There's nothing more tragic than the sudden death of a loved one — especially when you believe that it resulted from a business or individual's recklessness or negligence. Fortunately, in these situations, there are steps you can take to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

According to KATU News, an Oregon news outlet, the family of a 17-year-old girl who died while snowboarding on January 27, 2012, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mt. Hood Skibowl, the recreation area where she lost her life.

The source reports that Taylur DeWolf struck a tree while snowboarding down the Dog Leg ski run. Although Dog Leg is labeled as an intermediate trail, the plaintiffs claim that the level of difficulty is much higher in certain areas, alleging that Mt. Hood Skibowl "misrepresented the degree of difficulty."

It is unclear how much money DeWolf's family is seeking in the lawsuit. 

"If [Mt. Hood Skibowl is] going to hold themselves out as a business for profit to do these things, they need to make sure they do it safely," Richard Vangelisti, a local lawyer who is not involved with the case, said in an interview with the news outlet. "As anyone would expect in any activity of a company."

If one of your family members has died as a result of an individual or business's negligent behavior and you reside in Missouri, consider finding a personal injury lawyer who will work hard on your behalf. These experienced and locally based professionals can assess your claim, try your case in court and help you recover damages to which you may be entitled.