If someone invited you to snowmobile on their property, you probably thought it sounded like a lot of fun. Making the best of winter weather can mean getting out and doing something a little adventurous. You might assume that skiing, sledding and ice fishing are similar enough to snowmobiling. In reality, snowmobiling is one of the most dangerous winter activities.
Every year, roughly 200 people in the United States die as a result of snowmobile accidents, and another 14,000 people suffer injuries related to snowmobiles. That number could include you or someone you love if you enjoy speeding over icy fields or snowy roads during the winter months.
If you get hurt while riding someone else’s snowmobile or on someone else’s property, you may wonder about your legal rights. In some situations, you may have the right to bring a claim for the injuries you suffer on a snowmobile.
Did you get hurt because of improper maintenance?
Whether you paid to rent it or you were riding it for fun with a co-worker or friend, you expect that the snowmobile was in safe operating condition. Unfortunately, not everyone who owns snowmobiles maintains them properly.
Issues with maintenance can lead to sudden failure, which could result in a crash or loss of control of the snowmobile. If you believe inadequate maintenance was a direct contributing factor to your injury, the company or individual who failed to properly maintain the snowmobile may be legally responsible for your injuries and financial losses.
Premises liability can be a factor in snowmobile cases
Whether you were riding snowmobiles on a friend’s property or through a neighbor’s field, premises liability could affect who is legally responsible for the injuries you suffer. In general, premises liability applies to the owner or manager of a facility where an injury takes place.
If you get hurt on a snowmobile in someone’s yard, especially if a failure to maintain the property comes into play, that may give you the right to file a liability claim in court or file an insurance claim. Failures of maintenance in relation to snowmobiles could include large stones, sticks or other obstacles in a path used by snowmobiles, as well as dangerous or protruding objects near where the snowmobiles run.
Every case is different. Understanding your rights after a Connecticut snowmobile injury is complicated. Perhaps alcohol or other factors were part of the scenario. Discussing the exact details of what happened with an experienced professional can give you an idea of what options you have after suffering a snowmobile injury.
