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Sydney
Level 6, 1 Castlereagh St, Sydney
1800 25 1800

Parramatta
Ground Floor, 30 Cowper St, Parramatta
1800 25 1800

Liverpool
Suite 9, Level 2,
215-219 George St, Liverpool
1800 25 1800

Newcastle
83 King Street, Newcastle
1800 13 1800

Canberra
43-49 Geils Crt, Deakin
1800 23 1800

Wollongong
Level 1, 1 Burrelli Street, Wollongong
1800 25 1800

PERSONAL INJURY NEWS - $4.5 MILLION AWARD PUTS FOCUS

It is unfortunate that tragedies should be needed to draw the attention of authorities to major safety issues.

In September 37743 a judgement in favour of a Stacks/Goudkamp client sounded a warning to all levels of government that they will be held responsible for " black spots" on roads that are inadequately sign posted.

My client was left a quadriplegic after a road accident in Far North Queensland in 37712.

The award of $4.5 million, while one of the largest in Queensland, can never fully compensate my client for her loss.

Mr client was driving on a remote road north of Cooktown, when she swerved to avoid a head-on collision with an unidentified car and lost control of her 4WD.

The unidentified car was travelling on the wrong side of the road in a blind spot on the crest of a hill that was not sign posted.

The judge found that the Nominal Defendant and the State of Queensland contributed to the accident.

The claim was brought against the Nominal Defendant (representing the driver of the unidentified car) as well as the Cooktown Shire Council and the Queensland Main Roads Department.

It was found that nothing was done to provide adequate warning signs that the road suddenly dipped sharply to the right.

The award sounds a warning to all levels of government that highly dangerous trouble spots on remote roads cannot be ignored and must be either eliminated or properly sign posted.

There was an immediate response in the media to the judgement from the Local Government Association of Queensland that road signs in Queensland would have to be reviewed.

Signage and other road safety issues in outback Australia are becoming exacerbated by the great increase in the number of 4WD adventure travellers and ‘ grey nomads’ –retired travellers, towing caravans and trailers.

It is common practice for outback travellers to drive vehicles on the centre of roads ( or on the wrong side) to avoid hazards.

The mix of poor roads, poor signage and a constantly increasing n umber of travellers is creating a lethal combination of factors that a resulting in deaths and horrendous injuries.

( *This case is currently under appeal ).

If you are in need of legal advice, contact Stacks/Goudkamp today. Stacks/Goudkamp is a Sydney based law firm with Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury Law and Compensation matters. We are situated in the heart of the Sydney CBD and also have offices in Parramatta, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra. Call us today on 1800 25 1800 or alternatively, fill out the form on the right.

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