Brain Injuries Caused by Winter Sports

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA ATTORNEYS

Brain injuries make up only a small portion of winter sports injuries, but they make up the largest percentage of fatal and catastrophic injuries caused by skiing and snowboarding.

According to recent research published in Injury Prevention, brain injuries caused by winter sports are on the rise. According to the report, this is due to:

• Higher speeds
• More jumping
• Increase in acrobatics

Overall the accidents are on the rise because risk taking is on the rise.

In some cases skiers and snowboarders only hurt themselves in accidents. All too often, someone else gets hurt due to irresponsible behavior.

Who is responsible?

Skiing and snowboarding accident cases can be difficult to prove because there is a certain amount of risk which skiers must accept when they choose to hit the slopes. However, that does not excuse negligent ski areas or other skiers from using reasonable care.

Skiers have a duty to ski within their ability to maintain control. The uphill skier is usually help responsible for the accident, because of the duty to lookout for people in front of you. Obviously, not all collisions are this simple. Skiing collision accidents are handled much like auto accidents.

Ski areas have a responsibility to maintain safe condition, to a reasonable extent. Ski areas cannot generally be held liable for the inherent dangers of skiing, but they can be held responsible for unnecessary danger they create. Inappropriate narrow areas which typically have a heavy flow of traffic can pose an added risk of collision. Man made obstacles should be made visible. Drop off into steep slopes requiring higher skill should be clearly marked.

How brain injuries occur on the slopes

Many types of skiing and snowboarding accidents can cause brain injuries including:

• Skier-to-skier collisions
• Impact with snow surface
• Impact with trees
• Impact with man made objects (such as ski lift poles)
• Lift accidents

If you or a loved one has suffered a winter sports related traumatic brain injury in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC, please email or call our experienced brain injury attorneys today. We are committed to obtaining justice for you - the victim.

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