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CategoriesWinter Sports & Injuries Caused by Negligence
Winter in Missouri brings many opportunities to get outside and enjoy seasonal activities. Families head to local ski hills, ice rinks, tubing parks, and snowboarding runs for fresh air and a fun-filled experience. And while these activities naturally come with some risk, they shouldn’t become dangerous because someone else failed to follow basic safety standards.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 124,700 winter sports-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms in 2022.
When property owners, equipment operators, or other participants act carelessly, preventable injuries happen, and Missouri law allows injured victims to hold them accountable.
If you were injured during a winter sport, our St. Louis personal injury lawyers can help you determine whether negligence played a role and what steps you should take to protect your rights.
When Winter Fun Turns Dangerous: How Negligence Causes Injuries
Many winter sports come with built-in hazards. Slipping on ice, falling while skiing, or losing your balance on skates are all risks participants reasonably accept. However, negligence comes into play when someone else’s carelessness increases those risks beyond what’s normal or safe.
Common negligence-related causes of winter sports injuries:
1. Poorly Maintained Facilities
Indoor and outdoor rinks must be regularly resurfaced, cleared of debris, and kept free of hazardous defects. Common examples of negligence include:
- Deep gouges in ice that operators failed to fix
- Broken railings around a rink
- Uneven or poorly lit walkways leading into winter sports venues
- Melted and refrozen patches left unchecked
These preventable hazards can lead to serious injuries, including fractures, concussions, and ligament tears.
2. Unsafe Slopes and Trails
Missouri’s ski hills and tubing parks owe visitors a duty to keep slopes in reasonably safe condition. Negligence may occur when:
- Trails are not marked clearly
- High-traffic surfaces are not groomed
- Icy or dangerous sections are not blocked off
- Staff fail to monitor crowding or unsafe behavior
If operators fail to fulfill these responsibilities, they may be liable for any resulting injuries.
3. Defective or Poorly Maintained Rental Equipment
Many winter sports enthusiasts rely on rental equipment, including helmets, skates, skis, snowboards, and bindings. Businesses that rent equipment are responsible for maintaining it and warning users of any dangers they are aware of or should reasonably be aware of.
People can be seriously injured when businesses provide:
- Skates with worn-down edges
- Boots with broken straps
- Skis that don’t release properly
- Helmets with hidden cracks
4. Negligent Supervision or Instruction
Winter sports often involve lessons, guided activities, or designated beginner zones, all of which are managed by staff. Negligence may occur if:
- Instructors fail to monitor groups properly
- Staff sends participants down slopes beyond their skill level
- Supervision is inadequate for children’s programs
When professionals fail to uphold basic safety standards, injured victims may have a claim.
Natural Risk vs. Negligence: Why the Difference Matters
Not every winter sports injury qualifies for a lawsuit. Missouri law recognizes the doctrine of assumption of risk, which holds that participants in activities such as skiing or skating accept certain dangers as inherent to the sport.
Before you assume your injury was just part of the sport, our St. Louis personal injury lawyers can help you understand whether someone else’s negligence made your accident far more dangerous than it should have been.
The assumption of risk only applies to hazards that are unavoidable and inherent, such as:
- Falling due to attempting a new maneuver
- Slipping on naturally occurring snow or ice on a slope
- Colliding with other skiers in ordinary, expected conditions
When an injury results from hazards that should have been prevented, such as unmaintained ice, defective equipment, or staff negligence, the injured person may pursue compensation.
What Injury Victims Should Do After a Winter Sports Accident
If you believe your injury was caused by another party’s carelessness, taking the proper steps can make a difference in your recovery and your legal claim.
1. Seek prompt medical care.
Winter sports injuries often involve hidden trauma, such as sprains, concussions, and internal injuries, that worsen without early treatment. Medical records also serve as vital evidence when proving how the injury occurred.
2. Document the scene.
Whenever possible, collect:
- Photographs of the hazard (e.g., uneven ice, unmarked obstacles, broken equipment)
- Contact information for witnesses
- Copies of any incident reports filled out at the facility
This documentation helps establish what went wrong and who is responsible.
3. Preserve equipment.
If rental equipment or your own gear may have contributed to the accident, keep it in the same condition it was in at the time of the incident. Do not attempt repairs.
4. Speak with an experienced attorney.
A skilled lawyer can investigate the facility, speak with witnesses, review maintenance logs, and determine whether negligence occurred. Winter sports injury claims often involve multiple parties, and an attorney ensures your rights are protected.
If You’re Injured, Our St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
If you were hurt while skiing, snowboarding, skating, or participating in any winter activity due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers at Cofman Townsley have decades of experience standing up for injured Missourians. We know how to uncover the cause of an accident and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. We possess the skills, compassion, and resources to advocate for you or help you support a loved one who has been injured due to someone else’s negligence.