Snowmobile Safety Week: Avoid These Five Accidents

Snowmobile Safety Week: Avoid These Five Accidents

Snowmobile Safety Week starts on the third Saturday of January every year. Snowmobile enthusiast organizations use the event to promote safety issues and to dispel misconceptions about these vehicles. With lots of open land and plenty of snow throughout the winter, snowmobiles are popular in Kansas and Missouri. To help you and your family stay safe, the Kansas injury lawyers at Patterson legal group discuss five common snowmobile accidents and how to avoid them.

A Brief History of Motorized Sleds for Snowmobile Safety Week

Snowmobiles have been a pivotal innovation in winter transportation for nearly a century, with their roots tracing back to Canadian engineer Joseph-Armand Bombardier. Living in rural Quebec, Bombardier sought to address the challenges of navigating snowy terrain, particularly after a family tragedy in 1934 highlighted the need for reliable winter transport. His two-year-old son, Yvon, passed away due to complications from appendicitis, as a blizzard prevented timely hospital access. This heart-wrenching event motivated Bombardier to accelerate his efforts, culminating in a completed snowmobile design by 1935 and a patent granted in 1937.

Bombardier’s invention not only revolutionized winter travel but also laid the foundation for a thriving business. He founded Bombardier, Inc., which evolved into a global leader in manufacturing snowmobiles, airplanes, and trains. In 2003, Bombardier, Inc. spun off its consumer vehicle division, creating Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). Today, BRP produces renowned snowmobiles under the Lynx and Ski-Doo brands, allowing people around the world to enjoy the innovation inspired by a determined engineer’s response to personal tragedy.

Five Common Snowmobile Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Like motorcycles, snowmobiles come in a range of sizes, with some models offering rapid acceleration and the ability to reach high speeds. This similarity means that snowmobile accidents share common risks with motorcycle accidents–both involve riders on relatively small, high-velocity vehicles with minimal protection. As a result, snowmobile crashes often lead to catastrophic injuries for drivers and passengers.

Fortunately, many of these accidents can be prevented by following simple safety precautions. For Snowmobile Safety Week, our Missouri injury attorneys highlight the five most common types of snowmobile accidents they have encountered, along with practical tips to avoid them.

1. Collisions with Fixed Objects

Collisions with trees, rocks, fences, or other obstacles are a leading cause of snowmobile accidents. Poor visibility, high speeds, or unfamiliar terrain often contribute to these crashes.

How to Avoid:

  • Drive at a safe speed, especially in unfamiliar or wooded areas.
  • Use headlights in low-visibility conditions.
  • Stay on marked trails where hazards are clearly indicated.

2. Collisions with Other Snowmobiles

Snowmobile crashes often occur when riders fail to maintain a safe distance, particularly on busy trails or in open areas.

How to Avoid:

  • Keep a safe distance between your snowmobile and others.
  • Use hand signals to communicate with other riders.
  • Avoid reckless maneuvers, and stay alert to the movements of others.

Related: Four Common Winter Injuries

3. Tipping Over Due to Oversteering

Taking sharp turns at high speeds or driving on uneven terrain can cause a snowmobile to tip over, leading to broken bones and soft tissue injuries.

How to Avoid:

  • Practice proper turning techniques by leaning into curves.
  • Reduce speed when navigating corners or bumpy terrain.
  • Ensure the snowmobile’s weight is distributed evenly.

4. Falling Through Ice

Snowmobiles are often used on frozen lakes and rivers, but thin ice poses a significant risk.

How to Avoid:

  • Check ice thickness before venturing onto frozen water (12 inches is generally safe for snowmobiles).
  • Stick to established trails and avoid unfamiliar frozen surfaces.
  • Carry ice picks and wear a flotation suit for added safety.

5. Mechanical Failures

Equipment malfunctions, such as brake or throttle failures, can lead to accidents.

How to Avoid:

  • Perform regular maintenance checks, including brakes, lights, and fuel levels.
  • Carry a basic repair kit and know how to use it.
  • Never ignore warning signs like unusual noises or handling issues.

By following these tips and prioritizing safety, snowmobile riders can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and enjoy snowmobiling responsibly.

Contact a Top Snowmobile Accident Lawyer Today

The team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that you use Snowmobile Safety Week to enjoy these wonderful vehicles. Please use the information above to keep you and your family safe on the snow. Should you get into a snowmobile accident caused by another party then contact us for immediate assistance. Our staff is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can reach Patterson Legal Group by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through our secure contact form or connecting with our LiveChat agents. For more than 25 years, Patterson Legal Group has helped injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado receive the compensation that they deserve. Our accomplished trial lawyers have recovered more than $250-million in settlements for thousands of injury victims. Reach out to us today and take the first step towards the justice that you deserve.

The information on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for an individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship nor does viewing this material constitute an attorney-client relationship.