Snowmobile Accidents Can lead to Injury, Death, Lawsuits

Maybe it’s because snowmobiles are called recreational vehicles. Regardless of the reason, a lot of snowmobile operators do not take their responsibilities seriously once they mount their sleds to go for a ride, leading often to serious injuries, fatalities and accident lawsuits in Maine courts over their reckless behavior.

Experienced accident lawyers say they see many parallels between snowmobile accidents on the state’s 13,000 miles of signed trails and highway crashes involving automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and various other vehicles.

Among the most common factors in many motor vehicle accident lawsuits is a driver’s unreasonable rate of speed. Just as quite a few motorcyclists, many Maine snowmobile drivers feel they must feed their “need for speed” See : accident lawyers – the sense of the wind whipping over them. However, the circumstances of riding a snowmobile – speeding along a slippery surface of snow or ice with limited braking ability – make it necessary to use extreme care. The failure to use common sense and exercise defensive driving skills can change a routine ride on the trails into a high-speed trip to a court date with a Maine snowmobile accident attorney.

Similarly, Maine snowmobile accident lawsuits often follow crashes involving a drunk driver whose wreckless behavior is accountable for life-changing injuries or fatalities. The blood-alcohol limit of a snowmobile driver, like other motorists, is .08. In the carefree realm of snowmobiling, quite a few people are members of clubs that organize group trips with rest stops at local bars. A beverage or two at each stop impairs judgment and slows the reaction time of even experienced snowmobile operators. Operating in a group with riders who drink also poses dangers, including increasing the potential for colliding with an impaired driver and raising the odds of injuries as a result of being caught up in mimicking their high-speed, careless behavior.

An additional danger cited by Maine accident lawyers would be the fact that consuming alcohol accelerates a lowering of body temperature. Together with the frigid outdoor environment, the operator runs the possible risk of hypothermia, which also impairs a driver’s judgment.

Poor judgment extends beyond driving behavior, Maine snowmobile accident attorneys note. Every winter, lives are lost and snowmobile accident lawsuits are filed when operators foolishly ignore the perils associated with traveling across ice. The thickness and strength of ice will differ widely on rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Snow often creates a blanket that prevents the formation of thick, strong ice. Even a well-worn trail across water can create the misguided impression of safety if previous travelers have weakened the ice.

A Maine snowmobile accident lawyer is aware that responsible operators can have the ability to protect themselves, their passengers and innocent bystanders by adhering to a few simple rules. Safety equipment, including a helmet with a visor or a set of protective goggles, and layers of water-repellent clothing, is critical. So is carrying a first-aid kid which includes a flashlight, knife, compass, map and waterproof matches.

And don’t ever, Maine attorneys say, travel alone. There is nothing more dangerous to the life and health and fitness of a snowmobiler than being injured without fellow riders available to provide or seek medical assistance.

When someone has been injured or lost somebody as a result of snowmobile driver who ignores practical sense when operating a 500-pound machine, they should seek the advice of a Maine snowmobile accident lawyer who possesses expertise in protecting their proper rights and pursuing fair financial compensation.

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