Winter Sports Snowmobile Accidents Lead to Injury, Death, Lawsuits
19 Feb
Snowmobile Accidents Can lead to Injury, Death, Lawsuits
Maybe it’s because snowmobiles are called recreational vehicles. Whatever the reason, countless snowmobile operators do not take their responsibilities seriously once they mount their sleds to go for a ride, leading too often to serious injuries, fatalities and accident lawsuits in Maine courts over their reckless behavior.
Experienced accident lawyers say they see many parallels between snowmobile accidents around the state’s 13,000 miles of signed trails and highway crashes involving automobiles, trucks, motorcycles as well as other vehicles.
One of the most common factors in many motor vehicle accident lawsuits is a driver’s unreasonable rate of speed. Just as with some motorcyclists, many Maine snowmobile drivers feel they have to feed their “need for speed” See : accident lawyer – the experience of the wind whipping over their bodies. But the circumstances of riding a snowmobile – speeding along a slippery surface of snow or ice with limited braking ability – make it necessary to use extreme care. The failure to use common sense and exercise defensive driving skills can turn a routine ride on the trails into a high-speed trip to a court date with a Maine snowmobile accident attorney.
Similarly, Maine snowmobile accident lawsuits often follow crashes involving a drunk driver whose thoughtless behavior is accountable for life-changing injuries or fatalities. The blood-alcohol limit for a snowmobile driver, like other motorists, is .08. Within the carefree playing field of snowmobiling, a great deal of people belong to clubs that organize group trips with rest stops at local bars. A cocktail or two at each and every stop impairs judgment and slows the response time of even experienced snowmobile operators. Operating in a set with riders who drink also poses dangers, including raising the likelihood of colliding with an impaired driver and raising the possibility of injuries as a result of getting caught up in mimicking their high-speed, careless behavior.
An added danger cited by Maine accident lawyers is that consuming alcohol accelerates a drop in body temperature. Together with the frigid outdoor environment, the operator runs the potential risk of hypothermia, which also impairs a driver’s judgment.
Poor judgment extends beyond driving behavior, Maine snowmobile accident attorneys note. Every winter, lives are lost and snowmobile accident lawsuits are filed when operators foolishly ignore the which can also traveling across ice. The thickness and strength of ice can vary widely on rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Snow often creates a blanket that hinders the formation of thick, strong ice. Even a well-worn trail across water can give the false impression of safety if previous travelers have weakened the ice.
A Maine snowmobile accident lawyer knows that responsible operators can protect themselves, their passengers and innocent bystanders by following a few simple rules. Safety equipment, including a helmet with a visor or a set of protective goggles, along with layers of water-repellent clothing, is a necessity. So is carrying a first-aid kid which includes a flashlight, knife, compass, map and waterproof matches.
And never, Maine attorneys say, travel alone. There is nothing more dangerous to the life and health and fitness of a snowmobiler than being injured without fellow riders available to provide or seek medical attention.
When someone has been injured or lost somebody due to a snowmobile driver who ignores good sense when operating a 500-pound machine, they need to contact a Maine snowmobile accident lawyer that has expertise in protecting their proper rights and pursuing fair financial compensation.
