Snowmobile Accident Lawyers Calgary
According to Statistics Canada, 73 people die in snowmobile accidents every year. In Alberta between 1997 and 2006, there were 345 snowmobile collisions involving 378 motorized snow vehicles. Alberta Transportation reported that of these collisions, 60% resulted in either death or serious injury. Snowmobiles can be particularly dangerous because they operate during the winter when snow, ice, limited daylight, and avalanches pose a serious threat. In 2016, 12 out of 15 people killed in avalanches in Alberta were snowmobilers. Leading causes of snowmobile accidents include collision with stationary objects, submersion, ejection, avalanches, and reckless alcohol or drug use.
To legally drive snowmobiles on public land, the Alberta government requires operators to have a valid class 5 driver’s license, snowmobile registration, and insurance for the vehicle. However, there are limited legal restrictions that exist for snowmobiles on private property. If you are injured on a snowmobile that is licensed and insured, you may be entitled to coverage through Alberta’s Section B accident benefits. When snowmobile accidents happen on uninsured vehicles, it may be more difficult to acquire coverage for damages or injuries. If you are involved in a snowmobile accident as a result of another party’s negligence or otherwise, there may be grounds for a lawsuit. For example, according to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, snowmobile drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be charged with the same impaired driving offences as the driver of a car or truck.
Those who are fortunate enough to survive a traumatic snowmobile accident in the wilderness frequently sustain a host of injuries, ranging in severity from moderate to catastrophic.
Common types of injuries sustained in snowmobile accident include but are not limited to:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Strains and sprains
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
- Fatalities
- And more
Recovering from injuries sustained in snowmobile accidents can be a long, painful, emotionally draining, and expensive process. However, depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation. If your injuries were the result of another person’s negligence, our Calgary snowmobile accident lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation for damages you have incurred and damages you will incur in the future.
To learn more, contact us today.
How Do Snowmobile Accidents Occur?
The majority of snowmobile accidents that end in fatalities or severe injuries involve a collision with a stationary object. As it so happens, 80% of the deadly snowmobile accidents across the country have been single-vehicle events. Nearly half of those single-vehicle crashes occurred when the rider collided with a tree.
Speed, poor visibility, and inebriation often play a role in injury-causing snowmobile accidents. In fact, the use of alcohol and/or drugs factor into more than half of fatal snowmobile accidents throughout the country. The negligence of a snowmobile rider frequently contributes to the circumstances that cause accidents, either with a single-vehicle or multiple riders.
Fatal snowmobile accidents can also be caused by submersions. These can occur when snowmobile riders attempt to operate their vehicles on insufficiently frozen lakes and other bodies of water. Snowmobiling expeditions require advanced preparation. Extra care should be taken if a person plans on riding their snowmobile on a large body of ice. It is important to check the condition of the ice to ensure it will be safe to ride on and can support the snowmobile’s weight. If the ice is too thin, submersion accidents can occur. When this happens, unprepared snowmobile riders can lose their lives to hypothermia or by drowning.
Snowmobile riders owe a common duty of care to other snowmobilers and trail-users. By engaging in wrongful conduct while operating their potentially dangerous machines, negligent snowmobile riders could endanger the lives and livelihoods of their peers.
Common examples of negligence that frequently lead to injury-causing snowmobile accidents include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Reckless driving
- Excessive speeding
- Distracted driving
- Night riding with improper lighting
- Bad driving conditions
- Defective parts
- Improper maintenance
- And more
If you were injured in an accident caused by another snowmobile rider’s negligence, contact our legal team and take advantage of a free initial consultation. Our Calgary snowmobile accident lawyers have been helping Canadians with their snowmobile accident claims since 1959 and are ready to put our experience to work for you.
What to Do After Being Involved In A Snowmobile Accident
Before setting out on a leisurely snowmobile expedition, no one imagines that their day will end in a life-changing accident. However, being prepared for the worst-case scenario could help save lives. If you are involved in a snowmobile accident it is important to take the following immediate actions:
- Check for injuries: Check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries. If anyone is injured, call for emergency medical services right away.
- Call for help: If you have cell phone reception, call 911 to report the accident and request assistance. If you do not have cell phone reception, send someone to get help as soon as possible.
- Exchange information: Exchange information with the other parties involved in the accident and witnesses to the accident. Record their names, addresses, phone numbers, and exchange insurance information.
- Document the scene: Take pictures of the scene of the accident, the snowmobiles involved in the collision, and any injuries sustained.
- Contact your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Schedule a free initial consultation with our legal team if you have sustained serious injuries or lost a loved one in a snowmobile accident.
How Our Calgary Snowmobile Accident Lawyers Can Help With Snowmobile Accident Claims
In Alberta, it is compulsory for anyone who operates an off-highway vehicle– including a snowmobile– to have liability insurance. Therefore, if you were injured in a snowmobile accident caused by a negligent rider, their insurance policy should cover the costs associated with their injuries. Unfortunately, insurance providers often complicate matters for injured snowmobile accident survivors rather than rectifying them in a timely and efficient manner. Insurance companies may dispute the injured party’s claims, assert that their own actions were responsible for the collision, or deny their claim altogether.
Our snowmobile accident lawyers are familiar with the unfair tactics often employed by insurance providers to withhold compensation from deserving accident victims. If your injury-causing accident was the result of someone else’s negligence, our snowmobile accident lawyers serving Alberta may be able to help you recover compensation for costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering you have incurred as a result of the injuries you have sustained.
Here are the types of damages we can help you get compensation for:
Economic damages: These are damages awarded for things like medical and rehabilitation appointments following your accident. They also cover things like medical expenses, surgery, emergency care, lost income, property damage and other out of pocket expenses.
Non-economic damages: These are damages awarded for things like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress. These are much harder to prove and we recommend you consult with a lawyer for legal help on this.
In Calgary and the rest of Alberta, non-economic damages for pain and suffering are subjected to a cap and is sometimes adjusted for inflation. To learn more on how our lawyers can help you secure economic and non-economic damages for your injuries and losses, call our legal team for immediate assistance.
Contact Our Calgary Snowmobile Accident Lawyers Today
During a cost-free, no-obligation initial consultation with our snowmobile accident lawyers serving all of Alberta, you will have the opportunity to receive personalized, case-specific legal advice and learn if you might be eligible to pursue a civil claim for compensation.
Our Alberta snowmobile accident lawyers are committed to helping injured members of the local community get the fair treatment and fair compensation they are rightfully owed. To learn more about options for financial recovery that may be available to you, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
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