West Jordan Ski and Snowboard Accident Lawyer
West Jordan is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, making it a popular base for skiers and snowboarders. The town offers close proximity to some of Utah’s finest ski resorts. Utah residents and visitors alike enjoy winter activities on nearby slopes, but when a skier or snowboarder suffers a serious accident, the fun is over.
Where do you turn after suffering a preventable ski or snowboard accident in West Jordan? Contact the experienced West Jordan personal injury lawyers at Handy & Handy Attorneys at Law — call (385) 404-6398.
Why Handy & Handy Might Be the Right Choice for Your Ski or Snowboard Accident Claim In West Jordan?
An accident happens in an instant on Utah’s steep slopes, but the after-effects may last for months. In some cases, skiing and snowboarding accidents cause permanent disability. With Handy & Handy on your side, you can expect the following:
- A law firm with small-town compassionate advocacy and the latest technology and resources of a big-city law firm
- A dedication to professional excellence with a history of exceptional results for clients, including a recent $650,000 for a ski-collision injury victim with a femur fracture
- A trial-ready attorney on your side throughout every step of the process to tailor a personalized strategy with the goal of maximizing the amount you recover in your claim
Handy & Handy Attorneys at Law offer free case consultations to injury victims. Then, you pay us nothing for our services until after we’ve recovered compensation for you through a settlement or court award.
Common Causes of Ski and Snowboard Accidents In West Jordan
Winter sports like skiing and snowboarding are a fun and healthy way to stay active and outdoors during the cold-weather season in West Jordan and elsewhere in Utah; however, a skier or snowboarder on an average Utah slope can reach speeds of 10 to 40 miles per hour. In a crash at these speeds, serious injuries may occur. The most common causes of skiing and snowboarding accidents in West Jordan are skier inexperience, but in some cases, other factors are at play, including the following:
- Collisions with others
- Collisions with obstacles, including hidden hazards
- Ski lift accidents due to operator error or malfunctions
- Defective ski equipment
- Poorly maintained rental ski equipment
- Premises liability injuries on ski resort property
Utah protects ski resort owners from liability for common skiing-related accidents under Utah Code Section 78-B-4-401, which states that skiers cannot recover compensation for injuries related to the inherent risks of skiing. In addition, ski resorts require skiers and snowboarders to sign injury waivers as further protection against liability. Still, it is a common misconception that an injured skier or snowboarder in Utah cannot recover compensation for injuries.
When an accident with serious injuries occurs due to ski resort negligence, defective equipment, or another skier’s reckless actions, the injury victim may recover compensation through legal action against the liable party.
Who Is Liable for Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries in Utah?
It’s possible to pursue compensation for injury-related damages after a ski or snowboard accident in Utah, but it can be challenging to prove that the injury occurred due to negligence rather than the inherent risk of skiing. The most common liable parties in West Jordan ski and snowboard accident claims include the following:
- A ski resort owner or manager who neglected to correct a known hazard on the property
- A negligent ski equipment rental facility
- A negligent chair-lift operator
- A negligent ski-lift maintenance company
- The manufacturer of defective ski, snowboard, or lift equipment
- A skier or snowboarder who acted recklessly on the slopes
Proving liability for ski and snowboard accidents requires evidence that meets the standards of legal liability by demonstrating that the at-fault party owed a duty of care to the injury victim, that they breached that duty through negligence, that the breach caused the injury, and that the injury victim suffered damages from the injury.
What Types of Injuries Occur In West Jordan Ski and Snowboard Accidents?
Because of the high-speeds achieved by skiers, the heights of chair lifts, and the complexity of ski equipment, accidents on ski slopes are often severe. The cold, snowy alpine location can sometimes heighten the seriousness of the injury by increasing the likelihood of shock.
Common injuries in Utah ski and snowboard accidents include the following:
- Bone fractures
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, tendon damage, and torn ligaments
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Contusions and abrasions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial and dental trauma
Shock, hypothermia, and frostbite can sometimes worsen the above injuries, especially on cross-country skiing trails, where it may take significant time for help to arrive.
Common Recoverable Damages In Ski and Snowboard Accident Claims
Accidents and injuries in skiing accidents in West Jordan range from mild and fully recoverable to severe and life-altering. Regardless of the severity of the injury, if it required medical treatment and time away from work, these are recoverable damages if the injury was caused by someone else’s careless actions. Common damages recovered in ski and snowboard accident claims include the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Future medical expenses related to the injury
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or diminished future earning ability due to disability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Catastrophic injury damages or wrongful death benefits to a surviving family member may be available in the most serious ski or snowboard accident claims in West Jordan — contact a wrongful death attorney in West Jordan today.
Contact the West Jordan Ski and Snowboard Accident Lawyers Who Get Results
It’s often a challenging legal endeavor to recover the full compensation you deserve for a skiing or snowboarding accident injury, even when the injury happened through no fault of your own. Call the West Jordan Ski and Snowboard accident lawyers at Handy & Handy Attorneys at Law for experienced legal representation throughout every step of the process, from the investigation to assertive negotiations for a settlement from the appropriate insurer.
If your case is one of the approximately 4% of personal injury claims that require court, a trial-ready attorney from Handy & Handy will seek the maximum compensation available through a jury award for your damages.