Woman sues girl (6) over skiing collision in Austria

Court hears claims the girl caused an collision by turning into her path as she skied down a slope at the Hochhaedrich resort.

A woman is suing a six-year-old girl for damages, after the pair collided in a ski accident in Austria.

The woman was seriously hurt in the collision and is suing the child for €38,000 in Feldkirch, western Austria, as well as for any other future costs relating to the accident.

The woman was reportedly heading straight down the piste in the Hochhaedrich resort near the Swiss border and the girl was turning when they collided, a court heard on Thursday.

An independent expert appointed by the court testified neither had been paying enough attention and that they therefore shared the blame.

Children cannot normally be found liable in civil cases in Austria but the plaintiff is making use of a legal exception for when a child is able to recognise the consequences of their actions.

The woman has previously sued the girl’s father and her skiing teacher but the case was rejected. The father and the teacher both testified again on Thursday and a verdict is expected in writing in early 2016.

The extent of the claimant’s injuries weren’t made clear but her lawyer said she would never ski again.

Agencies