A man in Breckenridge was on the slopes snowboarding, when he had an accident. A 6-year-old girl fell in a very low visibility area where there is a steep drop on the mountain. The snowboarder did not see the girl until it was too late. He attempted to avoid her, and broke his ankle in the process, but it was to no avail. He hit the girl and both went airborne. The young girl was knocked unconscious, and now the snowboarder is facing misdemeanor charges of Reckless Endangerment.
What is Reckless Endangerment in Fort Collins?
Colorado law defines Reckless Endangerment as:
The key to this definition is the term ‘recklessly.’ The law defines ‘recklessly’ as:
Sometimes, victims and their families feel they need ‘justice’ to move forward.
The fact this snowboarder was charged with Reckless Endangerment means the district attorney feels he acted recklessly. It seems a little far-fetched to think that a man who tried so hard to prevent the accident that he actually broke a bone was acting with a conscious disregard for a risk. Anytime you go snowboarding or skiing there are risks involved. It seems outrageous to think that this man could be facing jail time because of an accident. The girl was small, fell in an area where there was very low visibility and the man did everything he could to stop himself from hitting her. In my opinion, that reads as an accident, plain and simple.
Sometimes in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, victims and their families feel they need ‘justice’ to move forward. They feel they have been wronged and the only way to rectify the situation is for someone to pay. The district attorney will press charges to satisfy the desires of the people, even if it is excessive in some situations.
If you or a loved one has been contacted by the police concerning Reckless Endangerment, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact a full-time criminal defense lawyer. At the O’Malley Law Office, P.C., we’re committed to fighting for you every step of the way. Contact us today to set up a free initial consultation at 970-658-0007. Together, we can protect your future.