A British skier with 60 years’ experience who was left with two broken arms after another skier ploughed into him during a holiday in France is urging others to report incidents to the local police and piste security offices as soon as possible.
78-year-old Michael Bond, who was in the resort of Les Menuires, France, was hit from behind and sent tumbling into the piste’s side wall, during the break in 2021.
He was left in so much pain from his ski accident abroad that he remembers a limited amount of details about the incident and spent the rest of the trip being treated for his injuries.
However, after travelling home and subsequently taking legal advice for a possible claim for compensation, his injury abroad case was hampered by the third-party denying being in the resort on that day. This was despite police and piste security being satisfied that the woman was the skier involved and the cause of the accident.
“It has been very frustrating; I was fully insured myself and would expect others to be also, however that is not always the case.
The woman who was identified as causing my accident was tracked down by the local French police as living in Spain, but when contact was made with her, she said that although she had been skiing at Les Menuires a few days earlier, she was not skiing there on that day.
Mr Bond, who has skied for around 60 years accident-free, had on that day just completed 30 kilometres of runs with his wife before returning to their accommodation some five minutes away.
Arrange a call back
“We were on a gentle path, a green run, there was a ski lift above the path with skiers coming off it and out of nowhere I was skied into.
I was sent flying and bounced into the side of the piste not knowing how it all happened. There was so much pain in my arms, I was taken off on a stretcher to the local medical centre where I was examined and told that I had two broken arms.
Mr Bond, who lives near Portsmouth and has been skiing at Les Menuires for the last 10 years, was eventually discharged to return home with both arms in slings. On his return he immediately began treatment at an NHS fracture clinic. The couple also contacted Hudgell Solicitors for advice on pursuing an accident on holiday claim for his injuries.
“After the accident I saw three people guarding the place where I was lying so there were witnesses. Statements were taken by a local piste service official however no photographs were taken at the time of the person who caused my accident, neither were details exchanged directly with her.”
Mr Bond, who is still undergoing physiotherapy, has since returned to the ski slopes, “I had to ‘kill the ghost’ so to speak, obviously my arms are not as strong as they were and so I’m very much pottering about on the baby slopes. I am still partially disabled, but skiing is not something that I want to give up.”
Head of Hudgell’s travel litigation department, senior solicitor Paul McClorry, who is pursuing the holiday injury claim on behalf of Mr Bond, established that French Police had been able to identify the woman involved in the accident. She lives in Spain and, with the help of Spanish lawyers, she was contacted.
“The French Police had already identified her and, through our lawyers in Spain, a letter was sent to her home address to request her insurance details, but she replied that she wasn’t there on that particular day,” said Mr McClorry.
“We believe this is to deny liability, but our investigations show that the French Police have identified her as being at the resort on the date of the accident.”
The case is ongoing and Mr McClorry says anyone who is involved in a ski accident should follow these Hudgell Solicitors’ guidelines to ensure as much evidence is recorded and reported to the relevant authorities as soon as possible in order to make holiday accident claims as straightforward as possible.
“Obviously, if you’ve had an accident, it’s important to get medical assistance immediately – pistes often have a number for the resort’s emergency service on signs. Call it and they will be able to help you, they will also know where the nearest hospital is.
“Don’t worry unduly about the cost. If you’ve taken out suitable travel insurance or have a valid EHIC or GHIC, you are likely to be covered for the most immediate medical costs.”
Mr McClorry says once you have received medical treatment and been assessed you, or those travelling with you, can begin to report the matter with the relevant authorities.
Gather Evidence
This isn’t always possible if you’re injured on the slopes, but try and gather as much evidence as possible, or enlist the help of someone you know.
Note down names and contact details of any other people involved in the accident and any witnesses. Also take pictures of the accident site and your injuries; it could come in useful further down the line.
If possible, write up what happened to cause your injury in as much detail as you can, and include details like snow conditions, visibility, markings, signs and location. Remember to keep records of when you visited a doctor, clinic or hospital, and keep hold of any receipts for accident-related expenses.”
Report the Incident
Report the accident, including all details, to the piste services and the local police. If you’re on a package holiday, report your accident to the holiday organiser or resort rep. You should also contact your travel insurance provider at the earliest possible point, as they will advise about your medical and legal situation.
When reporting the accident to the local police, Paul warns: “It’s important to never engage in any correspondence without the advice of a qualified solicitor or lawyer that specialises in this area of law.”
Returning Home
Sometimes it’s a quick recovery, but sometimes you don’t realise the full impact of your injury until you’re home and living with it. You could choose to seek legal advice in circumstances such as being unable to work and facing potential loss of earnings, or for the expenses that occur if you need rehabilitation.
If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, such as another skier, a hidden obstruction, unsafe teaching techniques or faulty equipment, then you could be eligible for compensation.”
Skiing Accident Compensation Claims
The laws on skiing accident claims do change depending on the country where the incident happened. It can also be complex if there are many different parties involved, so it’s important to have a legal expert on your side.
Our personal injury solicitors are vastly experienced in ski accidents and injury abroad and will make the entire claims process as simple as possible. If you’ve had a holiday ruined by a skiing accident or injury that was beyond your control, we could help you get compensation.
