Ski & Snowboard Accident Lawyers in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Common Causes of Skiing and Snowboarding Accidents

Thousands of skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes every year to reap the benefits of alpine sports. New Mexico offers many resorts, trails, and ski areas for expert trailblazers and beginners alike. Although many skiers leave the mountains unscathed, others are not so lucky. Each year, the NSAA publishes statistics about the fatalities and catastrophic injuries that occur during ski or snowboarding events in the United States. These fact sheets reveal that many athletes sustain life-altering injuries every year.

Although some snow accidents are caused by unforeseeable events, many are a result of common and well-known causes. The most common causes of skiing and snowboarding injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Time skiing/snowboarding without rest
• Skiing/snowboarding above ability level
• Improper/faulty equipment
• Inadequate adjustment to altitude
• Dehydration/fatigue
• Skiing/snowboarding off-trail or in closed areas
• Inadequate training
• Falls or collisions with objects
• Failure to observe posted warning signs by mountain safety services
• Failure to follow safety guidelines

There are many other causes of skiing and snowboarding accidents on slopes throughout the country. Notably, many accidents are preventable if athletes simply take the appropriate and recommended safety precautions. Taking these precautions not only protect you, but also everyone around you. Determining the cause of your ski or snowboard accident may be critical if you wish to pursue your legal options. However, allocating liability in sport-based injury cases can be exceedingly difficult for a victim without the proper training or experience. Thus, if you have been injured in a skiing or snowboarding accident in Las Cruces, it may be beneficial to contact a group of Las Cruces ski and snowboard accident attorneys to evaluate the legal merit of your claim.

Common Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries

As previously explained, skiing and snowboarding injuries are, unfortunately, more common than athletes would prefer. These injuries can be caused by a variety of factors and may also range in severity and permanency. In general, experts claim that the most common skiing and snowboarding injuries include:

• Shoulder dislocations or fractures
• Shoulder separations
• Lower extremity fractures
• Spinal injuries
• Anterior cruciate or collateral ligament injuries
• Closed head injuries
• Wrist, hand, or thumb injuries
• Death

Depending on the specifics of the impact or accident, athletes may suffer from one or multiple of the aforementioned injuries. These injuries, along with the trauma that accompanies these sorts of accidents, can inflict lifelong difficulties onto an athlete. Additionally, injured athletes may be unable to participate in the sport moving forward. Often, pain accompanies the injuries, making life even harder for victims. Luckily, there are treatments for many of the most common injuries. Injured skiers and snowboarders should seek medical treatment immediately after the accident. Not only will this help prevent further bodily damage, but it will also create a medical record of your injuries, which may become important if you later wish to seek legal compensation from the responsible party.

Prevention of Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries

If you choose to ski or snowboard in Las Cruces this year, be sure to take appropriate safety measures before, during, and after hitting the slopes. Researchers at Johns Hopkins suggest that nearly 600,000 people nationally are injured each year as a result of skiing and snowboarding. Studies indicate that about two injuries occur per 1,000 skier visits, with higher numbers among expert skiers who engage in riskier runs.

Luckily, many injuries are preventable through the utilization of recommended safety education, equipment, and measures. Some of these recommendations include:

• Respect the right-of-way of others
• Only stop in safe locations
• Learn to merge on the mountain
• Use adhesive devices to help prevent runaway equipment
• Observe signs and warnings
• Keep off closed trails
• Only run on slopes that you know and have studied
• Always stay in control of your speed
• Know how to use the lifts safely
• Practice on gentle slopes first
• Attend a safety instruction class beforehand
• Wear protective gear
• Supervise your younger skiers
• Listen to your body and its needs

Injuries resulting from ski or snowboard accidents can be debilitating, especially for athletes used to consistent movement. However, most injuries can be avoided through prevention techniques and safety precautions. All skiers and snowboarders should research and utilize these recommendations before traveling up a mountain.

Do I Have a Legal Claim for My Skiing or Snowboarding Accident?

Typically, skiing and snowboarding claims rely on one of two different legal theories.

1. Negligence

If your skiing or snowboarding injury case is based on negligence, you will likely need to prove that the party you are suing is legally responsible, or “at fault,” for your injuries. To prove that the defendant was negligent, you must show that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, the defendant breached that duty, and that the defendant’s breach was the cause of the injuries. Negligence statutes vary by jurisdiction, but New Mexico law requires an adequate showing of these elements. Notably, if you can prove that the defendant acted recklessly, you may be eligible for additional damages.

2. Product Liability

Skiers and snowboarders use many types of equipment when participating in alpine sports. This equipment may include helmets, jackets, protective gear, goggles, lifts, skis, boards, and many more. If your accident was caused by a defective or dangerous equipment product, you may be entitled to compensation from the companies that designed, manufactured, or distributed the product itself.

While these options may not be your only avenues for redress, they are the most commonly used for alpine accidents in civil courts. A Las Cruces ski and snowboard lawyer may have the experience necessary to apply the specifics of your accident to the legal theories used in local tribunals. Thus, it may be helpful to retain a local attorney to help you seek the highest compensation possible for your accident.

What Damages Can I seek for My Skiing or Snowboarding Accident?

When bringing a legal claim for damages resulting from a skiing or snowboarding accident, there are many types of damages that a victim may request. The damages received may vary depending on the specifics of your particular claim. The damages may be classified as economic or non-economic. Punitive damages may also be available in some courts. Damages in a ski or snowboard accident claim commonly include compensation for the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Equipment or property damage
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of life assistance
• Loss of inheritance
• Funeral and burial costs
• Mental anguish
• Lost earning capacity
• Lost household services
• Loss of enjoyment of activities

The damages available in your claim depend on the type and severity of the injuries you suffered.

Las Cruces has a statute of limitations of two years, which means that an injured party only has two years to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party before losing the right altogether. Filing deadlines are strict, it may be beneficial to retain a Las Cruces ski and snowboard accident attorney to help you meet deadlines and seek the appropriate damages for your specific claim.

Get Help from Our Las Cruces Ski and Snowboard Accident Attorneys

Skiing and snowboarding accidents can present a wide range of legal challenges, especially for victims without a clear understanding of the law. If you have been injured on the slopes in a ski or snowboard accident, you should contact a lawyer who handles personal injury lawsuits immediately. A Las Cruces ski and snowboard accident attorney may be able to help you apply existing legal theory to the specifics of your accident and reach an adequate settlement.

At Zinda Law Group, our Las Cruces lawyers have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you seek the highest compensation possible. The sooner you contact our office, the higher the likelihood that we will be able to assist you.

If your loved one has sustained damages or injuries in a skiing or snowboarding accident claim, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our Las Cruces ski and snowboard accident lawyers. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

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