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Denver Ski Injury Attorneys

Are You in Need of a Denver Ski Injury Attorney?

It is tragic when ski resort guests suffer devastating injuries or fatalities. You may have the right to seek compensation when these injuries are caused by unsafe terrain, poorly maintained equipment, or reckless staff behavior, even if the tickets you purchased or an agreement you signed included a waiver.

At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we represent people who have suffered serious harm due to ski resort negligence and preventable accidents on the slopes. Our nationally recognized trial lawyers have won record-setting verdicts and settlement for accident victims in Colorado. You may have a valid legal claim if:

The injury was caused by a hazard the resort failed to correct or warn about.
Equipment failure or unsafe maintenance contributed to the accident.
Resort employees acted negligently or recklessly.
Another skier or snowboarder violated safe riding practices and caused the collision.
The ski area violated Colorado ski safety laws or other statutory duties.

Why Choose Us Over Other Ski Injury Lawyers in Denver?

If you or a loved one has been injured while skiing or snowboarding, we know how to hold the responsible parties accountable, and we’re here to pursue full compensation on your behalf. We have the experience, resources, and courtroom skill make a difference.

Here’s why people have come to trust Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.:

Over 45 years of success representing clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, with a long record of courtroom results and client advocacy.
Named one of the Best Law Firms in America by U.S. News & World Report, recognizing outstanding legal performance and national reputation.
Named top lawyers by Best Lawyers in America, reflecting consistent peer recognition and professional achievement.
Colorado Super Lawyers® honorees every year since 2006, based on peer reviews and independent research
The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association awarded its 2024 Case of the Year to attorneys Brian Aleinikoff and Bruce Braley for their work in Miller v. Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
We prepare every case for trial, ensuring it is ready to present before a jury if necessary to pursue full compensation.

Injured at a Colorado Ski Resort?

Call (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 for a free consultation today.

Waivers Do Not Shield Ski Resorts From Gross Negligence or Statutory Violations

Most ski resorts require guests to sign a waiver or release of liability, either on paper, electronically, or printed on the back of lift tickets. While these waivers are designed to protect resorts from lawsuits, they do not provide blanket immunity.

Under Colorado law, waivers cannot protect a resort or its staff from:

Gross negligence
Reckless conduct
Violations of state safety regulations
Willful disregard for known dangers

If a resort ignored weather warnings, or failed to maintain a lift, a waiver may not shield them from legal responsibility. Our attorneys have successfully challenged these tactics by exposing unsafe practices.

How Ski Resort Negligence Causes Injuries

Ski resorts have a duty to keep visitors reasonably safe. When a resort fails to follow standard safety protocols, it puts skiers and snowboarders at unnecessary risk. Our firm investigates these lapses to determine if they amount to legal negligence.

Unfortunately, preventable injuries occur every season due to:

Poorly marked trails or hazard zones
Failure to close dangerous terrain
Faulty chairlift operation or equipment
Lack of signage or fencing near drop-offs or manmade structures
Negligent instruction by ski school staff
Inattentive or poorly trained ski lift operators
Failure to manage known ice or snow conditions

How a Denver Ski Injury Lawyer Can Help

Ski injury cases are complex. They often involve multiple parties, technical evidence, and aggressive defense strategies by resort operators and insurers. Here’s how Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. can help:

Thoroughly investigate the cause of your injury, including expert analysis of terrain, equipment, and ski area operations.
Identify all liable parties, including the resort, employees, equipment manufacturers, or third-party contractors.
Preserve evidence, such as witness statements, ski patrol reports, surveillance footage, and weather records.
Challenge waivers and release forms that do not protect against gross negligence or legal violations.
Consult with medical specialists and life care planners to document the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
Aggressively negotiate settlement offers based on the long-term cost of your injuries
Take your case to trial if the other side refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer

What Types of Damages Are Available?

Negligent ski resort accidents can lead to significant physical, financial, and emotional consequences for victims and their families. Injuries sustained on the slopes often require extensive medical care and may affect a person’s ability to work or enjoy everyday activities.

Our firm works with economists, vocational experts, and care planners, carefully evaluating both current and future damages related to the injury:

Medical bills, surgeries, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
Future medical care, including long-term in-home assistance or therapy
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
Permanent disability or disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages, if the accident resulted in fatal injuries

Who Can Be Liable for Ski Injuries?

Determining liability is one of the most critical parts of a ski accident case. Our attorneys understand the operational structure of ski resorts and the insurance protections they try to use as shields. We cut through these layers to hold the right parties accountable.

Depending on the circumstances, one or more parties may be responsible for your injuries, including:

Ski resorts or mountain operators
Chairlift operators or staff
Instructors or ski school personnel
Equipment rental companies
Third-party maintenance crews
Other negligent skiers or snowboarders
Manufacturers of defective ski gear or machinery

Don’t Let the Insurance Company Decide Your Future

We know how to fight back. Call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 and see what an experienced ski accident lawyer can do for you.

Types of Ski Accident Injuries

Skiing and snowboarding injuries are often severe, resulting in long-term consequences or permanent disability. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we represent clients with serious and catastrophic injuries, including:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
Ski lift fall injuries
Multiple fractures and orthopedic trauma
Internal organ damage
Neck and back injuries
Facial fractures and dental injuries
Crush injuries from collisions or lift malfunctions

Filing a Wrongful Death After a Skiing Accident in Colorado

When a skiing accident results in fatal injuries, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim if negligence contributed to the incident. These claims allow families to seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses caused by the loss of a loved one. In Colorado, wrongful death claims must follow specific legal rules regarding who may file the claim and the types of damages that may be recovered.

A wrongful death claim after a ski accident may seek compensation for:

Funeral and burial expenses
Medical expenses related to the fatal injury
Loss of the deceased person’s income and financial support
Loss of companionship, care, and guidance
Emotional suffering experienced by surviving family members
Other financial losses resulting from the death

What Clients Are Saying About Us

They really care- Nicole James (5-Star Google Review)

They really care about their clients and will take the extra time to make sure they do their absolute best on every case.

Excellent firm! - Kimberly Merriman (5-Star Google Review)

My experience with this firm and my attorney Brian Alienikoff was amazing. The communication from the very start was prompt, informative, and knowledgeable. I was incredibly satisfied with the outcome of my case and felt I was on the same page as Brian the entire time. Excellent firm!

Case Results

Ski Lift Accident - $20 Million Verdict

A Colorado jury awarded $20 million to Annie Miller, a 16-year-old who was paralyzed after falling 30 feet from a ski lift at Crested Butte Resort. The verdict highlighted an important legal issue in Colorado: liability waivers do not necessarily protect companies from claims involving negligence.

The accident occurred in 2022 while Annie was skiing with her church youth group. As she boarded the Paradise Express Lift with her father, she was not fully seated before the chair rose. Despite her cries for help, the lift operator did not stop the lift in time, and Annie fell onto hard-packed snow. The Colorado Supreme Court later ruled that the resort’s liability waiver did not shield the company from negligence per se claims.

Reasons to Contact a Denver Ski Injury Lawyer Right Away

Don’t wait to protect your rights. You should contact an experienced attorney immediately because:

Critical evidence can be lost or erased quickly, including trail conditions, ski patrol records, and lift data.
Witness memories fade, especially in tourist-heavy areas where visitors may be hard to locate later.
Resorts will start building their defense right away, and they rarely admit fault without legal pressure.
Colorado law imposes strict filing deadlines, especially for cases involving government-owned ski areas or public land.
Waivers and statutes may be used to deny claims unless challenged by experienced legal counsel.

Speak With an Experienced Denver Ski Injury Attorney Today

At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we have a nationwide reputation for taking on challenging injury cases, and winning. Whether your case involves a lift malfunction, a poorly maintained slope, or catastrophic injury due to unsafe resort operations, our legal team is here to help.

Call (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to learn more today.

There is no fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Colorado Ski Injury FAQs

Do I have a case if I was injured while skiing in Colorado?

You may have a case if your injury was caused by unsafe conditions, resort negligence, faulty equipment, or another skier’s reckless behavior. Not all ski accidents are considered assumed risks; some result from preventable and legally actionable conduct.

Can I sue a ski resort if I signed a waiver?

Yes, in some cases. Colorado law does not allow ski resorts to shield themselves from gross negligence or statutory violations, even if you signed a waiver. These documents don’t protect resorts that ignore safety rules, fail to maintain equipment, or create unreasonably dangerous conditions.

What are common causes of ski-related injuries that may lead to a lawsuit?

Legal claims often arise from poorly maintained trails, faulty chairlifts, inadequate signage, or improper instruction. Injuries caused by resort staff, unmarked hazards, or other skiers may also form the basis for a claim.

What types of injuries occur in ski and snowboard accidents?

Ski accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal bleeding, and permanent disability. These are often catastrophic and require long-term care, especially if caused by resort negligence.

Who can be held responsible in a ski injury case?

Depending on the facts, potential defendants may include the ski resort, lift operators, instructors, equipment manufacturers, third-party maintenance companies, or other negligent skiers.

What compensation is available in a ski injury lawsuit?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, future care costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and other damages. In wrongful death cases, families may also pursue funeral costs and loss of companionship.

What should I do after a ski accident?

Get medical treatment immediately, report the incident to ski patrol, and use your cell phone camera to document the scene. Take photos and collect names of witnesses.

Meet Our Denver Ski Injury Attorneys

Jim Puga

Jim Puga is a nationally recognized trial attorney and a partner at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Hed is known for his relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of clients harmed by medical negligence, birth injuries, and catastrophic personal injuries. Jim has earned a reputation for taking on the most complex and high-stakes cases and delivering powerful results in courtrooms across the country.

Jim is a leading advocate in birth trauma litigation, representing children and families whose lives have been forever changed by preventable medical errors. His work has resulted in numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. Jim serves on the Board of Directors of the AAJ Birth Trauma Litigation Group. He is a respected national lecturer on trial strategy, evidentiary issues, and medical malpractice law, and serves as a faculty member with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Bruce Braley

Bruce Braley is a seasoned trial lawyer and partner at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. A former U.S. Congressman and nationally recognized advocate, Bruce brings a rare blend of courtroom skill, public leadership, and unwavering dedication to justice. Before joining the firm, Bruce practiced law for 23 years in Iowa, where he was known for taking on powerful interests and securing life-changing results for his clients.

He later served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was a leading voice on civil justice, healthcare safety, and consumer protection. In 2015, he returned to full-time trial practice, joining Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. to continue his lifelong commitment to helping those harmed by negligence. Bruce is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Alex Wilschke

Alex Wilschke is an attorney at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. who focuses his practice on complex medical malpractice and catastrophic injury litigation. He represents individuals and families who have suffered serious harm due to negligent medical care, helping them pursue accountability and compensation through carefully prepared legal claims.

Alex works on cases involving significant injuries and complicated medical issues, where detailed investigation and expert analysis are essential. He collaborates closely with medical professionals and other specialists to evaluate whether a breach of the standard of care occurred and how that failure led to a patient’s injuries. His work helps build strong cases designed to withstand the scrutiny of litigation and, when necessary, presentation before a jury.

Brian Aleinikoff

Brian Aleinikoff is a seasoned trial attorney at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., where he focuses on representing individuals and families in complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Known for his strategic approach and strong courtroom presence, he has built a reputation for handling high-stakes litigation involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. His work is driven by a commitment to helping clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives while pursuing meaningful and lasting results.

Throughout his career, Brian has developed extensive experience in cases involving medical negligence, surgical errors, and other forms of professional liability. He is skilled at analyzing detailed medical records, working with expert witnesses, and presenting complex issues in a clear and compelling way. His ability to connect the technical aspects of a case with the human impact on his clients is a key part of his advocacy.