The Oregonian has reported that a woman has filed a $273,000 lawsuit against race organisers after crashing into a fallen tree and breaking her spine in four places.
Lisa Belair was taking part in the Dog River Super D race in May in Oregon, which had been organised by Fat Tire Farm. In the days preceding the race, a storm blew down trees along the course. The lawsuit claims that the event organisers had assured riders on the race’s website that trail crews had cleared the trail.
However, one tree had not been removed as it was too large and instead, it had been covered partially with dirt, according to the suit. “That created a large jump that wasn’t readily identifiable as Belair rode down the hill and onto it,” said her attorney, Tim Williams. Belair was launched through the air, and she crushed her C1 vertabra in her neck, and also suffered fractures to her T3, T5 and T7 vertebrae.
“She’s able to walk,” said Williams. “She’s able to ride her bike. But she has a fair amount of pain, constant, and it’s not going away.”
Belair seeks up to $23,307 for past and future medical bills, and lost wages. She also seeks up to $250,000 for pain and suffering.
