While most ski incidents never make the news, what happens in the few minutes right after an accident—whether someone calls ski patrol, whether the other skier sticks around, whether anyone gets a name—can influence how things unfold in the days, weeks, and months that follow.
5 Steps for the First Few Minutes
- Call ski patrol. Getting medical attention is the priority, both for yourself and anyone else involved.
- Keep the other skier at the scene. Getting a name and contact information before the other person leaves is critical. Without it, identifying who caused the injury, and pursuing a claim against them, is more difficult.
- Stay as calm as the situation allows. Staying calm and clearheaded helps when gathering accurate information.
- Document everything. Photograph the run, the conditions, and any visible injuries before the scene changes.
- Get witness statements while people are still on the mountain. Skiers riding the lift or standing at the bottom of the run often saw more than either person involved.
While these may sound intuitive, there’s nuance and reason behind them that’s worth diving into further, which we address below.
Call Ski Patrol First
Even if an injury looks minor, call ski patrol before you do anything else.
- Part of the reason behind this advice is medical. Some of the most common skiing injuries involve head or spinal trauma that is not obvious right away.
- Part of the reason is practical. A ski patrol call creates a record: who responded, at what time, and how the injuries looked at first.
When the initial call is skipped, there may be nothing official to point to other than memories assembled after the fact.
Get a Name Before They Leave
Local municipalities and resorts in Utah have enacted ordinances or resort rules requiring skiers involved in a collision to remain at the scene, provide reasonable care to any injured person, and exchange contact information with ski patrol. However, this is not a statewide mandate, which means accidents and injuries that occur on an unregulated slope may not be held to the same penalties for a violation.
That said, cases can still move forward even if the other skier leaves before anyone gets a name.
Resorts keep records that can help identify who was involved: lift ticket and RFID scan data tied to specific lifts and times, ski patrol incident reports, and, in some cases, resort security footage covering the run.
Witnesses who saw the collision may be able to describe what the other skier looked like, what they were wearing, or which direction they went. These are details that resort staff or law enforcement may use to track down the skier.
What to Document from the Ski Accident
What gets documented in the minutes after a collision can shape how the rest of the case unfolds. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will look for evidence that contradicts the injured skier's version of events; some of the strongest cases are those in which the injured skier's account is supported by more than memory alone.
- The run and conditions. Photos of the trail, the slope's steepness, visibility, and snow conditions can be used to help establish if the skiers involved in the collision acted reasonably under the conditions.
- Position and direction of both skiers. Utah's right-of-way rule holds the uphill skier responsible for avoiding those below. A photo or note showing where each person was on the run and which direction they were traveling can support or undercut a claim about who had the right of way.
- Equipment and gear. Skis, poles, or a snowboard that show signs of impact, along with what the other skier was wearing, can help confirm how the collision happened.
- Visible injuries. Photos of bruising, swelling, or any visible injury taken as soon as possible help create a record of how things looked before treatment began, which matters if the extent of an injury is questioned later.
- A written account. Writing down what happened while it's still fresh, including speed, sightlines, and anything the other skier said at the scene, preserves details that fade quickly once adrenaline wears off.
- Ski patrol's report. If ski patrol responded, their report can act as an official record of the incident, including who was involved and how the injuries appeared.
Talk to Witnesses While They're Still There
Getting witness information while people are still on the mountain is one of the most time-sensitive steps after a collision.
Once people scatter to the next run, the lift line, or the parking lot, they're difficult to track down, and the collision can be harder to prove through anyone other than the two people involved.
The most useful witnesses are usually the people with the clearest view of what happened:
- Skiers or riders on the lift above the run, anyone standing near the bottom of the trail, or another skier who was on the same run nearby.
- Ski patrol and resort employees who arrive afterward can also speak to how the scene looked and what each person said in the immediate aftermath, even if they didn't see the collision itself.
At the scene, a witness statement doesn't need to be formal. Getting their name, phone number, and a few sentences about what they saw, who was above whom, how fast each skier appeared to be going, whether one skier looked out of control, etc., can preserve their account before it fades or gets mixed up with what other people say happened.
Later in the case, these witnesses may be asked to do more. An attorney or insurance adjuster may follow up for a recorded statement, ask them to sign a more detailed written statement, or, if the case doesn't settle, call them to testify in a deposition or at trial.
How Cutt, Kendell & Olson Can Help After a Ski Accident
Cutt, Kendell & Olson has represented injured Utahns since 2000, recovering more than $950 million in verdicts, settlements, and arbitration awards, including ski and snowboard collision cases.
- Our clients work directly with the attorney handling their case
- Initial consultations are free
- We do not collect legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf
If you were hurt in a collision on a Utah slope and believe another skier caused it, our ski accident attorneys can evaluate what happened and explain your options. Call (801) 901-3470 or message us online to schedule a free initial consultation.