Brisbane cyclist wins $675k after fence spike destroyed his eye
A Brisbane man won $675,926 after the Court of Appeal found the council negligent. A barricade caused him to go blind.
A Brisbane cyclist won $675,926 after the Court of Appeal found Brisbane City Council negligent. Victor George Dennison was 64 when he hit a mesh barricade on Zillmere Road in Aspley in December 2009 and fell onto the metal stake holding it up.
The spike destroyed his left eye and caused a brain injury. The council put the barricade there the day before to protect fresh concrete.
But it did not put up warning signs or reflective lights. It did not show an alternate path.
An earlier court ruled in the council's favour. But three Court of Appeal judges overturned that choice.
The council had not met its duty to keep the public safe. The judge said the council should have used reflective warning signs.
The court told the council to pay Dennison the damages, interest, and court costs.
- 64
- Dennison's age at incident
- $675,926
- Compensation awarded
- December 2009
- Incident date
Why it mattersThe ruling shows councils must put up warning signs and lights around temporary roadworks. This helps protect cyclists and pedestrians.
AustraliaAustralian local councils may need to review temporary barrier safety practices to ensure warning signs and lighting meet the liability standards now set by Queensland courts.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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