Navigating Snowmobile Accidents with James H. Brown and Associates

With plenty of winter left, many Albertans are looking forward to hitting the trails on their snowmobiles in the coming months. As always, safety is an integral part of every trip, whether it’s to Athabasca, Whitecourt, Swan Hills Lake, or the thousands of kilometres of trails across Alberta.

One of the most important keys to safety on the trails is knowing what to do after an accident. To help you prepare for your next adventure on the trails, you’ll find James H. Brown and Associates’ top tips for dealing with snowmobile and other recreational vehicle accidents below. Additionally, you’ll find more information on James H. Brown and Associates’ dedication to supporting accident victims and their families, as well as how we can help if you’re injured on the trails.

Don’t Be a Hero; Get Help if You’re Hurt

It can be tempting to power through an injury on a snowmobile trip. This is especially true when an injury looks and feels relatively “minor.” However, this is one of the most dangerous things any rider can do on the trails.

Not all severe injuries cause immediate symptoms. For example, many whiplash and soft tissue injuries can take days, weeks, or sometimes even months to cause pain or other symptoms. Trying to ride in the meantime could very likely make an injury worse, in some cases leading to the potential for permanent damage, chronic pain, or other debilitating conditions.

Safe snowmobiling requires total control of your sled, period. Even if you’re just a passenger, you should still be able to fully control your body and be uninhibited while you’re navigating the trails. If an injury prevents you from riding safely, it’s time to stop. A rider who isn’t 100% in control of their vehicle is a danger to themselves and other parties on the trail.

Get Medical Attention ASAP

No matter how minor your injuries appear, it’s still important to get checked out as soon as possible after any kind of snowmobile accident. A doctor or other medical professional will be able to fully diagnose your injuries (not to mention provide documentation if you need to make a claim). Not only that, but many insurance companies will challenge the severity of a victim’s injuries if they don’t get checked out right away; it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Keep Track of Damages

While recovering from your injuries, it’s absolutely critical to keep track of any changes you experience as a result of your accident. If you wind up missing work, paying extra medical expenses, or experiencing changes in your day-to-day life, you need to be keeping track of it! Maintaining a detailed journal of “damages” and lifestyle changes caused by the accident can help ensure you have all the information you need to get compensated fairly for your injury.

Get Legal Advice

There are many different potential legal scenarios that can play out after a snowmobile accent, such as pursuing damages from trail groomers, municipalities, and other parties that may be responsible for the trail conditions. Additionally, many injuries in snowmobile accidents are sustained by passengers on snowmobiles. More often than not, accident victims know the driver; it can be awkward to talk to a lawyer about pursuing compensation from a friend. However, serious injuries can have serious financial consequences in both the short and long term. If your injury is going to impact your and your family’s lives, you need to ensure they have everything they need to navigate the road to recovery.

Getting sound legal advice is crucial if a third party was involved in or outright caused your accident. Do NOT speak with any insurance company or provide a statement about your accident before receiving advice from an experienced lawyer. Remember: insurance companies are for-profit businesses that profit by paying accident victims as little as possible. Having a lawyer to help you navigate the claims process is the best way to protect your rights and receive fair compensation.

Recreational Vehicle Injury Law with James H. Brown

Alberta recreational vehicle law is complicated. Whether you were a passenger, driver, or another party in a snowmobile accident, a professional opinion from an experienced injury lawyer can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Since 1993, James H. Brown and Associates’ award-winning team of injury lawyers have been dedicated to helping Albertans attain complete, fair compensation for recreational vehicle injuries, allowing them to focus on recovering and moving forward.

Over the last thirty years, we’ve learned that no two accidents are the same. Every accident victim will have unique needs to achieve justice; that’s why we provide a complete range of services and support, including:

• Over 250 years of combined injury law experience, including an unrivalled record of success in Alberta courts.
• Comprehensive accident investigation services, including evidence preservation, accident reconstruction, and more.
• Multi-disciplinary experts and specialists to fully diagnose your injuries and determine long-term impacts.
• Strong relationships with Alberta organizations ready to assist with rehabilitation and recovery.
• And much more!

Get Started Today

Unlike many large law firms in Alberta, James H. Brown and Associates’ injury lawyers are ready to speak with you right away. There are no call centres or intake teams, just direct access to the expert legal advice you and your family need.

Contact us today to speak with a lawyer and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with James H. Brown and Associates.