Ski and resort injury questions

It depends on what caused it. Utah's Inherent Risks of Skiing Act bars claims against a ski area operator for injuries caused by inherent risks of skiing, such as snow conditions, trees, terrain features and collisions with other skiers. Some injuries may involve something else. A lawyer can review your facts.

Generally not for the collision itself, because collisions with other skiers are listed as an inherent risk as to the operator. The person who hit you is a separate question and may be responsible if they were skiing carelessly.

Yes. Utah's law defines a skier to include anyone using a snowboard, sled, tube or other device in a ski area.

Possibly. Utah courts have said a ski area's release does not always stop a claim for the resort's own carelessness. The Act still bars claims for inherent risks, and releases used by other businesses may be treated differently.

Utah's time limits can be short, sometimes a year or less, so call soon.

We review injuries that happened at Utah ski areas, wherever the injured person lives. Our lawyers are licensed in Utah and we have no offices outside Utah. Much of the work can be done by phone and email.

Keep the gear as it is, or ask the shop in writing to keep it, and keep your rental form. Binding settings at the time of the injury can be important evidence.

A first case review is free. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. You may still be responsible for case costs; see your fee agreement.

Ski patrol, police and often a medical examiner investigate. Families may have questions about what happened and whether anyone is responsible. Utah's time limits can be short, sometimes a year or less, so call soon. See our wrongful death page.

Yes, if you can. Ask for patrol on the mountain, describe what happened in simple, factual words, and ask for the incident report number. Patrol reports are written by the resort, and they can help show where, when and how an injury happened.

It depends on the facts. The Act lists impact with lift towers and structures as an inherent risk, but how a lift is loaded, operated and maintained raises different questions. See chairlift injuries.