Anyone that gets on a snowmobile has agreed to accept the risky nature of riding such a vehicle. In fact, there are only a few instances in which someone who gets injured while riding on a snowmobile can seek some form of compensation.
Times when such an accident victim can seek some form of compensation
Anytime that a passenger’s fall from the snowmobile was caused by the driver’s actions. It could be that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Alternately, it could be that the driver had lost control of the vehicle, as it traveled over the snow-covered landscape.
Passengers that fall from any unregistered or uninsured snowmobiles have the legal right to seek compensation. By the same token, anyone that falls from a snowmobile that the driver has accelerated beyond the speed limit can seek such compensation.
Was a passenger invited onto such a vehicle, yet not offered a helmet? That would be grounds for requesting compensation, if that same passenger got injured.
Was the snowmobile’s driver under 14 years of age? If that same driver had no supervision, then any injured passenger would have the legal right to recover his or her losses.
Did the driver fail to react to an obvious hazard? If so, then any injury that resulted from the hazardous occurrence could become grounds for a lawsuit.
Was the driver aware of some defect on the vehicle that can travel over snow? Maybe its brakes were failing, or its light was rather dim. In either case, the driver could be held liable for a passenger’s injuries.
More about hazards encountered by snowmobiles
Some hazards are known or obvious. Others have been created overnight, and may be less obvious. If a created hazard causes an accident, then the person or group that created the same hazard becomes liable for any resulting injuries, once a snowmobile runs into that hazardous object or setting.
Of course, any hazardous object or setting could get a warning sign. That should prove capable of alerting a snowmobile’s driver. Then, if the driver ignores the warning, the same driver would be held responsible for any resulting injuries. In most cases, snowmobile accidents are serious as the driver or passengers are hurled through the air while driving at high speed on rough and unseen terrain, as everything is covered by the snow. With little protection, the injuries can be severe to catastrophic. And that is why compensation is needed for the injured victims.
Having a good and experienced injury lawyer in Grand Prairie to represent their rights can make all the difference. They will ensure that the insurance company does not lowball them but provides a fair amount of damages.