down the mountain and someone jumped onto the mountain without warning, then the downhill skier would be at fault. And lastly, ski resorts have legal responsibility to provide safety information and safe facilities for people to use. So if an injury was caused by a ski lift or another part of the ski resort, the ski resort could be held liable.
What To Do If You Have Been Injured In A Skiing Accident
The first step to take if you or a family member has been injured in a skiing accident is to make sure that you get medical help. Get in contact with the police and the ski patrol. Make sure that the ski patrol gets a report of the incident. Once the person who has been injured is stabilized, find out as much information as possible.
If there were other people involved with the injury, get their contact information. Take photos of the scene and of the injuries to document for your insurance company. If you can, try to make sure that no one else gets injured and tell somebody if there seems to be a safety hazard. Also gather any accounts of people who witnessed the accident.
The next step is to get in contact with a legal representative and your insurance company. A personal injury attorney will be able to take in the information that you have collected and help you build a solid case. Having a good attorney will greatly improve your chances of getting the compensation and outcome that you desire. If you get any calls from other individuals who are claiming to be other involved parties’ legal representatives or insurance providers, do not reveal any information. It is important to protect yourself during this time period and to not say anything that is incriminating.
Call Us If You Have Been Injured In A Skiing Accident
If you have been injured in a skiing accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. We at LeBaron and Jensen are here to help you through what can seem like a difficult and complicated situation. We will fight for you and will do everything in our power to help you receive an ideal outcome. We look forward to working with you and reviewing your case. For more information or to schedule a case review, feel free to reach out to us today.
