Swiss court convicts forester over falling tree injury
Sunday 18th October 2026 on 08:15 in
Switzerland
A court in Fribourg has convicted a forester over a woman’s serious injuries after a tree fell on her, highlighting how responsibility for tree safety depends on where an accident happens. SRF reports that the case is now before the Federal Supreme Court.
The accident happened six years ago at a picnic area near a forest education trail in the Vivisbach district of Fribourg. The woman was left paralysed. The forester was acquitted at the first trial, but the cantonal court convicted him this summer of negligently causing serious bodily harm and imposed a suspended fine of 20 daily rates.
The cantonal court said the forester had been tasked by the municipality and an association with checking and securing the trail and nearby picnic area. It found that he failed in this duty because he had not thoroughly inspected the area around the trail.
The case has prompted concern in the forestry sector. Fredy Keller, a district forester in the Bern-Worblental area, said the ruling showed the risks involved in the job. He stressed that the forester was convicted for a specific assignment, not in his role as a district forester, who could not inspect hundreds of thousands of trees.
Anja Leser, managing director of the Bernese Forest Owners Association, called the ruling a wake-up call for forest owners. She said they should clarify who is responsible for securing trees near facilities such as fire pits and school forest sofas, particularly given the dry conditions in some regions.
In general, people visiting a forest bear the liability risk if a tree falls in the middle of the forest. If a tree falls near infrastructure such as a fire pit, bench or forest daycare area, responsibility rests with the forest owners, who must ensure that the infrastructure is safe. They can delegate that duty to forestry professionals.
Dry conditions have led many Swiss cantons and municipalities to warn of forest damage and urge visitors to take extra care. The Swiss forest association says liability questions have become more common in recent years, partly because more people use forests.