There have been 20 fatalities on Far North Queensland roads so far this year – up more than 50% when compared with the entire 12-month period in 2021.
Hospitalisations caused by traffic crashes in the region are also climbing around 12% per year, according to the latest Queensland Government data.
With so many local families suffering devastating and traumatic consequences, we put our support behind the Queensland Government’s Road Safety Week campaign annually, which strives to reduce the death and injury toll on our state roads.
One of the biggest killers on Queensland roads is speeding. According to Queensland Government statistics, 57 people are killed and 334 seriously injured on average each year on Queensland roads due to speed-related crashes.
At Travis Schultz & Partners, we firmly believe that avoiding these preventable incidents should always be the priority. The statistics also show that young adult drivers between 16 and 24 years are involved in one-third of all fatal road crashes in Queensland. As a community, we need to change our education and awareness campaigns to target this group specifically.
Data also shows that one in three of the people killed or injured in motor vehicle accidents were not the driver at fault. Many suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries that impact them and their families for the rest of their lives.
As compensation lawyers, we see first-hand the devastating effect motor vehicle accidents have on individuals and their loved ones. We work with our clients to help them rebuild their lives and gain all the rehabilitation and support they need to put their lives back on track and return to something that closely resembles the life they enjoyed before their accident.
I have represented numerous surviving victims of road accidents and the loved ones of people who’ve died needlessly in road accidents because of a speeding driver or reckless motorist. Every client has had their lives completely disrupted because of the fault of another driver, be it a momentary lapse of attention, speeding or fatigue.
If you are involved in a serious crash and are not at fault, Queensland has a compensation scheme available. Here are three ways a lawyer can help you navigate this process:
1. They will do the legwork
Gathering evidence of losses – both financial and non-financial – is crucial. A lawyer knows exactly what this might include, from medical bills to vehicle repair costs, lost wages to future therapy and medical expenses. Pain and suffering is also taken into account when lodging a compensation claim.
2. They’ll negotiate the best possible settlement
Once evidence is gathered, a lawyer will negotiate terms of a settlement with the CTP insurer of the motor vehicle at fault. I have many years of experience in this, and I can respond effectively to all the strategies insurance companies use to avoid maximum compensation. We also know how to proceed if the driver of the car at fault was uninsured and unregistered – or even if the other driver is unknown.
3. They ease mental stress
When you are involved in a serious car accident, it can be very overwhelming and your priority must be your health, both physical and mental. By handing the compensation negotiation over to a professional, you can let go of the burden and stresses associated with the process. It’s a huge undertaking to try to go it alone.
If you’d like to find out more, or to discuss whether a potential claim is worth pursuing, get in touch with our team for a no obligation, free consultation. https://www.schultzlaw.com.au/contact/
As published in Tropic Now.
Partner & Cairns Leader
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