Snowmobile

Snowmobile Collisions & Product Failures

As with ATVs, snowmobiling has continued to increase in popularity and is
providing real economic growth in rural areas of the country.

States have begun to market snowmobiling with as much fervor as skiing,
realizing the potential for tourism. With this growing popularity there has
been a reciprocating increase in the number of trails, clubs, machine
rentals and "vacation" packages. Currently there are over 20,000 miles of
snowmobile trails in the upper New England States alone.

However, this does not mean that snowmobile crashes are restricted to the
novice rider or that injuries are caused from carelessness or substance
abuse alone.

There are more than 13,000 snowmobile related injuries each year in the
United States and most snowmobile accidents involve individuals who are
wearing protective equipment, like helmets, and who are not under the
influence1. Most collisions occur from speeding and many involve hitting a
fixed object, like a tree or fencing. Geography plays a large part in the
equation, and occasionally it is an issue of poor trail design or manufacture
defect.

As with vehicle accidents, getting a clear picture of what happens in a
snowmobile crash requires having a practical knowledge of how
snowmobiles work and react. Improper parts, adjustments or riding beyond
the driver's capabilities on a machine engineered for more can have serious
consequences. Some accidents occur from a lack of understanding of how
a snowmobile works and fixed reactions from the drivers. These reactions
result in failing to let go of the throttle, increasing throttle pressure or
steering into a hazard.

With the intricacies of collision investigation and the many facets of a crash
to consider, make sure that you get the answers you need. If you represent
the victim of a snowmobile crash then email Cedarbyrne Consulting at
info@cedarbyrne.com for a review of the facts and advice on how and why
this accident occurred.

1 Maine snowmobile accident statistics 1997-2002