For Colorado residents and visitors alike, skiing is one of the most popular pastimes in the state. But what happens if a person sustains an injury at a ski resort? Will the resort hold liability for the injury?
The answer to that can be complicated and often depends on the factors surrounding the injury. Here, our personal injury layers in Boulder want to review ski resort liability laws in Colorado so you have an idea of what to expect if you or a loved one sustain an injury.
Colorado Ski Resorts and Premises Liability
When most people partake in activities at a ski resort, they do so understanding the inherent risks associated with their activities. Skiing can be dangerous. There is no surprise there, particularly for those who live in Colorado. In most situations, individuals are allowed to use a ski resort’s facilities and slopes with the understanding that they will not be able to hold the resort responsible for many types of injuries that occur in this type of setting.
However, not every injury that occurs at a ski slope falls under the idea of “inherent risks” visitors should likely expect. There may be legitimate claims to be made against a ski resort if an injury occurs as a result of the negligent actions of a ski resort employee or overall negligent ski resort operations.
For example, if a resort fails to adequately mark or maintain their trails, or if they do not put bumpers on posts around ski lifts, this could give rise to an injury claim if a person sustains an injury as a result of the ski resort failure.
However, proving a legitimate claim based on ski resort negligence is very difficult. We strongly encourage any person involved in these types of cases to contact an attorney for a free consultation immediately.
Liability for Non-Skiing Injuries
There are plenty of opportunities for individuals to sustain non-skiing injuries on a ski resort property. For example, individuals could sustain a slip and fall injury inside a restaurant at the ski resort. A person could sustain an injury due to poorly maintained stairs or floorways. There are a variety of injuries that could occur in non-skiing areas around the resort, and these typically would not fall under the inherent risks one would expect with skiing activities.
Liability for non-skiing injuries could fall to a ski resort owner, but again, determining liability in these situations can be challenging. These would be more traditional premises liability claims.
Working With an Attorney After an Injury
If or someone you care about has been injured in an accident at a Colorado ski resort, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Even if you are not quite sure about who was responsible for the incident, an attorney can help guide you through this process and help you understand your best route moving forward. A Boulder premises liability lawyer will understand laws surrounding ski resort liability. They will also be able to thoroughly investigate your claim in order to determine liability.
A lawyer will not only handle communication and negotiations with other parties involved, but they will also completely prepare your claim for trial if it becomes necessary to ensure you are treated fairly.