Limb loss and ACC help?

[McDuck]

Hi recently my mate got t-boned at an intersection and as a result has lost his right leg below the knee. (he wasnt doing anything wrong BTW) Anyway the other party have admitted all fault and he would like to know what he should be getting from ACC etc and also what others have gotten.



Thanks
Donald

[YellowDog]

Hey that's really bad news.

The ACC website is a good place to start but there are lots of specialist claims management firms around.

The comment I heard from a friend who lost a finger is that unfortunately the ACC compensation amounts are fixed and surprisingly low (obviously higher for a leg than for a finger).

I suspect they will help with the recovery process and also in the fitting of an artificial replacement.

Hope he is coping OK with this terrible trauma.

[riffer]

ACClaim are an advocacy group for ACC Claimants. I know of two chapters - Waikato and Otago who have websites. There may be more.

They can definitely help you. Try here for the Otago Group - http://www.acclaimotago.org/

and here for the Waikato Group - http://www.acclaim-waikato.org/

I understand they're a bit out of your area but the Waikato group is your best bet.

Good luck.

[onearmedbandit]

From my own experience definitely contact an advocacy group or a lawyer who specialises in ACC law. They will NOT inform your friend of everything available to help them. It took legal action (or the threat thereof) to get my independence allowance, something I was supposed to automatically receive (despite only having the loss of one limb my condition means I have a 60% disability) and is worth a significant amount of money. My ACC claim manager suggested to me that I was 'milking the system' with my injury. After discussing this with my doctor he found out that she was like this with most of her clients. She doesn't work for ACC any longer.

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.acclaw.co.nz/

Andrew is one of the top ACC lawyers in the country, no shit. He is who I would use if I had an issue with ACC (touch wood, not been necessary).

But your mate needs to (unfortunately) engage with the bureaucracy, and fight for his right to paaaaaaarty. The "System" is there to frustrate and limit claims and entitlements, NOT to help sufferers of injury. Sad but true, so buckle up, dig in, and be prepared to fight for what should be yours by right. Sad but true, and a LONG way from the Woodhouse vision.

[mashman]

Ask for the same representative of that Burton character... your mate should at least get the same as that fuckin nutta (minus the jail bit).

Hope he heels well and gets a new leg soon.

[robinm]

I know where you are coming from, same thing happened to me 4 months ago, although I did not lose my leg, apparently close to losing it but they managed to save it. as well as ACC, get involved with the prosecution of the cage driver, talk to the Police officer in charge of the case, victim support will probably contact you as well, as well as somebody from the dept of corrections. Go for reparation, hey the guys got to pay out something, either a fine into the bottomless govt coffers, or reparation to the victim, the judge can and will order him to pay reparation if he has the ability to pay, but you must ask for it, the corrections dept will ask for it on your behalf. Your bike insurance company will also try and get an order for reparation at the court hearing, but your one takes precedence over theirs. So go for it, no amount of money can replace your lower leg, but every bit helps.

[McDuck]

Thanks Guys, i will show him (and try to get him to post) this thread.


Keep it coming guys!

Thanks
Donald

[McDuck]

Bump? <jgvhj>

[breakaway]

As a matter of curiocity, what happens to the other party?

[McDuck]

I think being charged with careless use causing? The intersection where it happened is a very poorly designed one....

[McDuck]

Anything else worth adding?

[madmal64]

Get hold of craneman here on KB. He has been down the same road as your mate and knows the system very well. He is happy with the outcome overall ACC wise so would be worth a contact.