Every year, thousands of Minnesotans enjoy the thrill of riding on snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles across the state’s diverse terrain. While these activities can be fun, they also bring serious risks. Understanding these potential injuries can help you recognize your options for recovery.
Head injuries that can change your life
Traumatic brain injuries represent one of the most serious consequences of off-road vehicle accidents. Symptoms can include:
- Persistent headaches and dizziness
- Confusion and memory problems
- Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
- Changes in mood or behavior
Even if you seem fine at first, visiting the emergency room creates a record connecting your symptoms to the accident which can help strengthen your claim later on.
Bone injuries that require extensive recovery
When riders are thrown from their vehicles or crushed during rollovers, the impact often results in injuries such as:
- Arm and wrist fractures
- Leg and ankle breaks
- Pelvic fractures
- Shoulder dislocations and collarbone injuries
These injuries often require surgical intervention with plates, screws or rods to stabilize broken bones. Recovery periods can extend for months, and some victims experience chronic pain or reduced mobility even after bones heal.
Back injuries that can affect your mobility
Another common injury that people suffer after an off-road vehicle crash is back injuries, which include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Vertebral fractures
- Muscle strains and ligament sprains
- Chronic lower back pain from soft tissue damage
Depending on the location and severity of the damage, many accident victims experience long-term mobility issues that affect their ability to work and enjoy daily activities.
Compensation options available to you
If someone else’s negligence caused an accident that has left you with a serious injury, Minnesota law may allow for financial recovery.
The state uses a comparative fault standard, which means your compensation decreases by your share of fault. For example, if a court finds your total damages equal $100,000 and assigns you 20% of the fault, you would recover $80,000. If your fault exceeds 50%, you cannot recover compensation.
Compensation is divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your tangible losses, such as the cost of medication and surgery.
Non-economic damages address aspects beyond your financial losses. For example, pain and suffering account for the physical discomfort and emotional distress you experience due to your injury.
Choosing to take legal action
A personal injury lawsuit begins by establishing that someone else was negligent. This means proving that they owed you a duty of care, breached that duty and caused your injuries.
In off-road vehicle cases, negligence can include reckless driving, unsafe property conditions or a defective vehicle.
Minnesota law sets time limits for filing a lawsuit. In most negligence cases, you have up to 6 years to file. Claims involving defective vehicles usually must be filed within 4 years and wrongful death claims within 3 years.