Snow, Speed, & Your Safety
According to
Alberta Transportation, the major contributing factors in serious snowmobile incidents include excessive speed, not checking the thickness of ice on lakes and rivers, inexperience, inattention, or operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Snowmobiles are designed to be used on slippery surfaces, icy and snowy conditions, and other types of terrain that add another element of danger and pose risks to riders. Factors that often contribute to snowmobiling accidents include:
- Avalanches;
- Excessive speed;
- Inexperience;
- Recklessness;
- Falling through ice;
- Manufacture defaults;
- Minors riding unsupervised;
- Lack of care regarding minors;
- Towing tubes, sleds, or saucers;
- Lack of proper protective equipment;
- Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Natural obstacles, such as trees, large rocks or boulders, cliffs, snow piles, and wire fences.
Injuries resulting from a snowmobiling accident can require surgery, therapy, prescriptions, lifelong supports, time off work, and other cost factors that aren’t covered by Alberta Health Care (AHC) or personal benefits. Compensation varies case-by-case and good representation can make all the difference. These types of accidents are uniquely complicated. In order to ride on public land,
Alberta’s laws require snowmobile operators to have a valid class 5 driver’s license and snowmobile registration and insurance Riders must be at least 14 years old to operate a snowmobile independently. But there are no legal restrictions for snowmobiles on private property – meaning you can pretty much do what you want. If you were injured while riding a snowmobile that was licensed and insured for the road, you may be covered through
Section B benefits. If the snowmobile was not insured, this is where things can get tricky. Snowmobiles may also be insured through farm policies or other forms of habitational or recreational policies. Or you may also have coverage through your homeowner’s policy. Our Calgary Snowmobile Accident Lawyers can help locate insurance coverage you may be eligible for.