WALCH Lawyer
Your specialists for skiing accidents
The Austrian Alps are among the world’s most popular winter sports regions. Every year, millions of skiers and snowboarders flock to the slopes. Unfortunately, skiing and sledding accidents are not uncommon and can have serious consequences, ranging from injuries to lengthy legal disputes. We support you after a skiing accident in Austria and help you enforce your claims (such as compensation for pain and suffering, damages, medical expenses, and care costs, etc.) or defend against claims made against you.
WALCH Attorneys at Law are your lawyers for skiing accidents.
- Flexible business hours.
- Appointments by arrangement.
Ski accident - what now?
To ensure you can assert your rights, you should take the following steps after a skiing accident:
- Notify the Alpine Police
- Document the accident (take photos)
- Note down the contact details of any witnesses
- Have a medical examination
- Seek legal advice
Further information can be found in our article.
Claims for damages
Other skiers’ errors: If another skier violates the FIS rules, for example by driving at an inappropriate speed or performing dangerous maneuvers, they can be held responsible for the accident or collision.
Defects on the slope: Ski resort operators must ensure the safety of their slopes (slope maintenance). Hazardous areas, such as poorly groomed sections or missing warning signs, can give rise to liability claims against the operator.
What rights are you entitled to?
After a skiing accident, injured parties are often entitled to:
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Reimbursement of medical expenses
- Reimbursement of treatment costs
- Compensation for lost earnings
- Pensions
- Further damages You can find more information in our article.
Are you facing claims against you?
A skiing accident often happens faster than you think – and determining fault isn’t always clear. If you are accused of negligence, we will support you in defending against unjustified claims for damages. If necessary, we will coordinate directly with your liability insurance company. For a successful defense, careful documentation of the accident and securing witness testimony are crucial – and we will assist you with this as well.
Can we help?
Yes!
We assist both injured parties and those responsible for accidents in asserting claims and defending against demands.
For medical expertise, we work alongside a physician – ensuring we are fully informed while keeping your effort to a minimum.
Our law firm is based in Lech am Arlberg, with a branch office in Vienna. No matter in which Austrian ski resort the accident occurred, we are happy to represent you.
Our expertise
Why are we the right choice for your case?
Our work doesn’t begin with the first written submission in court proceedings, but long before:
We help you secure evidence on-site as quickly as possible, identify those involved, and obtain necessary information and documents from treating physicians and the police.
Attorney Benedikt Walch is also a state-certified ski instructor and ski guide, giving his clients not only a legal advantage but also a professional one.
Kanzlei für Skiunfälle
Unsere Rechtsanwaltskanzlei in Lech am Arlberg ist auf Skiunfälle und Schadenersatz spezialisiert. Wir vertreten Sie außergerichtlich und im Zivilverfahren vor Bezirksgericht und Landesgericht. Besonders in Skigebieten wie Lech am Arlberg oder im gesamten Vorarlberg kommt es häufig zu Unfällen, bei denen eine rechtliche Vertretung entscheidend ist. Ob es um eine Liftkarte, ein Vertragsverhältnis mit einem Skigebiet, Unfallfolgen durch Skibindung oder Pistengeräten geht – wir setzen Ihre Rechte durch.In unsere Arbeit lassen wir auch die Fachkenntnisse des Österreichischen Kuratoriums für Alpine Sicherheit einfließen.
Contact in case of a skiing accident
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Initial Consultation
Accidents do not only occur on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., but often on weekends. After a skiing or sledding accident, swift action is required (proper documentation of the accident scene, identification of witnesses, preservation of evidence). Please do not hesitate to contact us on weekends as well. Our office is available for you around the clock. -
Representation
We are also happy to handle correspondence with your legal expenses or liability insurance. We advise you on out-of-court solutions and represent you in court if necessary. -
Expertise
With our expertise in the alpine sector, the FIS rules of conduct and the rules of the draft piste regulations of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety, we offer you the best possible representation.
Frequently asked questions about skiing accidents
Stay calm – we'll take care of it. Even if a demand letter addressed to you claims that your fault is clear, there's no need to worry. We'll support you in defending against unjustified claims for damages and coordinate with your liability insurance company. This ensures that your interests are protected and that the matter is handled professionally and efficiently.
We will gladly handle inquiries and correspondence with your insurance company. In most cases, we bill your insurance company directly, so you will likely not incur any legal fees.
If your skiing or sledding accident occurred in Lech, we offer you additional advantages:
- Our law firm is located on site.
- We carry out immediate preservation of evidence at the accident scene – every hour counts!
- To reduce your effort, we are happy to visit you at your hotel in Lech/Zürs and record the relevant information there.
- We promptly identify other parties involved and witnesses and correspond with the local police.
We are also available for you in the evenings and on weekends.
The best time to seek advice is immediately after a skiing accident. Early consultation allows for a quick and effective approach – whether out of court or in the event of legal proceedings.
Our work does not begin with the first written submission in court proceedings, but much earlier: We assist you on site in securing evidence as quickly as possible, identifying the parties involved, and obtaining the necessary information and documents from treating physicians and the police.
In addition, attorney Benedikt Walch is a state-certified ski instructor and ski guide, providing his clients not only with a legal advantage but also with technical expertise.