Motorcyclist In A Spin Over Lengthy Insurance Delays
Newcastle Herald
Monday January 31, 2000
WHEN Andrew McGarity of Edgeworth was involved in a motorbike accident more than two years ago, he thought that recovering from injury would be his biggest concern.
Cleared of blame in the accident, Mr McGarity assumed that the compulsory third party insurer of the driver at fault would cover his medical expenses.
But the 30-year-old is several thousand dollars out of pocket while he waits for the matter to be settled.
Because the insurer NRMA has contested his injuries, the matter is headed for determination in court in September.
Mr McGarity is on a disability support pension and struggles to walk because of back, leg and arm fractures he suffered in the accident.
He has had to sell personal belongings to make ends meet.
`I just think the way that I have been treated throughout this is wrong,' he said.
`I have been treated like the guilty party in this. Because they have contested my injuries, I have had to go to one doctor after another.
`My motorbike and the car that hit me were both written off. Trying to get justice has been a nightmare of delay after delay.'
A spokesman for the Motor Accidents Authority said he was concerned at the time taken to settle the matter. Changes in greenslip legislation had been made last October to prevent such delays.
The spokesman said the authority would investigate Mr McGarity's case, which was not covered by the new legislation, if he asked them to do so.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald
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