Airbags Lull Off Piste Skiers In To False Sense of Security
Airbags Lull Off Piste Skiers In To False Sense of Security
Published : 02-Apr-2015 10:52
Safety gadgets such as avalanche airbags are giving skiers a false sense of security with many taking unnecessary risks while going off-piste according to travel insurance policy provider Alphatravelinsurance.co.uk
While the contentious subject of skier safety and helmet usage has been brought to the forefront of consumers' minds in recent years, there is a risk of creating an illusion of safety, with several reported incidents of safety gadgets causing harm instead of protecting its user, the company says.
In one case reported to the company this year, a skier was caught in an avalanche while skiing off-piste. Although he was prepared and was wearing an avalanche airbag, the deployment apparently sent him hurtling into a tree.
"Attitudes in the holiday industry are changing, with the onus being put back onto the customer when it comes to safety," said Chantelle Dadd, brand manager for Alphatravelinsurance.co.uk
"With that in mind, injuries that involve another person carry a risk of being part of a liability claim later on, with the injured person(s) able to make a claim within three years after the incident, and children being able to do so until the age of 21. The rising popularity of personal injury lawyers reflects the way in which our culture is changing, showing that incidents while on holiday can extend beyond your own personal claim for medical expenses, often incurring hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not more," added Chantelle Dadd.
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