New Yorkers have thousands of snowmobiles registered in the state. Snowmobile accidents can cause injuries similar to those seen in motorcycle wrecks and car accidents, but the injuries and fatalities snowmobiles cause receive scant attention. Please keep reading as our snowmobile accident lawyer explains the 3 most common causes of snowmobile accidents.
Snowmobile Fatality Statistics in New York
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation statistics reveal that during the 2019-2020 snowmobile season, there were fewer than ten fatalities and approximately 150 accidents. The number of accidents and fatalities increased in the 2020-2021 season to about 160 accidents and 15 deaths.
In the 2021-2022 season, the number of accidents plummeted to just about 100 while the number of fatalities soared to nearly 20. The number of fatalities during this reporting period is the highest since the 2018-2019 season.
Causes of Snowmobile Fatalities
Records from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation also identify the leading causes of the snowmobile fatalities reported during the 2021-2022 season. The leading causes of fatal accidents include the following:
1. Speeding
Unsafe speed played a role in eight of the 19 fatalities, and reckless operation was the cause of another fatality. Speeding while driving a snowmobile makes it more challenging for operators to navigate the dangerous terrain and safely avoid hazards in their pathways.
2. Failing to Navigate Turns
The next most common cause of snowmobile fatalities was failure to navigate turns. Failing to navigate a turn means that an operator attempted to turn the snowmobile to either remain on a pathway or to avoid a collision but did not successfully carry out the maneuver.
The fact that failing to navigate turns is a leading cause of snowmobile deaths underscores the necessity for snowmobile operators to have proper training and education on how to drive their vehicles.
3. Alcohol Impairment
Just as alcohol impairs drivers’ ability to safely drive a car or truck, it can also impair their ability to operate a snowmobile safely. Alcohol played a role in one fatality on New York state trails during the 2021-2022 season.
The vast majority of these errors led the snowmobile to collide with a fixed object, such as a tree. One incident in Lewis County, occurring on March 4, 2022, resulted in the deaths of two snowmobilers when the operator of one snowmobile failed to keep right and collided with the other operator.
Compensation May Be Available for Injured New York Snowmobilers
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a snowmobile accident, our New York snowmobile accident lawyers want to assist you. If your accident resulted from another’s carelessness, a snowmobile accident lawyer might successfully recover compensation to address your injuries.
Our firm’s experience spans two generations, and we are eager to put that experience to work for you and your loved ones. Call our office today and request a complimentary case consultation with the snowmobile accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth Hiller, PLLC. We will thoroughly review the details of your case and advise you accordingly.
