Steamboat Springs Ski & Snowboard Accident
Practice Areas

At Eddington Law, we focus our practice on helping skiers and snowboarders who have been injured at Steamboat Resort and ski areas throughout Colorado. For more than 35 years, we’ve been fighting for winter sports accident victims, and we’ve developed deep expertise in the unique legal challenges these cases present.

Colorado’s Ski Safety Act creates significant hurdles for ski accident victims seeking compensation. Most general personal injury attorneys don’t have the specialized knowledge needed to overcome these obstacles. Our team has spent decades mastering this complex area of law, and we know how to build cases that succeed even when ski resorts and insurance companies claim they’re protected from liability.

Whether you’ve been injured in a collision with another skier, hurt on a chairlift, injured in Steamboat’s terrain parks, or involved in any other type of skiing or snowboarding accident, we have the experience and resources to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Why Focus on Ski and Snowboard Accidents?

Winter sports accidents present unique legal challenges that set them apart from other personal injury cases:

Complex Statutory Framework: Colorado’s Ski Safety Act substantially limits ski resort liability and creates exceptions and requirements that must be carefully navigated. Understanding this law and its interplay with general negligence principles requires specialized knowledge.

Insurance Coverage Issues: Many people don’t realize that homeowner’s insurance typically covers ski collision cases, or that multiple insurance policies may provide coverage in equipment failure cases. Identifying all available coverage requires experience with winter sports claims.

Technical Evidence: Ski accident cases often involve technical evidence regarding equipment, trail grooming, lift operations, and terrain park design. We work with experts who understand these technical aspects and can explain them effectively to judges and juries.

Time-Sensitive Evidence: Snow conditions change, trails get re-groomed, and accident scenes become impossible to reconstruct if evidence isn’t preserved quickly. Having attorneys who understand what evidence matters and how to preserve it can make or break a case.

Unique Defendant Challenges: Whether you’re dealing with another skier who was acting recklessly, a ski resort hiding behind statutory protections, or an equipment manufacturer defending a product liability claim, these cases require specific strategies and experience.

By focusing our practice on ski and snowboard accidents, we’ve developed the knowledge, relationships, and resources to handle these cases more effectively than general practice personal injury firms.

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Our Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Practice Areas

Ski Accidents

Skiing is one of Colorado’s most beloved winter activities, but it comes with real risks. When safety rules are violated or resorts fail in their duties, serious injuries can result.

Our ski accident practice covers the full range of skiing injuries, including:

Ski Collisions: When another skier violates the uphill skier rule or fails to ski in control, resulting collisions can cause catastrophic injuries. We pursue compensation through the at-fault skier’s homeowner’s insurance or direct legal action.

Chairlift Accidents: Mechanical failures, operator errors, loading and unloading accidents, and lift-related falls can result in serious injuries. These cases often involve potential ski resort liability.

Trail Hazards: While resorts are protected from liability for natural conditions, they can be held accountable when they fail to warn of known dangers, leave man-made hazards on trails, or fail to properly mark closed or dangerous areas.

Equipment Failures: Defective bindings, improperly fitted rental equipment, or equipment that fails during use can cause serious injuries. These cases may involve claims against rental shops, equipment manufacturers, or ski resorts.

Ski Instructor Negligence: When ski instructors fail to properly supervise students, push students beyond their ability level, or otherwise act negligently, resulting injuries may create liability for both the instructor and the resort.

Snowboard Accidents

Snowboarding presents its own unique risks and legal challenges. Our attorneys understand the differences between skiing and snowboarding accidents and know how to build effective cases for injured snowboarders.

Our snowboard accident practice includes:

Snowboard Collisions: Like skiers, snowboarders must follow Colorado’s Skier Responsibility Code. When other snowboarders or skiers violate these rules and cause injuries, we hold them accountable.

Terrain Park Injuries: Terrain parks are particularly popular among snowboarders, and they present serious risks. Resorts have duties to properly design, maintain, and supervise terrain features. When they fail, injured riders may have valid claims.

Equipment Issues: Snowboard bindings, boards, and other equipment must function properly to prevent injuries. We handle cases involving defective equipment and improperly maintained rental gear.

Resort Negligence: From improperly groomed runs to inadequate warnings, resorts can create dangers that lead to snowboard accidents. We know how to prove resort negligence even in the face of Ski Safety Act protections.

Learning Accidents: Snowboarding has a steep learning curve, and beginners are particularly vulnerable to injuries. When inadequate instruction or supervision contributes to injuries, instructors and resorts may be liable.

Types of Cases We Handle

Across both our ski and snowboard accident practices, we handle a wide variety of case types:

Collision Cases

Collisions between winter sports participants are the most common type of ski accident case we handle. These cases typically involve:

  • Analysis under Colorado’s Skier Responsibility Code
  • Identification of the at-fault party
  • Pursuit of coverage through homeowner’s insurance
  • Witness interviews and evidence gathering
  • Expert testimony regarding skiing safety standards

Lift-Related Accidents

Chairlift and surface lift accidents can result in serious injuries. These cases often involve:

  • Mechanical failure analysis
  • Lift operator error or negligence
  • Maintenance records review
  • Expert testimony regarding lift operations
  • Claims against ski resort operators

Terrain Park and Freestyle Feature Injuries

Modern terrain parks contain features that can cause serious injuries when improperly designed or maintained. These cases may involve:

  • Analysis of terrain park design and maintenance
  • Industry standard review for terrain features
  • Adequacy of warnings and signage
  • Supervision and safety staff presence
  • Snow conditions and feature maintenance

Equipment Failure and Rental Gear Cases

When equipment fails or rental gear is improperly fitted, serious injuries can result. These cases often involve:

  • Product liability claims against manufacturers
  • Negligence claims against rental shops
  • Expert analysis of equipment failure
  • Maintenance and inspection record review
  • Claims for improper fitting or adjustment

Trail Condition and Grooming Cases

While ski resorts have broad protections under Colorado law, they can still be liable for dangers they create or know about. These cases may involve:

  • Man-made hazards left on trails
  • Grooming negligence creating dangerous conditions
  • Failure to warn of known hazards
  • Inadequate trail marking or closure
  • Hidden dangers on trails

Ski School and Instruction Cases

When ski or snowboard instructors fail to properly supervise students or push them beyond their ability level, injuries can result. These cases often involve:

  • Instructor negligence and duty of care
  • Adequacy of instruction and supervision
  • Student skill level and appropriate terrain selection
  • Resort liability for instructor actions
  • Industry standards for ski instruction

Understanding the Legal Framework

Colorado’s Ski Safety Act

The Colorado Ski Safety Act is the single most important piece of legislation affecting ski accident cases. Passed in 1979 and amended multiple times since, this law provides significant protections to ski areas by limiting their liability for injuries that result from “inherent risks” of skiing and snowboarding.

The Act defines inherent dangers broadly to include things like changing weather, variations in terrain and snow conditions, bare spots, rocks, trees, natural objects, and collisions with lift towers or signs. It requires ski areas to post warnings about these inherent risks and largely protects them from liability when injuries result from such risks.

However, the Ski Safety Act does not provide unlimited protection. Ski areas can still be held liable for their own negligence in several important areas including lift operations, trail grooming, failure to warn of known hazards, and maintenance of man-made features.

Our attorneys have extensive experience analyzing cases under the Ski Safety Act and know how to identify exceptions to the Act’s protections.

The Colorado Skier Responsibility Code

Colorado’s Skier Responsibility Code establishes basic safety rules that all skiers and snowboarders must follow. Key provisions include:

Uphill Skier Rule: The uphill skier or snowboarder is responsible for avoiding those below them. This is the most important rule in collision cases.

Skiing in Control: All participants must ski or snowboard in control and in a manner that allows them to avoid other people and objects.

Looking Uphill Before Starting: Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, skiers must look uphill and yield to other participants.

Stopping Safely: Participants should not stop where they obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

Violations of these rules can establish negligence in collision cases.

Insurance Coverage in Ski Accident Cases

One of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of ski accident cases is insurance coverage. Many types of insurance may provide coverage for ski accidents:

Homeowner’s Insurance: Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies include personal liability coverage that applies to ski accidents. This is often the primary source of recovery in collision cases.

Ski Resort Insurance: When resorts can be held liable, their commercial liability policies may provide coverage.

Equipment Manufacturer’s Insurance: Product liability cases may trigger coverage under manufacturer’s policies.

Personal Umbrella Policies: Additional liability coverage beyond homeowner’s policy limits.

Health Insurance: Your own health insurance may cover medical expenses, though you may need to reimburse them from any settlement or award.

Identifying all available insurance coverage is crucial to maximizing your recovery.

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What Sets Our Practice Apart

Specialized Knowledge

While many personal injury firms will take ski accident cases, few have the specialized knowledge these cases require. Our attorneys have spent years studying Colorado ski law, developing relationships with expert witnesses, and learning the technical aspects of ski resort operations, equipment, and terrain park design.

Local Presence in Steamboat Springs

Our Steamboat Springs office gives us intimate knowledge of the local ski community, Steamboat Resort operations, and the unique challenges facing winter sports accident victims in Routt County. We can respond quickly to accidents, preserve evidence while it’s fresh, and provide the personal attention you need during a difficult time.

Resources to Take on Anyone

From individual skiers to major ski resort corporations, we have the financial resources and legal expertise to take your case as far as it needs to go. We’ve successfully represented clients in complex litigation against well-funded opponents, and we’re not intimidated by anyone.

Trial Experience

While many cases settle, insurance companies and defendants only offer fair settlements when they know you have attorneys willing and able to take the case to trial. We’ve tried numerous ski accident cases to verdict and have the courtroom experience to present complex winter sports injury cases effectively to juries.

Contingency Fee Representation

We handle all ski and snowboard accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket costs. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This approach gives you access to experienced representation regardless of your financial situation and aligns our interests completely with yours.

The Types of Compensation We Fight For

When you’re injured in a ski or snowboard accident, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of losses:

Economic Damages

Medical Expenses: All past and future medical treatment including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and assistive devices.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Compensation for time missed from work and reduction in future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous employment or require career changes.

Property Damage: Replacement or repair of damaged ski equipment, clothing, and personal property.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, discomfort, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries.

Emotional Distress: Recognition of psychological impacts including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and mental anguish.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for your inability to enjoy activities and hobbies you loved before your injury, particularly relevant in ski accident cases where victims may no longer be able to participate in winter sports.

Disfigurement and Scarring: Compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Loss of Consortium: Your spouse may have a separate claim for loss of companionship, intimacy, and support.

The value of your case depends on the specific facts and circumstances of your injuries. Insurance companies will try to minimize your compensation—our job is to document every way your injuries have impacted your life and fight for full and fair recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only handle cases in Steamboat Springs?

No. While we have an office in Steamboat Springs and handle many cases here, we represent ski and snowboard accident victims throughout Colorado, including at all major ski resorts like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and others.

What if my accident happened several months ago?

Colorado’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in most cases. However, it’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and earlier investigation leads to stronger cases.

Can you help if I was a ski resort employee injured on the job?

Workplace injuries are generally covered by workers’ compensation rather than personal injury claims. However, if a third party (such as another skier, equipment manufacturer, or contractor) contributed to your injuries, you may have additional claims beyond workers’ compensation. We can evaluate your situation and explain all available options.

What if I signed a waiver or release?

Many ski-related activities require participants to sign waivers or releases. However, these documents don’t always prevent you from recovering compensation. Colorado law limits the enforceability of such waivers in various circumstances. Our attorneys can review any documents you signed and determine whether they affect your ability to pursue a claim.

How long does a ski accident case take?

Every case is different. Some cases settle relatively quickly through insurance negotiations, while others may take years if they require litigation and trial. We work efficiently to resolve cases as quickly as possible while ensuring you receive fair compensation. We’ll keep you informed throughout the process and explain what to expect at each stage.

What if the other party doesn’t have insurance or assets?

Even if the at-fault party appears to have no insurance, they may be covered by a homeowner’s or renter’s policy they’re unaware of. We investigate all potential sources of coverage. Additionally, your own insurance policies may provide coverage through uninsured/underinsured motorist provisions or other coverage. We explore every avenue for recovery.

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Contact Our Steamboat Springs Ski & Snowboard Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured in a ski or snowboard accident in Steamboat Springs or anywhere in Colorado, contact Eddington Law today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and answer all your questions—with no obligation and no cost to you.

With over 35 years of experience representing winter sports accident victims, we have the knowledge and resources to handle even the most complex ski and snowboard injury cases.

Call our Steamboat Springs office: (970) 870-9870
Call our Denver office: (303) 815-1585
Or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Don’t wait to protect your rights. The sooner you contact us, the better we can serve you.