Ski Lift Accidents are a common occurrence in the United States. With an average of 20 accidents each year, it is important to be aware of what can happen when you use one. Ski lift accidents are caused by many factors including: improper maintenance, mechanical failure, and human error. The most common cause is human error which accounts for 50% of all ski lift accidents. Improper maintenance accounts for 25%, while mechanical failure only accounts for 13%. In order to protect yourself from a ski lift accident, it is important to know how to avoid these causes as well as knowing your rights if you have been injured on a ski lift or have witnessed an incident.
How do ski lifts work?
A ski lift is a device that carries skiers up a mountain. Skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed bindings to help control their speed. Ski lifts are used for both downhill and cross-country skiing. They consist of a cable running through a pulley at the top of the hill, attached to two or four cars (called gondolas) that can each carry between 8 and 20 people. The cable is driven by an electric motor, and counterbalance weights (called snow cats or trains) keep the cable taut as it moves uphill under tension from passing gondolas.