It has become all too common on the slopes, the “near miss” where a skier or snow boarder out of control narrowly avoids a collision, either with fellow skiers, lift lines or trees. If there is no accident, how to control this reckless behavior to reduce the likelihood of the eventual catastrophe? Or if a collision occurs, what duty is there for the colliding skier to stay at the scene of the accident?
Many different groups of people, including the very young, participants over age 60, the handicapped and the disabled enjoy ski/snowboard activities. Approximately 10.4 million Americans either ski or snowboard. Final reports indicate that the U.S. ski industry set an all-time national skier visit record of 58.8 million for the 2005/06 season, up 3.5 percent from last season, and up 2.3 percent from the previous record set in 2002/03. As many participants now snowboard as ski. But a day on the slopes can end in the emergency room, or worse. On average, 34 people die each year in the United States while skiing or snowboarding. Another 39 suffer severe, yet nonfatal, injuries, including paralysis and brain trauma.