The Newcastle Herald has recently reported on a woman, aged in her 50s, who received a large compensation payout after being driven over by her own car.

The woman was returning to her car after walking her three dogs in the outskirts of Colac, putting one in the passenger seat of the car and two in the back. Before she could sit in the driver’s seat, one of her dogs knocked the handbrake, causing the car to roll with her arm caught in the door. She was dragged along by the car until she eventually fell to the ground and the car ran over the top of her body causing extensive injuries to her back, neck, shoulders and left hip.

The woman filed a claim with the Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in 2004 for lump sum compensation in addition to the payment of her medical expenses and income entitlements.

Lawyer, Anna Cunningham, states that the TAC claim took several years to complete as “the woman’s injuries almost a decade ago took a long time to stabilise”.

While this case has a humorous dimension, it highlights the fact that many people in regional areas are reluctant to pursue their injury entitlements.

However, it is important to bear in mind that we pay our registrations and insurance premiums precisely so that we are covered should we suffer serious injury. Many accident victims receive medical treatment and loss of earning payments but without seeking legal advice they may never be offered lump sum compensation.

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident in New South Wales and would like advice on your rights to compensation, contact Peter Moore at Brazel Moore Lawyers on (02) 4324 7699 to speak to an experienced local lawyer today.