Getting to the mountains of Utah often starts with a trip to Salt Lake City. Several ski resorts are within an hour’s drive of the city. It’s a popular tourist activity, but it’s also one with dangers. Ski accidents can injure, maim, or even kill.
When these accidents happen because of the negligence of a ski resort, an equipment rental facility, or a careless skier, you can seek compensation with the help of 1Law’s ski accident attorneys in Salt Lake City. Find out if you have a case in a free consultation.
The steps to take after a ski accident are similar to what you do after a car accident. The very first thing to do should happen before you get on the slope. Always find out how to contact the ski patrol for your resort and ask them what their accident procedures are before you ski.
If you get in an accident, contact the resort authorities or ask someone to do it for you. Try to keep all parties involved in the accident at the scene, if you can. At least try to remember any identifying features of the responsible skier. Ask witnesses to stay on the scene as well.
If you can, take photos of your injuries and the scene, especially any obstacles that were involved in your accidents. Try to get as many angles as you can, especially the ski tracks. Video evidence is best if you can get it.
Snow may seem soft, but it can become surprisingly hard when you land on it wrong. After any ski accident, you should seek medical help even if you feel okay. This isn’t just important to your case. It’s important for your health.
Traumatic brain injuries can happen easily in ski accidents. If you went unconscious or cannot remember what happened in your accident, or know you hit your head, you must see a doctor immediately. Early treatment can help control the symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Also, thanks to the shock of any accident, your body may have shut down pain signals for a while. Pain may not appear for days after your accident. If you delay too long, and you try to make a claim, an insurer might say your injuries weren’t as bad as you’re claiming.
Having medical records and a record of your follow-up visits with a doctor not only helps to strengthen your case for compensation, it also provides your Salt Lake City ski accident lawyer with an itemized list of medical costs to help calculate your settlement value.
Skiing is a dangerous activity on its own, and anyone on the slopes takes their welfare into their own hands. If you hit a natural obstacle and get hurt, you may not be able to sue under the Inherent Risks of Skiing Act.
Ski resorts should have a responsibility code posted. If another skier violates this code and harms you, you will probably have to sue the other skier rather than the resort. You should familiarize yourself with your slope’s responsibility code before skiing.
With incidents like chairlift or rope tow accidents, the resort may be responsible and could be sued. The same goes for many other premises liability situations that could harm someone on the property.
Ski accidents can happen in an instant and they can be hard to prove. Not every personal injury attorney has experience with ski accidents and the laws surrounding ski accident liability. Therefore, you need to find a lawyer who has helped ski victims before.
Your attorney’s job is to help you get compensation after your accident and act as a go-between for you and the party you might sue. They also advise you on the best steps to take after your accident to preserve your claim.
If an insurance company knows you have a case but don’t have a lawyer, there are many tricks they’ll use to get you to agree to a lower settlement, or even deny you compensation. Once you have a ski accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, they know they have to play fair or risk going to trial and lose a lot more money.
Under many circumstances, you have four years to start a ski accident claim in Utah before you reach the statute of limitations as defined under Utah Code § 78B-2-307. However, there are some circumstances that could extend or even shorten the deadline.
Your best bet to ensure the most success in your case is to start your claim early. As soon as a doctor has diagnosed you with an injury, reach out to a ski injury lawyer for further advice. By starting early, your lawyer doesn’t have to worry about the deadline.
Our legal team at 1Law has Salt Lake City ski accident attorneys who can help you after your ski accident. We have the experience and legal knowledge of Utah law to make a strong case in your favor, and we’re willing to go as far as it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.
Find out if you have a case by contacting our attorneys by phone or through our free legal chat service.