A young man was killed at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort at Mount Charleston recently in a snowboarding accident, according to recent reports. Christopher Jeffrey Ruby, 20, died from blunt force trauma to the chest, according to the coroner’s office. The ski patrol was called to help an injured skier and provided immediate aid to Ruby while calling on the volunteer fire department at Mount Charleston as well as the Forestry Service for assistance. Ruby was transferred by helicopter to a Las Vegas hospital but died from his injuries. An investigation into the accident continues.
SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING ACCIDENTS COMMON, FATALITIES RARE
Many people are injured every year while skiing or snowboarding, but very few are killed. According to the National Ski Area Association, about 42 people per year die in skiing or snowboarding accidents across the country on average. In the 2011-2012 ski season, 54 fatalities were reported, the majority of which were male. That year, 33 male skiers and 10 male snowboarders were killed, while six female skiers and two female snowboarders were killed. About 51 serious injuries also occurred during the same time period as a result of skiing or snowboarding. Serious injuries are described as paralysis, serious head injuries and other permanent, disabling injuries. There are also countless smaller injuries, including broken legs and arms, sprains and other injuries that may result in lost work time, pain and suffering as well as medical bills for the victims.
CAN I SUE FOR A SNOWBOARDING OR SKIING ACCIDENT?
Many people believe that a personal injury lawsuit is not possible if you have signed a waiver. However, this is not always the case. In fact, it is likely that you can recover damages if the ski resort or another skier was negligent in observing safety protocol. Many skiers and snowboarders, especially young ones, are eager to hit the slopes and do not always realize how fast they are traveling or the fact that they can injure others easily. If ski resorts do not enforce safety precautions, both the skiers or snowboarders who cause the accidents as well as the owners of the resorts could, theoretically, have liability for an accident.
It is important, if you are the victim of a skiing or snowboarding crash, not to assume that you cannot collect anything. Instead, you should discuss your case with one of the injury attorneys at High Stakes Injury Law, who may be able to help you file a lawsuit and recover damages.