Lessons learned from the Sydney tragedy

Like any parent or grandparent, the enormity of the loss that the family in Sydney are feeling over the loss of 4 children is difficult to comprehend. It is something that you would not wish on your worst enemy.

It is alleged that the driver involved was over the legal limit and is experiencing remorse at the result of his actions. I am sure that like me you are not surprised at this.

In his aptly name book The Merchant of Death, 2002, [Simon & Schuster, New York], D. J. McHale wrote:

Whenever you look back and say “if [only]” you know you’re in trouble. There is no such thing as “if”. The only thing that matters is what really happened.”

Being the optimist that I am, I hope that some good comes of this tragedy and that people who are considering that they can drive after consuming alcohol, taking drugs or feel the need to text while driving, just think how they felt when they heard of this tragedy and put themselves in the shoes of that driver and ask before it happens “what if”.

Clearly the decision to drive the car in the state he was in has forever changed the lives of not only the victims lives and their families but his own and his family, current and potentially future.

From an insurance perspective, if the alleged charges are confirmed, he will not have the benefit of any motor vehicle insurance and he will be held liable for any payments made by the compulsory third party insurer. It would clearly be against the public’s interest for insurers to be required to meet claims as a result of illegal activities.

My heart goes out to the families of the four children that perished unnecessarily at the hands of someone who ought not to have been on our roads and that the other children injured make a speedy and full recovery.

Our thanks go to the emergency and hospital staff who have had to deal with the consequences of this event.