Just last year, 2012, the ski industry in Virginia got some new laws which protect them from being sued for people who get hurt on ski slopes in Virginia. The new law, though, is not quite as bad as the complete bar on ever making a claim against a ski resort that they have in places like Colorado where it does not matter how negligent the ski resort is. You will have a difficult time getting compensation for an injury.
The basic rule in Virginia is that if what happens on the ski slope is just a natural part of skiing then the skier or snowboarder likely assumes the risk of injury of what is a part of the sport. However, if there is active negligence by the ski resort or its employees and particularly if it involves things like their using snowmaking equipment or their operation of the ski lift then a claim may well be valid.
Virginia ski resorts include Wintergreen and Massanutten among others. I enjoy going with my family to ski at these resorts and I hope that everyone has a good and safe time while enjoying outdoor winter sports. However, sometimes mistakes are made by the resort operators in the way that they set up or use some of the big mechanical equipment involved in the process of running a ski resort.
If you are a loved one gets seriously hurt at a ski resort you should talk to an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney who knows about skiing to discuss what your options are. I have talked to many people and helped those I could who have suffered separated shoulders or torn knees that required surgical intervention and replacement. Brain injuries are also a common type of trauma that can occur in skiing accidents. Nothing is worse than having a fun family vacation turned into a nightmare by a tragic accident on the slopes.