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'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Recent fatal accidents and new research reveals a dramatic rise in serious traumatic head injuries among skiers and snowboarders.  In particular, snowboarders are twice as likely to sustain fractures compared to skiers, and  young male snowboarders are even more at risk.

According to this latest research (see editors’ notes) few people wear protective equipment.  Only 1% of children treated at hospital for snow-related injuries wore a helmet, and yet  research shows that a helmet can reduce  the risk of serious brain injury by between 22% and 60%.

Bethany Blamire injury specialist at  law firm Foot Anstey has this warning, “Winter sports enthusiasts can take all the right safety precautions, but what happens if an accident occurs on the slopes because of someone else’s negligence?

“Where you book your ski pass is crucial.  Buying  your ski pass abroad means  a claim for compensation for injury caused by negligence is made in that country.  This can be fraught with difficulty – different language, different legal system, often less favourable levels of damages if, indeed, damages are recoverable at all.

“Buying your lift pass in the UK as part of a pre-booked package can help protect your position.” 

The Package Travel and Package Tour Regulations 1992  gave holidaymakers the right, in certain circumstances, to sue the tour operator in the UK for the negligence of its foreign suppliers or agents.  The package must include at least two components – for example, transport, accommodation or other “tourist service” (ie tour guide, excursion or ski pass).   If any of its “suppliers” breaks their contract then the holiday maker can sue the operator.

When a tour operator sells a ski pass, as part of a pre-booked package, they provide access to the resort’s lift system and slopes and are responsible for their state and condition.

Bethany Blamire adds “So, if an injury occurs on an unsafe patchy run, or on a poorly maintained lift, the UK pre-booked ski pass  gives you the right to claim compensation directly from the UK tour operator.  Legally they have failed to provide safe facilities.

“Nobody wants to join the statistics, but injuries happen.  Buying a lift pass in the UK will buy peace of mind before hitting the slopes this season.”