Winter can be a long season for many throughout the Pittsburgh area. For others, including many young people, it is one of the best times of the year. This is in part due to participating in winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating and sledding. While fun, activities such as these can be dangerous. Sadly, a teen recently died while sledding in Westmoreland County.

The 16-year-old girl was on a sled travelling down a hill with her sister when they ran into a tree. The impact caused the teen to suffer head injuries. Though she was transported via a helicopter to the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, the injuries were too severe and sadly the honor student died there. It is not clear whether he sister was hurt in the incident.

Medical providers are cautioning that this seemingly innocent winter activity can result in serious injuries such as this one. In addition to brain injuries, children often suffer from broken bones while sledding. Fortunately there are steps that can be taken to enjoy this activity with a reduced chance of being injured. In addition to parents looking over the sledding hill to make sure there are no stationary objects that could be run into, sledders are also urged to don helmets for the trips down the hill.

Depending on where a fatal accident such as this happens along with other circumstances, it is possible that a wrongful death lawsuit could be filed in the matter. Such a lawsuit would of course do nothing to bring back that person but if successful, it could provide a sense of closure to those left behind as well as monetary damages.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh warns of sledding dangers," Chris Togneri, Dec. 30, 2012