Practice

Blog

News

Library

Some Specific Causes of Snowmobile Accidents

Our office represents victims of all kinds of motor vehicle accidents - from collisions between cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs to those which involve motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. We also handle tractor-trailer, school bus, city bus, city vehicle, train, and police car accident cases.

But there is another motor vehicle commonly found in Illinois that can cause injuries or fatalities if it gets into an accident: snowmobiles.

---

There are hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails and thousands of acres of public and private lands on which to snowmobile in Illinois. Some of these places include state- and county-run parks and sites in McHenry, Henry, Lake, Kane, Kendall, Lee, Whiteside, Bureau, LaSalle, DeKalb, Putnam, and Winnebago counties.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that snowmobile accidents in the U.S. send about 13,000 people to the hospital every year - as well as more than 100 bodies to the morgue. Obviously, single-vehicle snowmobile accidents where only the driver is hurt or killed are the most common. But sometimes, a snowmobile driver can also be held responsible for injuries to or deaths of their passengers, innocent bystanders, or other snowmobilers.

Here are some examples of specific causes of snowmobile accidents.

• Driving off of groomed trails and/or in areas which are unfamiliar or not designated for snowmobiling
• Driving at nighttime or in poor weather conditions
• Driving on frozen waterways
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Hurdling snowbanks or colliding with an object on the downslope of a hill
• Losing control in a turn at high speed
• Colliding with objects that are buried in snow
• Failing to yield to vehicles on roads or trains on railroad tracks
• Operating a snowmobile that is poorly maintained or in subpar condition

There are a couple of basic steps that snowmobile operators should take in order to greatly reduce the chances of being involved in a snowmobile accident. The first is to read the operator's manual of their snowmobile in order to learn about its safety features, controls, and limits. The second is to undergo instruction by an experienced snowmobile operator so they can learn how to ride safely.

It is also important to know the age requirements for legally operating a snowmobile in Illinois. All solo snowmobile drivers must be at least 16 years of age. Kids between the ages of 12 and 15 can drive a snowmobile if they have been issued a Snowmobile Safety Certificate or are accompanied by someone at least 16 years old. Kids who are 10 or 11 years old can operate a snowmobile if accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older.

If you have been hurt in a snowmobile accident caused by the recklessness or negligence of someone else, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. He or she can help you obtain reimbursement for medical expenses and other compensation that you may be entitled to.



The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
5215 Old Orchard Road
Suite 710
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

Proudly Serving Many Illinois Cities and Counties, Including:
Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Waukegan, Geneva, Sycamore, Woodstock, Kankakee, Morris, Ottawa; Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Winnebago, DeKalb, McHenry, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, Peoria, McLean, Champaign, Tazewell Counties

Offices

Videos

FAQ