(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A Vernon support worker is suing a City of Vernon bylaw enforcement officer claiming the officer crashed into her while using an electronic device and driving her mobility support scooter too fast.

In a statement of claim filed in the Vernon courthouse Nov. 15, the plaintiff Lisa Briggs alleges on Aug. 1, 2019, an unnamed City of Vernon bylaw compliance officer was driving a mobility scooter and ran into her when she was exiting the front door of the Community Futures office on 33 Street, Vernon. The sidewalk collision caused injuries to her right hand and wrist, she said.

The suit was launched against the City of Vernon and a bylaw officer, referred to in the court document as Jane Doe, as the plaintiff does not know her name.

While the court documents do not give precise details of how fast the bylaw officer was travelling before the collision occurred, Briggs claims the collision was caused by the negligence of the bylaw officer.

Briggs alleges the bylaw officer failed to "keep proper or any lookout" and was driving the mobility scooter without, "due care and attention and without reasonable consideration for other persons using the sidewalk." The court documents also say the bylaw officer was using an electronic device while operating the scooter and driving at an "excessive or improper" rate of speed.

The suit continues, stating the City of Vernon contributed to the collision by allowing the officer to use the scooter while knowing she was "incompetent" to drive the mobility scooter "by reason of her physical or mental disabilities or impairments."

The statement of claim also states the City had not informed the bylaw officer of the "peculiar capacities and manoeuvering abilities" of the scooter. The suit also alleges the City allowed the officer to drive the scooter while knowing or having the means to know it was mechanically defective, had not been properly serviced, and had failed to instruct the officer how to operate the scooter.

Briggs claims the collision left her with injuries to her hand and wrist which caused her "permanent physical disability," pain, suffering and loss of the enjoyment of life. The claim states the injuries have diminished Briggs' ability to work and led to expenses for housekeeping as well as care and treatment.

While the suit doesn't list a dollar figure, Briggs is claiming for the past and future loss of her capacity to work, the past and future loss of her income, the past and future cost of care, and the past and future loss of her "housekeeping capacity," as well as general damages.

The City of Vernon has not as yet filed a response to the civil claim.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

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