Nicola Thompson, Sunshine Coast Lawyer with leading local law firm Slater and Gordon in Birtinya, has attained an outstanding win in the High Court of Australia after a long legal battle that featured compound legal matters.
The case involved a Taiwanese family visiting North Stradbroke Island in Queensland 2013 for a well-earned holiday. Whilst driving on the beach their vehicle collided with an approaching car. Mr Lee is now living with permanent disabilities because of the accident.
In 2017 the Supreme Court of Queensland ruled that dna evidence from the driver’s airbag proved that at the time of the accident, Mason (who was 17 years old) was the driver of the vehicle. Mr Lee appealed this decision and lost. Slater and Gordon Sunshine Coast Lawyer Nicola Thompson was then granted permission to appeal in the High Court of Australia.
The High Court ruled that Mason Lee was a passenger in the back of the vehicle at the time of the accident and that his father was the driver of the car. This decision was based on evidence showing that Mason’s blood transferred to the driver’s side airbag when his father supported his son’s injured face.
Mr Lee was granted damages of $ 3,350,000 for rehabilitation costs, future expenses and loss of earning potential. His legal costs will be paid by RACQ, who contested the claim.
Nicola Thompson who is a leading Sunshine Coast solicitor was pleased to have the opportunity to offer informed legal advice to the family and was elated at the win. All parties were please that the long legal battle was at an end.
“Mason can now move on with his life and access the car and support he will need for the rest of his life” The family can be confident of providing the necessary level of care for Mason to have a rewarding life in the future.
The legal outcome is doubly rewarding as had the appeal not been successful, the family could have been charged with fraud by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission. Car Accident Lawyers