Snowmobile Accidents

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Snowmobiling is a favorite pastime in Maine, with tens of thousands of vehicles exploring thousands of miles of trails. Snowmobilers, however, must keep safety in mind. Snowmobile accidents can lead to serious personal injury, particularly when emergency crews have a long way to travel to reach the accident victim. In some cases the accident may be the result of a dangerous consumer product, if a defect in the manufacturing or assembly of the vehicle was at fault. In other cases, a pedestrian accident occurs because of an irresponsible driver.

The passengers aboard a snow machine have a certain responsibility to act with prudence and safety, just like passengers on an ATV or motorcycle. However, if they are injured by the operator's recklessness, they may have a claim against that operator.

Common snowmobile injuries

Some common snowmobile injuries include:

Broken bones
Concussion or other head injury
Loss of limb
Partial or complete paralysis
Damage to internal organs
Frostbite or other exposure waiting for rescue

Snowmobile safety tips

The following are safety tips for snowmobilers to reduce risk of injury:

Control your speed. Slow down when you approach other sledders. It is illegal to operate a snowmobile in a manner which endangers another person or property.
Don't snowmobile while intoxicated. Just as it is illegal to operate a vehicle on the roadway while intoxicated, it is illegal to operate a snowmobile if the operator has a blood-alcohol content higher than .08 percent.
Stop for law enforcement. This includes game wardens, foresters, rangers, and local law enforcement.
Use lights. It's a good idea to keep your headlights on at all times, but they must be on 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.
Yield to wildlife. Wildlife in their natural habitat have the right of way. Yield to animals on trails.
Be prepared. Carry a trail map with you and dress in layers to stay warm when cold and cool when hot. Carry an emergency kit that includes tools for any potential repairs.
Ride safely. Wear a helmet and don't ride alone. Use caution when crossing public roads or bodies of water. Never try to hurdle snow banks. You are in control of your sled when the snowmobile is on the ground.

Snowmobile brands

The following are some snowmobile brands:

Polaris
Yamaha
Ski-Doo
Arctic Cat
Redline