Triathlon Australia being sued by doctor after being injured during competition

A QUEENSLAND doctor is taking legal action against Triathlon Australia after a wheelchair athlete crashed into her during a race, leaving her with a brain injury.

Dr Sally James, with twin sons Charlie and Oscar, 12, was injured during a triathlon. Picture: Lachie Millard

A QUEENSLAND psychologist is looking to sue Triathlon Australia after a wheelchair athlete crashed into her and sent her tumbling to the ground on a course she says was too narrow to be safe.

Dr Sally James says injuries from the crash in February at the Luke Harrop Memorial triathlon have reduced her ability to work and hit her family, including her twin sons Oscar and Charlie, hard.

Dr Sally James was injured during a triathlon.

She said the insurance that was a compulsory part of registration for the triathlon did not cover the cost of her recovery and she was left with no option but take legal action.

She said she hit her head in the crash and was left with concussion, brain injury and suffered flashbacks. She said the hardest part was not being able to play with her boys as she had in the past.

“They are 12 and a half years old. I have not been able to do anything with them,” Dr James said. “I’ve lost all confidence driving. I’m very forgetful.”

She said doctors had told her she could only see four to six patients a week – the same number she would see every day before the crash.

Triathlon Australia said they had received a claim from Dr James but declined to answer questions about the insurance cover and event safety.

“Triathlon Australia received a claim in respect to an event conducted by another party. The claim has been referred to, and is being managed by, Triathlon Australia insurers,” it said in a statement.

Dr James’ lawyer Travis Schultz said cases of underinsurance were not uncommon, as many people who paid association membership and event entry fees mistakenly believed the supplied cover would be adequate in the event of injury.

“Sportspeople and even people volunteering at events need to be better informed about the ins and outs of that insurance and ask whether they can ‘top up’ the extent of the cover,” he said.

“Because there are time limits for submitting a claim, which can range anywhere from three months to six years, it’s also important to find out your rights quickly to ensure the matter is handled accurately and within the right time frame.”