12-year-old car crash victim takes on NRMA

Troy Smith and his son Layton have delivered a petition of more 40,000 signatures to NRMA in Sydney, seeking funding for lifelong medical care.

The father of a 12-year-old boy with permanent brain damage says a step has been taken in the right direction in the family's fight for NRMA Insurance to continue paying its medical bills.

Layton Smith and his father delivered a petition of more than 40,000 signatures to NRMA in Sydney on Thursday.

The boy suffered permanent brain damage in a serious car crash on the Great Western Highway in Sydney a decade ago.

NRMA had provided medical and rehabilitation support to Layton up until the Smith family lost a recent court case where they asked the insurer to continue paying for his lifelong care.

NRMA says it will continue to provide Layton and his family with financial support while he is evaluated for entry to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Troy Smith said his meeting with NRMA parent company Insurance Australia Group (IAG) was promising.

"I am very happy to see that an extra step has been taken in a positive way," he told AAP.

"It was really good to sit down and chat to them (NRMA) to get some closure in a way we have never had before."

IAG executive general manager Cheryl Chantry remained tight-lipped about whether the company would provide future funding for Layton's medical bills.

"We are looking to get a better understanding around what support we can apply to Troy and Layton to help facilitate the long-term care that Layton needs," Ms Chantry said.

"We are looking to understand what more we can do to support the transition for them to the NDIS."

By claiming the case was a "blameless accident", the NRMA avoided paying Layton's medical costs, the change.org petition said.

Mr Smith said the insurance company paid out in the identical and well-known case of Sophie Delezeo - who was trapped under a burning car in a Sydney childcare centre in 2003 - an incident also under the blameless accident legislation.

"The Delezeo family have gone through exactly the same things as we have," Mr Smith said.

The NDIS will become available in the Smith's local area from next week.


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Source: AAP


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