6 replies to this topic

[LuvPow]

Whistler (BC), Canada - The British Columbia government has filed suit against Whistler Blackcomb ski resort over healthcare bills related to a snowboarding accident in 2008.
Amanda Yan was snowboarding along the resort's Crystal Road ski run in April 2008 when she caught an edge and tumbled down a steep embankment. She sustained serious injuries including fractured vertebrae and left femur, a lacerated kidney, dislocated ribs and traumatic brain injury.

The B.C. government has filed suit against the ski area in B.C. Supreme Court to recover past and future health care costs, plus interest. In its statement of claim, the provincial government alleges that the ski area is liable for Yan's injuries by failing to post warning signs about the steep drop-off adjacent to the ski trail, and for failing to provide a barrier to prevent such an incident. No statement of defense has yet been entered by the ski resort.

Information from the Vancouver Province www.theprovince.com

[Allan]

Oh WTF... you're on a mountain, aren't steep banks a part of being on a mountain? If we had to mark every (steep) bank on the side of a run our sign budget would have to be huge.

[Kicking Horse]

Why Is the ski area liable for this?

[snowboarder801]

The ski area is liable because Canada is out of money and and has to pay for this persons medical bills. So they attack the company that has the money (Whistler). This is why you don't want socialized health care.

[seilbahnbilder.ch]

snowboarder801, on 03 October 2010 - 08:40 PM, said:

The ski area is liable because Canada is out of money and and has to pay for this persons medical bills. So they attack the company that has the money (Whistler). This is why you don't want socialized health care.

We have socialized health care anywhere in Europe and I wouldn't recommend it.

Since a few years many ski slopes in Italy look like this:

http://www.m-zones.n...he/P1000586.JPG

Fun is something else!

[liftmech]

I hope the provincial government loses this one. I can't see where WB/Intrawest would be liable for this; as others have noted the accident occurred at a ski area, which would imply steep slopes and mountainsides. These would be part of the 'inherent risks' of our sport. BC has a similar disclaimer to ours here in Colorado on the back of their tickets, as I recall. Allan? Mike? Mitch?

[Aussierob]

As far as I can tell this would fall under the "inherent risk" category. Unfortunately nobody is prepared to take any responsibility themselves anymore and any problem must be someone elses fault. Therefore sue. This would seem to have spread to the government as well.