Tarres v Rozelle Carriers Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1410

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tarres v Rozelle Carriers Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1410 Hearing dates: 14/03/2011, 15/03/2011, 16/03/2011, 17/03/2011,18/03/2011 Decision date: 25 November 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Garling J Decision: (1) Judgment for plaintiff in a sum to be calculated. (2) Parties to bring in short minutes of order. (3) Proceedings adjourned to 9.30am Friday 9 December 2011, for argument and final orders. Catchwords: TORTS - NEGLIGENCE - Motor vehicle accident - Truck collides with bridge superstructure - Truck driver's lap-only seatbelt did not lock during collision - Serious neck injury sustained - Breach of duty for failure to replace faulty seatbelt - Defendants had knowledge of fault - Failure to provide lap-sash seatbelt not breach of duty - Operational seatbelt would have prevented injuries

TORTS - CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE - Truck collides bridge superstructure - Motor Accidents Act 1988 s 74(2) does not apply - Plaintiff knew height of bridge - Plaintiff did not measure height of container on truck - Plaintiff did not know extent of truck's weight change after unloading container's contents - Plaintiff relied on signal from oncoming motorist to assess if truck would fit under bridge - Plaintiff did not take available alternative path - Thirty-five percent apportionment just and equitable

DAMAGES - Motor vehicle accident - Serious cervical spinal injury requiring surgical decompression and fusion - Greater than ten per cent whole body impairment - Plaintiff overstating extent of pain and disability - Mobile with difficulty on occasions - No longer able to drive heavy motor vehicles - Twenty per cent residual earning capacity - Future economic loss reduced for vicissitudes of life - Future treatment expenses adjusted for reduced necessity of psychological care - No issue of principle Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 Motor Accidents Act 1988 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Barnes v Hay (1988) 12 NSWLR 337 Council of the Shire of Wyong v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Fox v Wood [1981] HCA 41; (1981) 148 CLR 438 Hodgson v Crane [2002] NSWCA 276; (2002) 55 NSWLR 199 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; (2003) 214 CLR 552 Kallouf v Middis [2008] NSWCA 61 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal [2008] HCA 19 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council [2005] HCA 4; (2005) 220 CLR 517 Category: Principal judgment Parties: William Tarres (P) Rozelle Carriers Pty Ltd (D1) Hobbs Bros (Carriers) Pty Ltd (D2) Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (D3) Representation: L King SC, A McSpedden (P) J Gracie (D1-D2 on 14.03.11) K Rewell SC, G Smith (D1-2 on 15.03.11 – 18.03.11; D3) Napier Keen (P) Riley Gray-Spencer Lawyers (D1-D2) TLlawyers (D3) File Number(s): SC 2009/332335 Publication restriction: Nil