Skiing is an exhilarating hobby, whether you have a need for speed or enjoy the beautiful backdrop of snow covered mountains. However, a day out skiing can turn into a nightmare when there is a malfunction with the ski lift. These incidents can cause people to plummet to the ground and leave them with catastrophic injuries. People can also die from ski lift malfunctions because of the fact that they are 30 feet or more off the ground.
Though skiers can take precautionary measures to prevent injury, some things are simply beyond your control. However, it’s possible that negligence by someone else is responsible for the accident. Understanding how ski lift accidents happen and who is at fault are essential elements in a lawsuit for injuries or death by a ski lift.
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Operating a Ski Lift
It’s unlikely that you have given much thought to how a ski lift works, but this is critical information that helps us understand how an accident can happen.
The chairlift is the most common model of ski lifts, and this is a simple device made from a large pulley and looped cable. Chairs are suspended from the cable and are held in place with a mechanical grip. Similar to a vice, the grip is meant to keep the chair from sliding back. The lift also has a series of towers that keep the cable from dropping.
For the most part, ski lifts operate via electric motors, but they should have a backup in the forms of a diesel generator in case of power failure. Though chairlifts are most commonly used, you can also find ski lifts in the form of:
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Gondolas
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Cable cars / funiculars
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Button lifts
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Drag lifts
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Rope tows
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T-bars
All ski lifts should have safety features like metal bars that keep you from falling out when the lift is moving. More sophisticated lifts have sensors that allow the operator to stay on top of variables that can prevent or reduce the risk of accidents. Of course, there is always the possibility of something going wrong in spite of these measures, and that includes negligence by one or more parties.
What can Cause a Ski Lift Accident?
There are various circumstances that can lead to a ski lift accident, but they generally fall into one of the following categories:
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Error by the lift operator: Operators of ski lifts have many responsibilities, including helping people on and off the lift, addressing safety issues, and providing directions or warnings.
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Mechanical malfunctions: the ski lift itself may have significant problems, ranging from design flaws to parts that need to be replaced. Liability may fall on the manufacturer or the staff for not maintaining the lift.
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Human error by passengers: the people using the ski lift may not follow safety rules, like sitting still and not placing too much weight on one side.
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Weather conditions: high winds and other issues with the weather can increase the possibility of accidents on ski lifts. Though ski resort owners and employees cannot control the weather, they can still monitor weather conditions and close the lift as needed.
Suing for a Ski Lift Accident
Whenever someone is harmed by a ski lift, an investigation is needed to see why the accident occurred. If mechanical problems are involved, we can further examine if the operator of the lift made an error, like failing to supervise and look out for indications that the lift was unsafe.
If the operator did what they were supposed to do, it may be the manufacturer of the lift that is at fault. The equipment could have had problems that occurred during the manufacturing process that madie it dangerous. A ski accident lawyer can help you file a product liability claim, meaning that the manufacturer is strictly liable for the victim’s monetary losses and emotional distress.
Another possibility is a lawsuit against the ski resort or company that owns the lift. Companies can be sued if it’s found that the operator was inexperienced or lacked the needed training to be in charge of a ski lift. Negligence can also apply in situations where the resort failed to take weather or terrain issues into account, which they should have known about ahead of time.
Even though the ski lift is owned by the resort, they are likely to hire a third party company for repairs and maintenance. So, this is another entity that can be sued if you got hurt on a ski lift with defects.
Steps to Take after a Ski Lift Accident
If you are injured from falling off a ski lift, seek medical attention immediately. Based on where you are at the time of the accident, you may need to contact the ski patrol team. They will provide whatever treatment they can, but many people need to be taken to a hospital. We urge you to see a doctor and receive a complete evaluation to ensure that all your injuries are properly documented.
If you are able to, document any physical injuries and the scene of the accident. Photos or video can help you preserve relevant details about the terrain, weather conditions, and any damage to the lift. You should also try and obtain contact information if there were any witnesses. This can serve as a crucial piece of evidence when you are trying to prove that an accident was caused by negligence from someone other than yourself.
Finally, contact a ski lift injury lawyer to guide you through the legal process and help you negotiate the highest possible settlement.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Are you looking for a ski lift accident attorney in Los Angeles? If so, contact our law firm 24/7 to receive a free consultation with one of our legal experts. Many people are under the impression that a waiver takes away their right to file an injury claim. But there are clear cases of liability that allow for lawsuits against ski resorts and other parties that breached their duty of care to a skier.
As you focus on healing after an accident, we will handle all the legal complexities that have to do with your lawsuit. We also wait till your settlement check is released to seek payment for legal services. If the case is not resolved in your favor, you pay $0 under the Zero Fee Guarantee.
For more information on the compensation you can receive from a ski lift accident claim, please get in touch with us at your earliest opportunity.
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