Ski Resort Liability

While a ski resort owner is required to adequately maintain the conditions of the resort property and generally provide a safe environment for skiers, the owner may not be responsible for injuries resulting from the natural risks of skiing.

If An Injury Occurs

In you are injured while skiing, it is your obligation to prove that your injury was caused by the negligence of the resort owner in order to receive any compensation for damages.

Reasonable Measures

The owner of a ski resort should take reasonable measures to ensure that:

• The resort property is safe and free from any hazards
• Any hazards are either repaired promptly or warnings posted to make the public aware of the hazards
• Potential Liability

The resort owner may be liable for any damages caused by:

• Incorrect design or construction of a ski slope or slalom
• An existing danger (such as a steep drop) that was encountered without warning
• Lack of warning regarding dangers involving man-made objects (such as an unpadded steel pole)

Injuries Are Expected

Most skiing injuries are considered an innate risk of the sport, and consequently no liability is usually imposed upon a ski resort owner. For example, skiers often fall on icy ground and injure themselves. The icy ground, just as snow covered tree stumps, bushes and changing ground levels, is considered a natural occurrence and an inherent risk of skiing.

Injuries that skiers impose upon themselves, such as collisions between skiers or structures, are generally not the responsibility of ski resort owners.

Ski Lifts

However, injuries occurring as a result of a ski lift operator's improper boarding instructions or lack of supervision may be the responsibility of the ski resort owner. But if an injury is caused by the ski lift user's own negligence, a ski resort owner may be free from any accountability.

Review Your Case