If you’ve ever felt the wind in your face as you glide down a pristine mountain or experienced the wonder that comes from piloting a snowmobile up a remote pass to see the landscape open before you, this is probably your favorite time of year. Of course, the joy of winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling comes with a certain degree of risk – for some folks, that’s part of the thrill! It’s a good call to make sure you’re prepared for whatever the mountain throws at you before you hop on that lift.
Safety First
Anytime you are injured, your health and safety have to be priority one. If you’re in pain, or think you may have a concussion you shouldn’t try to move – you never know what might aggravate the injury. Send a friend or witness to alert ski patrol, and let them assist you down the mountain and administer any necessary first aid.
Snowmobile operators or backcountry skiers should take appropriate first aid and safety/survival courses before getting too far from civilization, but if you think it may be awhile before help can arrive, limiting your exposure to the winter cold is essential, either by finding or erecting a temporary shelter.
Knowledge Is Power
If you get hurt on the slopes, documentation is key. Let’s say you’re snowboarding down a beautifully fresh slope, trees whizzing past, adrenaline pumping, when suddenly you feel someone slam into your legs. In this situation, it’s best to treat it like a fender bender: exchange names and phone numbers and gather as much evidence, including photos of yours and the other person’s board or ski tracks, as you can. Even if no one else is involved, photos of your injury and the way it happened can only help in the future. This is important even if you don’t feel like you’re hurt – your body could be in shock and feel the effects of any injury later.
The same advice applies if a resort you’re visiting is the reason for an injury. While most resorts will ask you to sign a waiver freeing them from most liability from injury, that generally doesn’t apply if, for example, you’re injured after crashing into misplaced maintenance equipment. Making sure you have as much evidence as you can gather of what happened can be very important in the face of a potentially costly trip to the hospital.
Know Who to Call
Once you feel you are safe, you should let your insurance agent know that an incident has occurred, especially if you feel you may need to file a claim. Confusion is common after an accident, so there is always a chance that you will need to gather more information to ensure a claim is properly filed. The sooner you call an expert, the easier it will be to put everything together.
Protect Yourself Ahead of Time
Regardless of who’s at fault, there are a few types of insurance that can help ensure you’re ready for whatever the mountain throws at you:
- Personal Health Insurance – Generally speaking, if your adventures take place within the U.S., your health insurance will likely cover your medical expenses after an injury. Policy details matter here, though: if you have to get airlifted off the slopes, there’s a chance your health insurance might not cover the ride, so it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company before you head out, and add temporary Travel Insurance if you’re really worried.
- Travel Insurance – This is especially important if you’re exploring the Great Outdoors abroad, as personal health insurance policies sometimes don’t apply. Travel insurance policies, especially those built for winter sports, can include emergency medical assistance, which is great if your health insurance doesn’t cover a helicopter ride.
- Homeowners or Renter’s Insurance – Your homeowners or renter’s policy may cover some of the liability you incur if you injure someone else out on the slopes. Check with your agent ahead of time to find out if this sort of coverage is part of your policy.
- Personal Umbrella Insurance – If you’re found liable for an injury to someone else, your homeowners or renter’s policy coverage limits might not account for the entire cost, which can get quite high. An umbrella policy can cover types of liability that your existing policy excludes, often for higher amounts.
- Snowmobile Insurance – As snowmobiling presents unique risks, you may want to consider one of these policies, which can be specifically tailored to your needs. Coverage might include bodily injury liability coverage, coverage for damage to your sled, and collision coverage, depending on the policy.
If you’re not sure what sort of coverage might fit your needs, our agents can help make sure the only thing you need to worry about before getting out there is the latest powder report!
written by Jon Becker