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A woman who barely survived two serious car crashes is fighting to ensure victims like her are not left to cope with the trauma on their own.
Sarah Wright has won the support of a Government minister in her call for a review of ACC legislation to consider
coverage for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder like her.
After having to fund her own difficult recovery from the trauma of the accidents, Mrs Wright, 26, from Christchurch, has researched the contentious area of ACC coverage and estimates more than 2000 people may be ineligible like her.
"A lot of people have pushed and pushed but they have finally given up. I'm the kind of person that sees a fault and wants to fix it, and I won't give up."
Mrs Wright's local MP, Lianne Dalziel, a former Acting ACC Minister, backed her efforts in a letter to ACC Minister Maryan Street.
"I agree that this should be reviewed," Ms Dalziel wrote.
Mrs Wright was involved in the two car accidents within a nine-month period about six years ago.
In the first, her car slid on black ice and spun repeatedly before smashing into a parked car. In the second, she was lucky to survive when another vehicle failed to give way at an intersection and ploughed into her.
In the months afterwards, Mrs Wright began suffering severe stress and would get upset easily.
She quit her work, and without the 80 per cent of earnings paid by ACC, she was forced to spend her own savings on counselling and the cost of living.
ACC provides cover for some mental traumas that are the result of physical injury, or if the trauma results from sexual abuse or assault.
From next month, it will include cover for people who witness a traumatic event at work.
"There are no plans to extend mental injury cover further at this point," Ms Street said.
"A further change such as providing compensation for witnesses traumatised by any accident would be very expensive and would result in an increase in ACC levies."
Mrs Wright is planning her own advocacy group and trust fund to support people in her situation.
