Ski And Run: Doctor Sues Actress Gwyneth Paltrow For $3.1 Million Over Alleged Ski Crash
A retired doctor had a run-in with fame nearly three years ago, but it was not one he would brag to friends and family about. Terry Sanderson recently filed a lawsuit against Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, claiming that she caused him severe injury in an alleged “hit-and-run ski crash” on Feb. 26, 2019 at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort.
In compensation for his injuries, Sanderson is seeking no less than $3.1 million from Paltrow, Deer Valley Resort, ski instructor Eric Christiansen, and two other unnamed employees of the resort.
Although about 25,000 people in America suffer an ankle sprain every day, Sanderson’s injuries from the accident were quite a bit more serious. According to his lawsuit, Sanderson’s injuries include a permanent and traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, suffering, pain, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and emotional distress.
On the day in question, Sanderson says he was on Bandana, a green run at Deer Valley, when a skier hit him from behind. Sanderson claims he heard a scream that sounded like a woman suddenly realizing she was about to collide with another person just before he felt the impact.
“I heard this hysterical scream like you never hear on a ski run, never have heard it in my life. Just absolutely like King Kong came out of the jungle or something. It was just instantaneous, I got hit in my back,” Sanderson said.
According to Sanderson and his two attorneys, Paltrow skied away without saying a word after knocking Sanderson face first into the snow.
He believes he was unconscious for five to 10 minutes. He then woke up to Christiansen, the ski instructor Paltrow was with, telling him the crash was Sanderson’s fault. His attorneys are also arguing that the resort later falsified a report that said the ski crash was Sanderson’s fault.
The U.S. Department of Justice has data that shows the most common personal injury cases are motor vehicle accidents at 52%, medical malpractice at 15%, and product liability at 5%. While it is uncertain where a hit-and-run ski crash involving a famous actress falls in these classifications, Sanderson is determined to sue Paltrow for as much as possible in the wake of an apology-less three years following the accident.
“Gwyneth Paltrow knew it was wrong to ski out of control too fast for her ability […] but she did it anyway,” the lawsuit states.
