Skiing & Sports Injuries
Seek compensation if you've been injured on the slopes or the court
Contrary to what many of us may think, we may be entitled to compensation in case of a sports-related injury, despite the fact that we voluntarily chose to pursue this sport. While strenuous physical activity does come with the risk of injury, it is not always the case that participants must assume all related risks.
Common types of sports injury accidents include:
- Collisions with other skiers, players, or moving objects
- Accidents from negligent equipment maintenance or operation
- Ski area negligence (unmarked hazards, poor slope maintenance, inadequate avalanche control)
- Instructor negligence (encouraging drills beyond skill level)
Sports injuries are a complicated area of law. They call for strict adherence to various procedural rules and the meticulous collection, documentation, and presentation of evidence, much of which will be of a medical nature. Therefore, if you have suffered an injury in the context of a sporting or recreational activity involving someone else’s negligent actions, it is highly recommended that you consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in this field. Legal Help in Colorado has handled many sports accident cases successfully, and our legal team is here to discuss your individual situation and offer you guidance regarding the possibility of seeking compensation to cover the cost of your medical care and other expenses.
Given the voluntary nature of most sporting and recreational activities, it’s important to establish the manner in which someone else’s actions are negligent. Skateboarding, snowboarding, ski accidents, and mountain climbing present different legal issues than playing a pick-up game of basketball. When someone goes beyond the rules of the game or fails to provide a safe environment for competitive play, they can be held liable for their negligence.
Get an experienced sports injury team on your side
Our experienced legal team at Legal Help in Colorado provides compassionate legal representation and advice to all victims.
Our main goal is to allow them to focus on their healing and rehabilitation while making sure they get the compensation they need in order to move on with their lives in the best way possible.
What are the common injuries from sports and recreational activities?
The most common injuries occurring from sports and recreational activities are sprains and strains, but experiencing a sports injury can have far more serious consequences. These range from bone fractures, dislocations, concussions, spine and cord injuries, and ligament tears, to brain injuries–which are, in fact, the leading cause of deaths resulting from sports injuries.
Bone fractures
Dislocations
Concussions
Spine & spinal cord injuries
Ligament tears
Brain injuries
Did you know: there are over 3.5 million sports injuries each year?
According to Stanford Children’s Health, about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports in the US, presenting more than 3.5 million injuries each year. These actually make up almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood [1].
Are sports dangeours?
All types of sports have the potential for injury. Particularly when it comes to children, the statistics are sobering.
Injuries cannot always be avoided in our lives. Sports injuries are clearly not uncommon, with ski collisions, for example, regarded by many as the equivalent of road traffic accidents in the mountains. In cases where a sports injury has occurred due to someone else’s fault, determining who might be held liable is not a straightforward matter. The assistance of a personal injury lawyer who is knowledgeable in this field can be critical in helping you determine whether and how you can potentially seek to recover damages.
The Colorado Ski Safety Act
Given the popularity of skiing, snowboarding, and other related sports activity in the U.S. and in our state, there are special legal provisions in place by virtue of the Colorado Ski Safety Act [2]. The Act was put in place to establish reasonable safety standards, as well as define the rights, responsibilities, and liabilities of both skiers and ski area operators.
In broad terms, Colorado’s Ski Safety Act recognizes the existence of certain dangers inherent in the sport of skiing. Consequently, it effectively limits the liability of ski area operators by granting them immunity for injuries resulting from any inherent dangers and risks. There are seven categories of hazards listed in the Act, meaning those dangers or conditions that are part of the sport.
In practical terms, the Act gives operators an incentive to mitigate the risk that skiers face and protect them within their ski areas.
Therefore, the question of whether you can seek compensation—and which party or parties you could potentially turn against—involves careful consideration of a number of factors. An experienced personal injury lawyer is the best person to help you if you have been injured while engaging in winter sports activities.
Hazards & dangers included in the Act are:
- Changing weather conditions.
- Snow conditions as they exist or may change.
- Surface or subsurface conditions such as bare spots, forest growth, rocks, stumps, streambeds, cliffs, extreme terrain, trees and other natural objects, and collisions with such natural objects.
- Failure of skiers to ski within their own abilities.
- Variations in steepness or terrain, whether natural or as a result of slope design, snowmaking, or grooming operations.
- Collision with other skiers.
- Failure of skiers to ski within their own abilities.
- Impact with natural and man-made objects commonly encountered on the slopes—for example, lift towers, signs, posts, fences or enclosures, hydrants, water pipes, and so on.
How to determine liability with a sports injury
Liability varies from case to case and requires a detailed review of the specifics.
Generally, sports injuries occur from collisions with others or equipment malfunctions. Proving negligence or recklessness, rather than an accident, is essential. For example, in winter sports, skiers and snowboarders must exercise safe practices, while ski area operators must maintain equipment and mark hazards. Failure to do so can result in liability for injuries.
Similarly, in other sports, liability may fall on various parties. If a child is injured due to improper coaching, both the coach and the school may be liable. Facility owners and the individual causing the injury could also be held responsible. Liable parties may defend themselves by showing they took reasonable precautions to prevent injuries, thus avoiding liability.
Important things to know about
pursuing a sports or skiing injury claim
A potentially liable person or entity may also require you to sign a liability waiver before participating in the sporting or recreational activity in question. As is generally the case, businesses request participants in such activities to relinquish their right to a personal injury lawsuit in the event they are injured in the course of such activities.
By signing such a waiver, you are effectively assuming the related risk. These waivers, which are also referred to as release forms, exist precisely to protect professionals or businesses from lawsuits if you are injured or harmed. They essentially absolve them against claims of reasonable negligence for any injuries resulting from your engagement in certain types of risky activities.
Even so, you may still be able to file a successful lawsuit. Release forms need to comply with certain standards, hence their strength will depend on a number of factors: should a court find that the waiver you signed was deficient, it may not be enforceable, thus enabling you to hold the third party in question liable. After all, waivers are a type of contract, and contracts can be found invalid by courts of law depending on each case’s particular circumstances. For example, it may be deemed that your situation involves a company that has been grossly negligent or exhibited a severe disregard for safety, or that it falsely represented a service or activity.
In any event, reaching out to an experienced personal injury attorney will enable you to explore your options and receive advice, as there are certain cases where such release forms are not enforceable. Moreover, it might be the case that it was actually a defective product that caused your injury, in which case your attorney may advise you to sue the product manufacturer.
Personal injury laws in Colorado, including the Ski Safety Act, limit the liability of third parties for sports-related injuries by putting in place a two-year statute of limitations for actions to recover damages.
Therefore, bear in mind that you will have two years to file a lawsuit after suffering a sports-related injury. Failing to do so will most likely mean that you will be barred from taking your claim to court, although certain exceptions may apply, mostly relating to the actual discovery of the injury and its effects.
Colorado has a cap on the amount of compensation that may be sought for damage suffered due to a sports injury caused by the negligence of another. This is currently set at $1 million [3]. This amount includes damages for economic as well as non-economic loss and can be extended under specific circumstances.
Because of the complex nature of traumatic brain or spine injuries and their underlying causes and effects, the precise extent of the consequences that such devastating injuries will have upon your life must be correctly evaluated. When negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party, but also if you end up resorting to court action by filing a related lawsuit, the amount of money you will be claiming as compensation for your damages will be the main point of contention. The costs arising from TBIs and SCIs will obviously depend greatly on how badly you have been hurt and, in reality, you may be looking into hundreds or even millions of dollars in medical and other related expenses.
Many TBI and SCI victims find themselves unable to take care of themselves after their accident, with many ensuing consequences. We will review your case particulars and, considering the severity of your injury, will do what it takes for you to receive fair compensation from the liable party. Such compensation may include payments for out-of-pocket financial losses incurred due to your accident, covering things such as your medical expenses, essential services, lost wages, and loss of quality of life. They may also include physical and emotional pain and suffering, anxiety, frustration, and loss of enjoyment of life, to name but a few. Bear in mind that there may be caps on the amount of damages you may be able to recover for each type of harm and loss you have suffered.
We will go over your case in detail, discuss your options, and take all necessary steps to ascertain the amount of damages you should receive, so you can work on your rehabilitation and towards acquiring the best possible level of quality of life possible.
Time considerations for claiming damages from a skiing or sports injury
If you or a loved one have suffered a TBI or SCI due to the fault of another, we strongly advise you to seek legal help as soon as possible, since there may be time limits applicable in respect of filing an action for compensation. A personal injury attorney will help you determine what type of action would be most suitable for your particular case and let you how long you have to pursue a claim for financial compensation. Observing statutes of limitation is absolutely vital, as waiting too long to assert your rights may have severe consequences for your chances of success. Failing to file your claim within the prescribed period may mean that the party responsible for your or your loved one’s injury could use this as a defense against liability. Therefore, it pays to act quickly and proactively and make informed decisions.
Within the state of Colorado, the statute of limitations in most cases involving non-fatal injuries is two years, with this limitation period typically running from the date of the accident. Even so, there are numerous exceptions, such as, for example, in cases concerning auto accidents, or when it comes to wrongful death actions. Therefore, seeking legal advice concerning time limitations is also of the essence.
Knowledgeable. Compassionate. Dedicated.
We are your personal injury team.
Available 24/7 to take your call: (720) 743-3682