Many of you would have read the article in the Weekend Australian dated 7-8 July 2007 entitled “Passenger in Minor Prang Wins $1.1 Million”.

This article described a woman who was involved in a minor motor vehicle accident in Canberra and reported no damage to her vehicle. However, she was compensated more than $1.1 million for her injuries from the motor vehicle accident which occurred on 4 May 2000.

The court was told that the plaintiff was a passenger in a stationary vehicle driven by her husband when she leaned forward and felt a jolt. She indicated that it wasn’t until a few minutes afterwards that she became aware that her neck was hurting, she began experiencing headaches, numbness around her mouth and tip of her tongue. Apparently, the impact was so minor that until her husband informed her that their car had been hit, she had not been aware of what happened.

Her symptoms continued to worsen, resulting in her quitting her job in the State Department. She also suffered from burning pain in her arm, depression and inability to concentrate. She is currently 44 years of age and although her condition may improve, it may be likely that she may not be able to return to her full time employment for some time to come.

Each individual’s circumstances are different and each individual is affected in a different way. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, sustained an injury at work or in a public place, you may be entitled to be compensated for your injuries.