In the winter, many Missourians like to head out into the wild to find some adventure on the back of a snowmobile. This can be a fun activity, but riders should be careful to avoid injury. Snowmobiles are incredibly high-powered machines that are often capable of exceeding 90 miles per hour, and they have no frame to protect a rider from the elements. They are heavy and can cause a lot of damage when their rider loses control. Plus, they are obviously used in cold weather and riders can easily put themselves at risk from life-threatening cold.

If you have been injured in a snowmobiling accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, The Dixon Injury Firm can help.

To learn more, give us a call at (314) 208-2808 or CONTACT us online to schedule a free initial consultation.

History of Snowmobiling

According to the Antique Snowmobile Museum run by Maine’s Northern Timber Cruisers, the snowmobile got its start back in 1908. That was a few years after the airplane had been invented. A company in Waterville, Maine built a large cumbersome log hauling machine that looked like a steam locomotive, except it had skis up front and a track in the back. The next major advancement was in 1913 when a Ford dealer in New Hampshire built a track and ski conversion for the Model T Ford. In 1922, a young man named J. Armand Bombardier invented his first snowmobile, also powered by a Model T engine.

The modern recreational snowmobile was invented in 1954 by a farm-equipment company called Polaris Industries. One of the partners built himself a snowmobile on a weekend adventure, and eventually he was forced to sell it to make ends meet. The company spent a lot of time servicing the contraption, and eventually more people wanted one and the company abandoned farm equipment to focus solely on snowmobiles and other all-terrain vehicles. Today, there are about 118,657 snowmobiles sold every year and over 1.2 million registered in the United States.

Snowmobile Risks

Snowmobile accident statistics are hard to come by because snowmobiling takes place off the road system, often in very remote areas, and the federal government has little oversight. To look at one snapshot, our somewhat distant neighbors up North in Minnesota reported that 2014 was an especially deadly year. 15 people died that year under a range of circumstances. One flew off the back of a snowmobile when his drunk friend stopped abruptly. Another veered into a ditch while riding at night. One froze to death after falling through some ice on a lake. Others just crashed into something: a rock, a trailer, an embankment, a car, really anything that could crop up in the outdoors.

Our St. Louis Snowmobile Accident Attorneys Are Here to Help

The Dixon Injury Firm strives to be an industry leader in protecting accident victims and their families. During a snowmobile accident case, the responsible party, their lawyers, and the insurance agencies are going to try to get you to settle for as little as possible and attempt to place as much blame as possible on you. This will allow them to settle quickly and against your best interests. Make sure you have someone just as invested in your interests by choosing The Dixon Injury Firm.

The Dixon Injury Firm
9666 Olive Blvd #202,
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone:(314) 208-2808