Manslaughter and Wrongful Death Claims

Each year about 40 people die in the United States while skiing or snowboarding. Traumatic brain injury was the leading cause and collision was the leading external injury mechanism of fatal injuries associated with downhill skiing among child skiers. This underscores the importance of brain injury prevention strategies, including the use of ski helmets and prevention of collisions on ski slopes. In some states, if a fatal collision is caused by a reckless skier, the at-fault party may be criminally charged with manslaughter.

Case reports for recent manslaughter/wrongful death cases:

• Stamp v. Vail Summit Resorts - Colorado's Ski Safety Act does not preclude exemplary damages against ski area
• Henrichs v. Wills - A British tourist ran into a fellow skier while skiing Sunday, March 2, 2003 on a Breckenridge beginner's run, causing injuries which eventually proved fatal to victim
• People v. Hall - Sentencing following the jury's finding of guilt of Negligent Homicide charges for causing the death of another skier.
• People v. Hall Colorado Supreme Court Opinion - held that a reckless skier may stand trial on criminal charges for reckless manslaughter. Jim Chalat filed the amicus curiae brief in support of the People.