Head-on accident changed life forever
ST LEONARD’S man Peter Ratcliffe was 19 years old when a car crash irreversibly changed his life.
The former roof tiler was travelling along the GeelongBacchus Marsh Rd near Annakie when he crashed head-on with another driver.
Mr Ratcliffe, who was not at fault, was given three blood transfusions while emergency services worked for 90 minutes to free him. He suffered several broken bones and a severed major artery in his right leg.
He was in a coma for a number of days and intensive care for two weeks. His rehabilitation has included hours of physiotherapy and countless operations.
He is one of the thousands of Victorians impacted by road trauma each year.
“It’s been a long road, it hasn’t been easy. It impacts me daily and it even impacts my family,” Mr Ratcliffe said.
“I never really thought about being involved in a crash beforehand. I never thought it would happen to me.”
The Transport Accident Commission client said he could not have gotten to where he is today without the insurance body.
And he has issued a warning to all drivers.
“If you’re tired, if you’re drowsy, if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol, don’t get behind the wheel,” he said.
Shine lawyers’ Geelong senior solicitor Laura Paterson said Mr Ratcliffe’s case showed first-hand the devastating impact road trauma has on victims and their families.
“He is a young man who was in the prime of his life at the time of his accident. He still has a long road ahead of him in terms of his recovery and his employment prospects are now likely to be limited because of the gravity of his injuries,” Ms Paterson said.