Injured During A Holiday Skiing Vacation? Factors Used To Prove Liability
Many people that go on vacation during the winter head to the snowy mountains, especially for those that live in warm areas that don't see much snow. While there, it is common to go skiing to make the most of the trip. However, when skiing on a mountain, you are not alone. In some cases, there can be a lot of other skiers and snowboarders on the mountain with you, increasing the chances of a skiing accident occurring.
In the event that you or a loved one is injured while skiing during your holiday vacation or any time over the winter season, do you know what steps you should take to recover compensation? It will ultimately come down to what can be proven. So, in order to maximize your damages and minimize your liability in the matter, it can help to understand the factors that are used to prove liability in a skiing accident.
Experience
One of the main reasons that a skiing accident occurs is due to the lack of experience of the liable party. Maybe the individual was a complete rookie who had never taken a skiing lesson before or had never even seen snow before. They may have been unable to predict where you were going or control their own skis, resulting in the collision. As you speak to the other individual involved, make sure you are carefully listening to anything they say and take note of anything that may indicate that they don't have experience skiing.
Location
If a ski resort is as good as they say they are, then their slopes will be clearly labeled with varying difficulties. So, consider where you were when your accident took place. Were you on a slope that was unlabeled or mislabeled? If so, then the resort could be held liable for your accident because you could not have reasonably known that the mountain you went on was not safe.
Maintenance Records
The resort has a certain responsibility to ensure all visitors are protected from threats that could present themselves due to a lack of proper maintenance. Rented equipment, slopes, and lifts need to be maintained routinely in order to eliminate defects and unnecessary dangers. Maintenance records can play a role in pinpointing liability in these cases. If there are no records, then that just improves your case.
When you or someone you know has suffered an injury in a skiing accident, get in touch with a personal injury attorney. They can help you in determining liability.