Gresham Ski Accident Lawyers

Skiing is a popular sport in Oregon, and is an exciting and healthy winter recreational activity that many people can enjoy. While skiing and other winter recreational sports may be fun, they also pose a risk of serious injury. Ski accidents caused by another’s negligence or dangerous natural hazards can result in victims suffering long-term effects. This may include permanent disability, costly medical treatment and rehabilitation, and loss of income. However, those who have suffered an injury in a ski accident may be entitled to recover compensation. To understand which options may be available in your situation, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced Gresham ski accident lawyer.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a skiing accident, Rizk Law will provide you a free, no obligation consultation to help you understand if you have a right to recover compensation from the at-fault party. We are dedicated to helping our clients through every step of the legal process to get the results they deserve. With decades of combined legal experience, our attorneys have the skills and knowledge you need if you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury.

Firm founder and senior lawyer Richard Rizk is an avid skier who coaches downhill ski racing for the Oregon Special Olympics. He is also the volunteer general counsel of the Cascade Ski Club, the oldest continuously operating Ski Club in Oregon. We understand the difficulties many ski accident victims experience. To help you focus on your recovery, we provide our services on a contingency fee basis. We will represent you at no upfront cost and only require payment if we recover compensation for you. There is no risk in contacting us to find out if you have a case.

Call 503.245.5677 today to schedule a free consultation.

Popular Ski Destinations in Oregon

Oregon offers a diverse range of skiing for every type of skier from the beginners who prefer a simple slope to the avid pros who desire a challenge.

• Mt. Bachelor – This ski area is one of Oregon’s biggest that stretches 9,065 feet high. It offers a place for beginners to learn the sport and for Olympic hopefuls to compete.
• Anthony Lakes– Anthony Lakes stands 7,100 feet elevated and offers powder skiing, cross-country and cat skiing. Avid skiers even have the opportunity to “Own the Mountain” for a day and have the slopes all to themselves.
• Cooper Spur – This 50-acre winter playground is a family-friendly resort that offers an ideal environment for learning.
• Cat Ski Mt. Bailey – This mountain is famous for its fresh tracks that allows no more than 12 skiers and riders on the mountain a day.
• Hoodoo – This ski area offers challenging powder for avid skiers on one side and finely-groomed runs on the other and allows visitors to ski during evening hours.
• Mt. Hood – Mt. Hood is Oregon’s largest peak and the following resorts are nearby: Timberline Lodge & Ski Area, Mt. Hood Skibowl and Summit Ski.
• Warner Canyon – Warner Canyon ski area is one of Oregon’s oldest operating ski resorts that opened back in 1938.
• Mt. Ashland – Located 30 minutes away from Ashland, this ski area offers both daytime and nighttime skiing.
• Willamette Pass – Willamette Pass features a 1,563 feet vertical drop and 29 other downhill runs. It allows its guests to experience big mountain terrain in a small mountain atmosphere.
• Ferguson Ridge – Ferguson Ridge offers a scenic skiing experience that is located at the edge of the Wallowas and overlooks Hell Canyon.

Skiing can be a thrilling sport, but it comes with many risks. If you or a loved one has been injured during a ski accident, our Gresham ski accident attorneys are here to help and can answer your legal questions during a free consultation.

Schedule your Free Case Evaluation today.

Proving Liability in a Ski Accident Case

Skiing is an inherently dangerous activity, which makes the laws surrounding skiing accidents slightly more complicated.

According to ORS § 30.970, people who participate in skiing and other winter recreational sports accept and assume the inherent risks of skiing that they are reasonably obvious or expected. This may include factors such as:

Skiers also have the following obligations while skiing on a slope:

• Skiers are the sole judge of their skills and must understand their limits and abilities to overcome the inherent risks of skiing
• Skiers who ski in any area not designated for such activity must understand and assume the inherent risks
• Skiers must understand and follow the rules of the ski area operator
• Skiers cannot cross the uphill track of any surface lift except at points designated by the ski area operator
• Skiers shall not overtake any other skier unless they do so to avoid contact
• Skiers must give the right of way to the overtaken skier
• Skiers are required to yield to other skiers when entering a trail or starting to go downhill
• Skiers are required to wear retention straps or other safety equipment to prevent runaway skis
• Skiers cannot board tows or ski lifts unless they are capable of using these devices – the skier must also follow any instructions that are provided
• When involved in a skiing accident, skiers cannot depart from the ski area without providing their names and addresses to, if it is possible and reasonable to do so
• If reasonably possible, skiers who are injured should give notice of their injury to the ski operator before leaving the ski area
• Skiers shall not enter or leave a ski lift except at designated areas or when given permission by the ski area operator

Failing to follow Oregon’s laws for skiers may result in you being held liable for the accident that resulted in your injury.

Contact Rizk Law’s Gresham ski accident lawyers to learn more about filing a claim.

Compensation for a Ski Accident

After a ski accident, victims often suffer injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. They may also suffer further financial losses if they are forced to miss work and are unable to earn an income. However, ski accident victims may be entitled to recover compensation for some, or all, of the damages they suffered due to their injury. This includes compensation for:

During your free consultation, a Gresham ski accident lawyer will help you determine which damages you may be entitled to recover. Your lawyer will also be able to tell you if any factors involved in your ski accident may affect the value of your claim.

Contributory Negligence

In Oregon, personal injury claims are settled by using the standard of contributory negligence to determine the amount of compensation the victim is entitled to receive. Under Oregon law, each party involved in the ski accident will be assigned a percentage based on his or her level of fault in causing the accident.

If you are assigned a percentage of fault, you may still recover compensation for your injury. Your claim’s value will be reduced by the percentage you are assigned. However, if you are assigned a percentage greater than the other party’s, you are not entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses.

Our ski accident attorneys in Gresham can explain more about how we may determine the value of your claim during a free, no obligation consultation. If we find that you may share fault in causing the accident, we will work to try to ensure you are not assigned an unfair percentage of fault.

Call 503.245.5677 to find out if you may be entitled to compensation.

Types of Injuries You Can Suffer in a Ski Accident

Skiers often encounter several types of hazards while skiing on a slope or in a ski area. This may include natural hazards such as trees or ice buildup, or man-made hazards like defective ski lifts or negligent skiers. Because of this, skiers are at risk of suffering a wide range of injuries during a ski accident.

Some of the most common types of injuries acquired during a ski accident include:

Regardless of the severity of your injury, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a ski accident. This will help you to diagnose your injuries and health conditions and will also connect your injury to the ski accident. This will be very useful when presenting evidence to insurance companies who may try to claim your injury was caused by other circumstances.

Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form now.

What Should I Do After a Ski Accident?

If you are involved in a ski accident, it is important that you act quickly to ensure your health and safety. This may also improve your chances of recovering the compensation you need after the accident.

Following these steps after your ski accident may help you begin building a case by documenting what happened to help connect your injury to the accident:

• Remain calm after your ski accident. If you have been struck by another skier or fell off a ski lift, it is important that you carefully assess the situation to determine the best way to keep yourself and others safe.
• Check yourself for injuries that are immediately apparent. This may include fractured bones, bleeding or heavy bruising that can be painful or cause additional damage if you move yourself. If you do suffer an injury that makes you immobile, call for help or make your whereabouts clear for other skiers and first responders.
• Take plenty of pictures of your injury. This can help show the severity of the accident and your injury. Additionally, it may also provide a causal link between your injury and the ski accident.
• Take pictures of the accident scene, as well. This may show that a dangerous obstacle or hazard contributed to causing your ski accident. Although many ski operators are protected from liability, you may be able to show the ski operator was at fault for your injury if it was caused by a naturally-occurring hazard that should have been labeled. Likewise, the pictures you take can be used to identify where the ski accident occurred.
• Collect the other party’s contact information. If you were injured by another skier, you should collect his or her name, phone number and any other information you need to get in touch with him or her after the accident.
• Talk to witnesses who may have seen your ski accident. They can provide valuable information about the conditions of the slope or ski area the day your accident occurred. Likewise, they can also tell you about the at-fault party’s actions before the accident and whether he or she was acting negligently, violating the ski operator’s rules or failing to exercise reasonable caution.
• Obtain medical treatment as soon as possible. If you suffer a severe injury that requires immediate attention, inform first responders or other skiers about the severity of your condition. However, do not put off receiving medical treatment for injuries that do not seem serious. The symptoms of your injury may be hidden or delayed and can appear several days after the accident. Seeking medical attention immediately after the ski accident can also show that you are serious about your injury and receiving the treatment you need to heal.

Once you have received adequate medical treatment for your injuries, contact Rizk Law for a free consultation. Our Gresham personal injury lawyers will help you pursue the compensation you need to recover for the cost of medical treatment, lost income, and other damages you suffered in the accident.

Call 503.245.5677 for legal representation after a ski accident.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Gresham Ski Accident Lawyer

If you believe you suffered an injury in a ski accident caused by another’s negligence, you may be entitled to take legal action against the at-fault party. Rizk Law’s ski accident lawyers in Gresham are prepared to help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We will help you understand if you have a case against the at-fault party and our meeting comes with no obligation of hiring our firm. If we accept your claim, we will represent you on a contingency fee basis. This means you only have to pay us if we help you recover compensation for the damages you suffered.

Contact Rizk Law today for help with your claim.