Sledding Injury Causes Spinal Injuries and Paralysis

Sledding can be a fun winter sports activity, but before getting on a sled, make sure you are familiar with the terrain, the course and the sled

As a kid, one of my favorite winter pastimes was sledding. My friends and I would go sledding whenever school was cancelled for a “snow day.” We would take the first several runs slowly, so as to familiarize ourselves with the day’s conditions. We would then walk up the hill, noting where there were “bare spots” or other dangers. Only after a few “warm up” runs and familiarization with the course’s terrain would we start trying for maximum speed in this exciting winter sport. So I was saddened to read of the devastating injuries caused by a sled accident.

The plaintiff in the case injured his spinal cord when he slid into a parking sign while sledding with his family at a Sertoma Park. The man suffered spinal injuries and is paralyzed from the waist down after the crash on the sled. According to the injured winter sports participant’s counsel, the plaintiff attempted to stop the sled when he spotted the sign but could not. The injured man lost his job and the family lost their home as a result of the accident. The sledding injury lawsuit was settled when the Sioux City, Iowa, city council agreed to pay $487,632 to settle a lawsuit in addition to $1.97 million from the insurance company and an additional $300,000 from a third party according to news reports