By Mitchell Clarke
A Garfield man is warning dirt bike riders to take care, speaking out after a harrowing experience where he was forced off the road by a four-wheel drive and left with severe injuries.
Back in 2015, Greg Born was thrown off his motorbike and into a ditch after a four-wheel drive travelling in the opposite direction ran him off the road at Merrimans Creek.
That vehicle didn’t stop and Greg hasn’t been the same since.
“The car forced me off the road and kept going,” he said.
“I was out scouting for firewood with my mates who were in a four-wheel drive a fair way back behind me.
“I was coming into a right-hand bend when a car came towards me sliding sideways and caused me to swerve.”
He doesn’t remember much after that but thankfully he had his mates around to help.
“My mates said the car went past them like crazy as well.
“They found me, threw me in their car and got me back to camp before I was taken to hospital,” Mr Born explained.
He had a broken clavicle with several broken ribs on the left side, extensive bruising over his chest as well as a torn shoulder and fractured toes of his right foot.
Concerning statistics indicate that Greg’s encounter isn’t exactly rare, with 26 motorcycle crashes occurring in La Trobe from February 2018 to February 2019, which resulted in riders being hospitalised.
While those responsible for this particular incident haven’t been held to account, Greg is urging all motorists to simply take care on the roads.
“The moral of the bloody story is to just be careful out there because you never know what is around the bend,” he said.
“My life hasn’t been the same since. Just slow down because if you kill somebody and get caught, it’s going to change your lives as well.”
Riding had always been a passion for Greg but ever since the incident, he’s barely touched his bike.
“I’ve been trying to keep my life together. Nothing has been the same since that accident,” he said.
“Even my role at work in the drilling industry is different, it’s now more supervision than the physical tasks which I can’t do anymore.”
Slater and Gordon senior associate Ahmed Pervaz said motorbike riders generally have a much harder time on the roads.
“Injuries like the ones Greg experienced are life changing and often set a person’s entire life on a different course,” Mr Pervaz said.
“It doesn’t matter if you have been hit and you don’t know who the other driver is, you can still make a claim with the TAC. You can seek independent legal advice so you know where you stand and what your rights are.”
Mr Born is hoping no one has to go through what he did following the accident.
“The psychological side of an injury, especially when you can’t work and money is an issue, can be really hard.”
To be eligible for compensation following a motorbike accident, you must submit your claim within 12 months from the date of the accident.
