Can You Sue After a Snowmobile Crash in New Hampshire?
During the winter, many New Hampshire residents enjoy riding snowmobiles. These vehicles can be exhilarating, and they give us an opportunity to get the most out of the snowy months without being stuck indoors. However, snowmobiles can also be highly dangerous. If you have suffered injuries in a snowmobile accident, you may be struggling with medical expenses, missed wages, emotional distress, and various other damages. Can you file a snowmobile injury lawsuit in New Hampshire? Is such a thing even possible?
Man, Woman, and Child Suffer Three Separate Snowmobile Accidents
The issue of snowmobile safety was highlighted with shocking clarity after three different recent incidents in New Hampshire. The first incident occurred on February 22nd, when a man from East Haven was seriously injured. The individual was apparently riding his snowmobile near First Connecticut Lake when he crashed due to a “pressure ridge” on the ice. This threw him off his snowmobile, causing injuries so severe that an emergency helicopter had to be brought in. First responders say that the victim’s daughter was also riding on the same snowmobile, but she miraculously suffered no injuries in the crash.
On February 25th, it was reported that a 12-year-old had suffered injuries after being trapped underneath a snowmobile. This second incident occurred near Groton, and it allegedly ended with the snowmobile becoming lodged in a ditch. Rescuers were able to lift the snowmobile off the child, who was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. A 34-year-old passenger was also injured in the crash.
On the same day, a woman died due to a snowmobile crash in Bear Springs. First responders arrived to find a man attempting CPR on the victim. After offering assistance, the emergency personnel eventually pronounced the woman dead. While authorities did not explain how this accident had occurred, they suggested that it may have been caused by operator inexperience.
Can You Sue After a Snowmobile Crash?
Snowmobile crashes are not like auto crashes, as there is no system of car insurance that can streamline the compensation process. Some individuals may obtain special snowmobile injury insurance, but this is relatively rare.
That being said, it is still possible to sue for a snowmobile crash. Generally speaking, these claims revolve around the negligence of either the operator or the owner of the snowmobile. If you were injured as a passenger, you might sue the driver for excessive speed, inexperience, and other forms of negligence. You might also sue the driver if your loved one – such as a child – was killed by the driver.
Another option is to sue the owner of the snowmobile if they allowed an experienced child to drive it without proper supervision or instruction. If this child causes your injury while riding their snowmobile, you could sue the parents.
Find a Qualified, Experienced Snowmobile Injury Lawyer in New Hampshire
If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced Manchester personal injury lawyer, look no further than the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira, PLLC. While this situation can be more complex than the average car accident lawsuit, compensation may still be possible. To discuss your legal options in more detail, consider a consultation with us today.
Sources:
nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/east-haven-man-hurt-inowmobile-crash-new-hampshire/3225214/
nbcboston.com/news/local/12-year-old-trapped-under-snowmobile-following-nh-crash/3289382/
boston25news.com/news/local/massachusetts-woman-killed-snowmobile-crash-new-hampshire/NNZNNFV63VGCRHQQN45HBWC4QM/
