Travel Law Experts Representing Birmingham Radiotherapy Student Forced To Give Up Course After Ski Injuries
A British woman who suffered serious leg, knee and shoulder injuries when a skier crashed into her during a skiing lesson in France is taking legal action as she seeks help with her recovery and rehabilitation.
Juliet Doyle, from Northfield in Birmingham, suffered torn ligaments in her left knee, a fractured right ankle and a torn rotator cuff in her right shoulder whilst skiing in Saint-Gervais, France in April 2013 after booking her package holiday and ski lessons with Peak Retreats Limited, as a gift to celebrate her son’s 21st birthday.
The 50-year-old trainee radiographer was under skiing tuition at the resort. As she was waiting for the rest of her group to ski to the bottom of the slope, a 14-year-old boy in the class, who she says had been repeatedly warned about his behaviour and told that he was skiing too fast and beyond his capabilities, crashed into her from behind.
Juliet has now instructed specialist international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell in her battle for justice and to secure funds to help with her rehabilitation from injury.
At the time of the accident Juliet was enrolled on a Radiotherapy & Oncology Degree, at Birmingham City University, but due to her injuries and her inability to undertake a work placement she has now lost her place on the course and will need to reapply again in the future, if she sufficiently recovers from her injuries.
Joseph Dawson, a specialist travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:
Since her accident, Juliet has had an operation on the ankle she fractured after a cyst developed on the ankle bone and will require a further procedure in February 2015, during which a bone graft will be performed.
She will also have to undergo an operation to repair the damage to her shoulder and requires ongoing physiotherapy to aid her recovery from the multiple injuries that she sustained.
Juliet, a mother of three, said: “This skiing holiday to France with my family was supposed to be a relaxing break to celebrate my son’s 21st birthday and an opportunity to improve my skiing. Instead, I have been left with injuries that have had a huge impact on me, both physically and in my career.
“At the time of the accident I was training to be a radiographer and was working hard to reach my goals and start a new career. However, all my hard work may be wasted as I no longer have a place at the university and will have to reapply once I recover and am able to attend lectures.
“The injuries have also affected my day-to-day life as I can no longer do simple tasks around the house or walk my dog. I’ve also missed a number of family occasions and I’ve been left feeling frustrated, angry and upset by the circumstances of my accident and the physical damage it has caused.
“I’m taking legal action to help get the support for further rehabilitation for my injuries so that I can get my life back on track. But I also hope that my case acts as a reminder of the dangers that skiers face and that all ski holiday operators will make sure they keep their novice skiers safe during their lessons.”
Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team has launched an interactive guide to skiing safety to help prevent skiing accidents over the current season. The guide can be found here.