Taos Ski Valley Accident Lawyers
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CALL (800) 863-5312 TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION with Taos Ski Valley accident lawyers
If you are a skier or snowboarder in Taos, New Mexico, the slopes in Ski Valley are probably a happy place for you to go and escape. Unfortunately, despite being relaxing, skiing and snowboarding can also be dangerous. If you or a loved one have been in a ski or snowboard accident, Zinda Law Group’s Taos Ski Valley accident lawyers are here to help.
At Zinda Law Group, our accident lawyers in Taos are dedicated to helping you receive the just compensation you are entitled to while keeping you informed and stress-free throughout the process. To take advantage of your 100% free consultation with one of our ski accident attorneys, call us today at (800) 863-5312.
WHAT TO DO AFTER skiing accidents
Skiing accidents in Taos Ski Valley are impossible to prevent, but you can educate yourself on what steps to take if you find yourself in that unfortunate situation. If you or your skier or snowboarder loved one have been in an accident, follow these important steps to best prepare yourself for possible litigation.
Stay Calm and Call Ski Patrol
Snow sport accidents happen fast and can be extremely unsettling, but whatever you do, try to remain calm. If you know the mountain’s ski patrol number, then call it as soon as you can; if not, you can always call 911. If you don’t have a phone on you, try to waive down another skier or snowboarder; that way, they can help you get the help you need.
Whatever you do, do not try to make it down the mountain on your own. Doing so can greatly exacerbate the injuries you know about and can worsen the ones that you don’t.
Say “Yes” to a Medical Evaluation
Even if you feel like you are just a little bruised up and don’t need to see a doctor, you should nonetheless get checked out. Impact falls can cause many different injuries, some of which may not be readily apparent to you; if you wait to get checked out until days or even weeks later when they have substantially progressed, it may be difficult to prove in court that the accident itself is what caused your injuries as opposed to something else during that window of time. When you do see a doctor, pay close attention to their advice and make sure to follow through with any care plan that they provide you.
Gather Contact Information of Those Involved and Witnesses
It is extremely important that you write down the contact information of the person who caused your fall, if applicable, and of anyone who witnessed it. You should try to get their names and contact information but also their physical addresses in case they are visiting from out of town. If, after talking with an accident attorney, you decide you want to file a lawsuit, having this information on hand is extremely helpful, for your injury lawyer will want to talk with those witnesses to help prove your case, and your lawyer certainly needs to know where the person you are suing lives.
Document Everything
As you continue to heal from your injuries, make sure you document everything you can, including medical bills, missed days from work, or any evidence of mental health struggles you are having because of the accident. Documenting this kind of evidence is extremely beneficial for an accident attorney both in assessing and proving your case.
Call an Accident Lawyer
Even if you aren’t sure if you have a strong legal claim, or if you are unsure about who you would even sue, it is always worth your while to call an accident lawyer in Taos. At Zinda Law Group, our injury lawyers are experienced in this area; we know how to assess your case and help you prevail on any claim you may have. Our lawyers are experienced, driven, and ready for your call.
SKI OR SNOWBOARD ACCIDENT FAQS
What Types of Injuries are Common?
These kinds of accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, but some of the common ones are:
- concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- neck and shoulder whiplash or dislocations
- bone fractures
- knee sprains or tears
- spinal injuries
- sprains
What are the Common Causes of Accidents?
Skiing accidents in Taos can be caused by a whole myriad of reasons, from inexperienced skiers who are behaving recklessly to malfunctioning chair lifts or equipment. Each case is different, but if you think you may have a lawsuit because of someone’s negligence, it is well worth your while to have a complimentary consultation with an
How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?
In New Mexico, the statute of limitations for negligence claims is three years. This means that starting from the day of the accident, you have three years to file a lawsuit, otherwise you lose your ability to seek compensation, unless extenuating circumstances apply.
What Kind of Compensation Might I Be Awarded?
Although one cannot know for certain exactly how much compensation you may be awarded, plaintiffs in New Mexico can generally recover two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to expenses like medical bills and missed days of work, while non-economic damages refer to your pain and suffering or mental anguish. Hiring an experienced injury lawyer can ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible.
How Can I Avoid Accidents in the Future?
The best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones is to take precautions and follow these safety tips:
- Remain aware of your surroundings, and keep space between you and other skiers and snowboarders.
- Use proper safety gear, and if you need to rent gear, make sure to inspect it before you use it.
- Try to familiarize yourself with the area and the risks on each slope.
- Pay attention to important signs, and ski at your own level.
WHY DO I NEED an injury lawyer near me?
You may be thinking to yourself, “Do I even need a lawyer?” or “Can’t I just deal with this accident on my own?” Technically, you can, but the chances of you being successful are much slimmer than those with an experienced advocate by your side. As detailed below, these kinds of cases can be complicated, which is why hiring a lawyer near you is in your best interest.
Injury Lawyers Know Whom to Sue and Why. You would think that figuring out whom to sue would be the easy part, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes it isn’t clear who was at fault for the accident.
Was it the ski resort for mishandling their chair lifts? Was it the manufacturer of the ski equipment you rented for selling a defective product? Or was it another skier on the mountain who was irresponsibly on a slope way above their ability level?
Figuring this out can be difficult. At Zinda Law Group our attorneys are well versed in this kind of challenge; we are capable of investigating the issue and figuring out who is liable to you for your injuries.
Experienced Lawyers Can Negotiate on Your Behalf: Whomever you end up suing, the resort or the skier, it will likely be an insurance company that is fighting their battle. Hiring an experienced lawyer who can negotiate with this insurance company before even having to step foot in the court can be very beneficial to you.
Insurance companies have a strong incentive to fight your case in the interest of their profit margins. Because of this, they won’t go down easy in negotiations. Hiring a tactful lawyer, like those at Zinda Law Group, can guarantee you the best chance of reaching a favorable agreement in negotiations.
If Necessary, Your Lawyer Can Prove Negligence in Court: If negotiations aren’t successful, then having an injury lawyer by your side greatly increases your chances of prevailing at court. In order to be awarded compensation, you, as the plaintiff, need to plead and prove negligence on the part of the defendant, the other skier or the resort. Proving negligence is not as easy as it might sound. To prove negligence in court you need to successfully prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
This means that you need to prove that the defendant owed a legal duty to act with reasonable care, that they breached that duty of care, that their breach was the cause of your injuries, and that because of your injuries you suffered damages. Hence, hiring an experienced accident lawyer is essential to getting the award of compensation that you deserve.
If you have been injured in a skiing accident, don’t wait; call zinda law group today
Skiing or snowboarding accidents can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially. If you have been injured, you deserve compensation for the hardships you have been through, and our experienced lawyers at Zinda Law Group are here to help you make that happen.
We also believe that accident victims shouldn’t have to worry about affording a high-quality attorney, which is why if we aren’t successful in your case, then you don’t owe your lawyer a thing. That is our “No Win, No Fee Guarantee.” To take advantage of your 100% free consultation, call us today at (800) 863-5312.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
