A series of disastrous decisions left a loving father in shambles through no fault of his own.
Tim Stannage’s life changed forever the day a drunk driver crashed into his vehicle on an otherwise perfect day.
The crash left him with devastating back injuries, shattering his T1 at the top of his vertebrae and T2 at the bottom.
Mr Stannage, who owned and operated his own outdoor sun blinds business, was back at work in Melbourne’s south-east after carrying out an installation when his vehicle was hit out of the blue in Frankston.
‘The weather was fine, no strong winds, rain or abnormal conditions. I stopped at the lights at Evans Rd where it crosses the Frankston – Cranbourne Road heading towards Frankston,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The lights changed and I was accelerating towards the entrance to Ranfurlie Golf Club when out of nowhere a silver car came out of the side from the left and drove straight towards me.
‘It all happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to brake. I was rushed to Alfred Hospital and spent the next three days immobilized, not knowing what the outcome would be.”
Tim Stannage was seriously injured when an alcoholic driver crashed into his car
Mr Stannage said the crash should never have happened.
“The driver’s partner was overheard by my son saying he knew his partner was an alcoholic,” he said.
“If that was the case, why did he let her get into a car in the first place? Surely we as partners have a duty of care not to let our loved ones drive, regardless of how much they have drunk.’
Mr Stannage, not a drinker himself, said anyone on the road today should have a clear understanding of the dangers of drink driving.
‘You know by now from the amount of TV advertising on this subject that drink driving simply does not go together and that the domino effect is not only with you and your family, but also with families like mine who innocently managed our affairs and did not have life-changing long-term implications,” he said.
Mr Stannage’s health and ability to earn a living have been seriously affected by the crash.
“I run my own business and that has a significant effect not only on myself but also on the business,” he said.
‘I am the person who generates the leads, makes the quotes, visits customers and assists with heavy multi-person installations such as awnings and outdoor sun blinds, which are quite heavy.’
Tim Stannage’s back was broken when a drink driver crashed into his work van
The crash destroyed his work truck and left him with life-changing injuries
Mr Stannage now has to replace his work van, which was completely destroyed in the crash.
“While the insurance will cover the current value, it will not cover the significant gap of purchasing a comparable vehicle plus paying for writing the signs and furnishing the van,” he said.
‘Workcover will come into effect at some point, but my company needs to fund my wages plus a replacement to fill my role, at a time when this is our busiest period and we need to generate turnover and profit to see us through the quiet period help periods.
“This accident will now put pressure on the company well into 2025.”
Mr Stannage had been an extremely active person before the crash and drove in between 250 km and 350 km per week in preparation for major events he had planned for October and November.
“They’ve all been paid, but I can’t be there anymore,” he said.
The incident has further caused devastating anxiety attacks, which he struggles to cope with.
‘I am concerned not only about the long-term impact of my injuries, but also about how I can keep the business running and manage the impact of the sales slowdown and the subsequent impact of declining corporate profits, and how these have had consequences. are putting the company at risk,” he said.
Mr Stannage’s brother came over from France expecting to spend some quality time with him over a six-week period.
‘The plan was to do things together. “He has had to become my caregiver for the first two weeks, it has ruined his vacation plans and he wants to return home earlier than planned,” he said.
Tim Stannage was in training for a series of cycling events when his life turned upside down
Tim Stannage’s back was broken in the crash, bringing his days of hitching children to a sad end
As the days pass, Mr. Stannage ponders a very uncertain future.
“I’m concerned about the long-term effects of my injury as I get older, how things like arthritis might affect me, as well as mental issues,” he said.
Arnold Thomas & Becker lawyer Stuart Coutts, who is representing Mr Stannage in his WorkCover and Transport Accident Commission claims, said legal action will never fully compensate for what his client has lost.
“Tim’s injuries are significant and at this time we know they will continue to be life-changing. “This is due to the actions of someone who decided to get behind the wheel in a seriously intoxicated state,” he said.
‘Tim is lucky to be alive, but now has to live with the consequences of this person’s actions forever.
‘Along with the physical injuries, Tim suffers mental trauma from the accident, which will likely affect him for years to come. Pursuing legal action and compensation cannot undo the pain and suffering Tim now faces. However, we hope that Tim can find closure in his quest for justice, while at the same time sending a strong message that drunk driving is not okay and should not be tolerated.”
