Fight for rights to care
Melissa Merrett
13Nov07
THE road to recovery from a horrific car accident is being hindered by battles with Traffic Accident Commission red tape, an Epping man says.
Hazem Al Tamimi, 39, and his wife Zaynab Al Maousawi, 32, were injured in a collision with a taxi on Christmas Day last year.
Mr Al Tamimi sustained shoulder injuries while his wife received neck, lower back, knee and ankle injuries.
Although the TAC contributed to treatment and home-help services, Mr Al Tamimi said TAC's level of care and respect for their situation was unacceptable.
He said his family was under constant stress from delays, a lack of home-help visits and confusion about treatment.
``I have lost track of how many different case managers I have spoken to since the accident,'' he said.
``Our life has been on hold because of this.''
Mr Al Tamimi said the TAC was unsympathetic to people's cultural and language barriers.
``I can't imagine what it is like for people with non-English speaking backgrounds having to deal with the TAC. They have no rights,'' he said.
``An example of the problem was when we asked for a female home-care worker (for religious reasons) and last Friday. When the worker arrived it was a gentleman.
``Things like this have been going on the whole time.''
Mr Al Tamimi's lawyer, senior associate with law firm Slater and Gordon Joanne Panagakis, said trying to deal with the TAC was frustrating and complicated.
``Clients do have disappointing and frustrating experiences with the TAC in terms of accessing their entitlements,'' Ms Panagakis said.
``The level of service varies among clients.''
TAC spokeswoman Lauren Treacy said the commission had funded and followed all medical advice concerning the family's injuries.
``The family has been receiving entitlements since the accident,'' she said.
``We have always done our utmost to help Mrs Al return to her household duties from before the accident.
``We have agreed to fund four hours of home help a week and helped purchase several household aids.''
