Many residents of and visitors to Halifax use snowmobiles for fun or work. Unfortunately, snowmobile riders are not always as careful as they should be and cause collisions with other snowmobilers or drivers in larger vehicles. Furthermore, snowmobiles lack many safety features found in cars, which means injured riders and passengers often sustain catastrophic injuries.
A Halifax snowmobile accident lawyer is an indispensable ally after a snowmobile crash, and Wagners Personal Injury Lawyers can provide the comprehensive legal representation you need. With over 80 years of combined experience, our Halifax snowmobile accident lawyers will handle all the legal work in your case while you focus on healing. You don’t owe any legal fees unless you recover compensation, and your initial consultation is free. Contact our office now to learn how we can help you after a snowmobile accident.
Legal Rights and Liability in Snowmobile Accidents
By law, anyone who operates a snowmobile (or other off-road vehicle) in Halifax or elsewhere in Nova Scotia must have liability insurance with a minimum of $500,000 in third-party liability coverage. This insurance provides financial protection for snowmobile riders who cause a collision . Injured riders and passengers can use the policy to cover their accident-related losses. The required insurance for snowmobilers also provides benefits in the event of an accident with an uninsured or unidentified driver (such as someone who flees the scene after a collision). The accident benefits through snowmobile insurance can help injured snowmobile recovers recover compensation for:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost income
- Funeral expenses in the event of a family member’s death
If an injured snowmobile did not cause the crash, they can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against anyone liable for the collision. The potentially liable parties in a snowmobile accident claim include:
- Other snowmobile operators – Nova Scotia law says snowmobile operators must take “due care and attention” to avoid causing a collision. If a snowmobile operator was going at an unsafe speed, impaired by drugs or alcohol, distracted, or not looking out for others on the trail or road, they could be liable for a collision.
- Vehicle manufacturers – Snowmobiles are complex machines made of hundreds of parts. Defective brakes, engines, steering systems, or other components can cause collisions, and snowmobile manufacturers are often liable for crashes resulting from faulty parts.
- Property owners – Property owners who allow snowmobiles on the premises may be liable for accidents resulting from hazards on the grounds. For instance, if a property owner doesn’t mark a hole in or near a trail, a snowmobile could suddenly drop into it and eject the rider, leaving the property owner liable for the collision.
Snowmobile riders injured in accidents they didn’t cause can seek compensation from the liable party for losses their insurance doesn’t cover, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning capacity
- Long-term rehabilitative care
- Disability modifications to their home or vehicle
Injured snowmobile operators usually have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you have questions about your rights following a snowmobile accident or who may be liable for your injuries, talk to a Halifax lawyer immediately.
Injuries Sustained in Snowmobile Accidents
Because snowmobiles provide little protection to riders and passengers when crashes occur, snowmobile accidents frequently cause devastating injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries – A snowmobile operator ejected from their vehicle when a collision occurs may hit their head hard on the ground when they land. Even with protection from a helmet, these blows can cause long-term effects, including memory loss, personality changes, reduced cognitive functions, and movement issues.
- Spinal cord injuries – A snowmobile operator involved in a collision may sustain a spinal cord injury after being ejected or from a direct impact with another vehicle. These injuries can cause paralysis, nerve damage, nerve pain, and other long-term complications.
- Crush injuries and amputations – Some snowmobile operators involved in collisions get pinned under the snowmobile, or another operator may inadvertently run them over. When this happens, injured operators may have their bodies crushed or their limbs amputated, particularly if their bodies become caught in the snowmobile’s machinery.
- Broken bones – The direct impact of a snowmobile crash can cause severe broken fractures, as can the force of landing hard on the ground after an ejection. Bones that don’t set right after a break can cause intense pain and long-term movement issues.
- Internal injuries – Not all snowmobile injuries are immediately obvious. Many snowmobile accidents cause internal bleeding or injuries to internal organs, and these injuries can prove fatal without immediate medical treatment.
Common Causes of Snowmobile Accidents
Some common causes of Halifax snowmobile accidents include:
Impaired Drivers or Snowmobile Operators
Snowmobiles can operate on Nova Scotia highways in some circumstances, putting operators at risk of collisions with cars and other vehicles. An impaired driver might not see a snowmobile on the road next to them, leading to a crash if the driver makes a sudden maneuver without looking. Similarly, impaired snowmobile operators might inadvertently collide with other snowmobiles because they’re speeding or not watching their surroundings closely, leading to a crash.
Careless Snowmobile Operation or Inexperience
While snowmobiles are smaller than cars, they accelerate quickly and are difficult to handle. Operators who speed, follow other snowmobiles too closely, don’t signal when turning, or are otherwise careless can cause a crash. Along similar lines, inexperienced snowmobile operators might cause a collision because they don’t know how to maintain control of the vehicle.
Operator Fatigue
It takes considerable physical and mental effort to maintain control of a snowmobile. Fatigued operators might cause an accident if they lose control, nod off, or don’t recognize potential hazards around them.
Hazards on Private Property
Tree stumps hidden by snow, holes in the ground, and other natural hazards can cause snowmobile accidents if property owners don’t properly mark them and warn operators of the potential danger.
Contact a Halifax Snowmobile Accident Lawyer Now