Snowmobiling makes the winter enjoyable for many families. Unfortunately, sled accidents can cause serious injuries.
Contact a St. Peter snowmobile accident lawyer at Maschka Personal Injury if you or a family member was hurt in a sled accident. Our personal injury attorneys understand the issues these accidents raise and will work to get compensation that reflects the severity of your injuries.
Various scenarios can lead to snowmobile accidents. Operator inexperience and operating while impaired are known risk factors. Many people suffer injuries in snowmobile accidents because of others’ negligence.
Collisions between sleds are not common, but they do happen. Sometimes, a reckless operator passes too closely, forcing another snowmobile off the trail or road and causing it to overturn. Other factors that may contribute to a snowmobile accident include:
Knowingly allowing an impaired or unqualified person to operate a snowmobile is a negligent act that could lead to liability if an accident occurs.
Determining negligence in a snowmobile crash is challenging. Our attorneys have the experience to analyze a St. Peter snowmobile collision and find evidence to prove liability.
When it is clear that another party’s negligence directly led to your injuries, the negligent party owes you compensation, or damages. Your damages should cover all your past and future expenses related to the accident.
You are also entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. These damages are subjective and depend on how severely the accident impacted your lifestyle and quality of life, and for how long. You can claim pain and suffering damages for:
You may also claim pain and suffering damages when the accident causes changes in your intimate relationships.
If you suffered a permanent injury in a snowmobile crash in St. Peter, our attorneys will work with medical experts to estimate the cost of your long-term treatment and care. We will use an economist or actuary to calculate your reduced lifetime earnings due to the injury. We include these amounts in your claim for damages.
Minnesota Statutes § 549.20 provides for punitive damages when the responsible party in an accident case acted intentionally or with a knowing disregard for the high risk their behavior posed to others. They are rarely granted in personal injury cases but are possible under certain circumstances.
A request for punitive damages could be appropriate when a drunk snowmobiler operated their machine recklessly and caused serious harm to others. If there is clear proof that a machine rental company failed to perform basic maintenance and that this failure caused a serious accident, a court might consider punitive damages against the company.
When you suffer serious injuries in a snowmobile accident, you need a strong advocate by your side. A St. Peter snowmobile accident lawyer at our firm has the compassion to support you through difficult times and the experience to ensure you receive a fair settlement.
Maschka Personal Injury is based in Mankato and serves injured people across Minnesota. We provide free initial consultations and work on contingency, meaning there is no fee unless we obtain money for you. Make an appointment to speak with one of our attorneys today.
