Colorado Chair Lift Injury Lawyers | SkiJustice | Ski Lift Injuries
Chairlifts are a necessary part of skiing, and riders depend on resorts to operate and maintain them safely. When a chairlift malfunctions, when loading or unloading procedures are unsafe, or when operators fail to follow required safety rules, injuries can happen quickly with little or no warning.
For many years, ski resort liability waivers prevented most claims involving lift injuries. That changed with the landmark Colorado Supreme Court decision Miller v. Crested Butte (2024). The Court ruled that resorts cannot use waivers to block claims involving violations of Colorado safety statutes such as the Skier Safety Act and the Passenger Tramway Act. This decision strengthened the rights of injured guests and allowed juries to hold resorts accountable when they violate mandatory safety laws. Ms. Miller ultimately prevailed at trial with a twenty million dollar verdict against Vail Resorts.
SkiJustice and its attorneys have long been leaders in chairlift injury litigation in Colorado. Joseph Bloch secured a punitive damages award against Vail Resorts in Aarons v. The Vail Corporation, Inc., which remains the only case in Colorado where a jury awarded punitive damages against the company. Trent Ongert also argued a chairlift injury case before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where the justices described liability waivers as distasteful and urged Colorado lawmakers and the Supreme Court to reconsider the broad immunity that ski areas once enjoyed.
Chairlift injury cases involve detailed investigation, technical knowledge, and a deep understanding of Colorado’s ski safety laws. If you were injured while loading, unloading, or riding a chairlift, you need attorneys who know how to analyze lift operations, evaluate resort conduct, and challenge improper use of liability waivers.
If you’ve been injured on a chair lift due to the ski resort’s conduct, you need an attorney who understands the complexity and nuance of this area of the law, and who has a proven track record against the ski resorts. SkiJustice is here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced chairlift injury attorney who will review your claim and explain your legal options.
