The Hidden Costs Associated with Having a Skiing Accident

• Sports Injuries

1 February 2011

Skiers and snowboarders could find themselves broke in more ways than one if they ski into somebody on the slopes, warned solicitors Russell Jones & Walker today.

Earlier this month Virgin tycoon Richard Branson severely damaged his knee when a teenager collided with him in a skiing accident in Switzerland.  Branson said on his blog: "I was run into by a teenager while skiing on New Year's Day and completely ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament. I had an operation within 24 hours."

Branson hasn’t revealed if he intends to pursue the teenager for damages, but solicitors are warning skiers to make themselves familiar with the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) Skiers Code as it clearly states: "A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead."

Skiing is a high risk sport, as is snowboarding, and recent research for the National Ski Areas Association in America found that skiers are less likely to have accidents on the pistes than snowboarders - but are more likely to suffer a fatal injury.

Paul Kitson, personal injury lawyer and managing partner at law firm Russell Jones and Walker, handles many cases of skiing accidents every year.  He explained: "If you’re struck from behind by a skier and you suffer injuries as a result, you probably have a claim against them as priority is always given to the downhill skier."

Cost of damages varies situation to situation but some example damages from leg and arm injuries are:

Arms:

• Severe injury: £63,000 to £86,000
• Injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement: £25,750 to £39,300
• Less severe injury: £12,000 to £25,000
• Simple fractures of the forearm: £4,000 to £12,000

Legs

• Amputation above the knee: £63,000 to £92,000
• Amputation below the knee: £60,000 to £86,000
• Severe injury: £18,000 to £89,000
• Incomplete recovery: £11,000 to £18,000
• Simple fractures of the femur (thigh bone): £6,000 to £9,000
• Simple fractures of the tibia and fibula (lower leg): up to £6,000

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