Chevonne Day: Equestrian star, Mache Pets owner suing for $500K
A teen equestrian star and trainer with her own line of organic pet care products has lodged a hefty personal injury claim in court following a car crash.
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An equestrian prodigy and Instagram influencer from the Gold Coast who has travelled the world winning awards for her horsemanship and also founded her own line of organic vegan pet care products has lodged a personal injury claim for $500,000 in court.
Lawyers for Wongawallan woman Chevonne Day, 19, say she has been left with “permanent impairment” following a car crash on December 16, 2017, in which she was a passenger.
The claim is against the driver of the vehicle.
According to documents filed in the Brisbane Supreme Court, Ms Day was in a Subaru Impreza travelling west on Thomas Dr, Surfers Paradise when the driver inexplicably crossed into the eastbound lanes about 1.45pm.
The driver the overcorrected in an attempt to regain control, causing the Subaru to collide with a parked vehicle.
According to the statement of claim, the crash was caused by the driver’s negligence in driving with “excessive speed, without due care and attention, and with a failure to exercise proper control of the vehicle”.
The statement goes on to say the driver of the vehicle admitted liability for the accident on August 21, 2019.
He was convicted in Southport Magistrates Court on September 11, 2019, of dangerous operation of a vehicle and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, with immediate court-ordered parole.
He was also disqualified from driving for nine months.
Ms Day claims she suffered chronic soft tissue injuries to her left ankle and foot, injuries to her cervical and thoracolumbar spine, a periorbital fracture to her right eye socket, resulting in impaired vision, and PTSD.
As a result of these injuries, she claims she is “permanently impaired” and has a diminished capacity to earn in future.
She is also claiming damages for “pain, inconvenience and discomfort”; treatment by general practitioners, physiotherapists and chiropractors; appointments with psychologists; and the restriction she now has in her left leg and spine.
In all, she is seeking about $470,000 in damages plus compensation for future superannuation, understood to push the final offer well above $500,000, although the exact amount claimed is contained within a sealed envelope and not publicly accessible.
Ms Day is one of the rising stars of the equestrian scene, having competed since the age of eight.
In addition to her feats on horseback, where she has competed extensively in the United States, winning a slew of awards at the 2018 EMO Western States Championship and 2019 AQHYA Youth World Championship Show, Ms Day also trains horses under the moniker Amarillo Park Performance Horses at her family’s property, and has parlayed her success on the field into a line of organic vegan pet care products for dogs and horses, Mache Pets.
She boasts thousands of followers on Instagram, where she posts glamorous photos of her reclining on utes bearing personalised plates in her name; riding jet skis; and toting shopping bags stuffed full of designer clothing.
Lawyers on behalf of the respondent are yet to file a defence.
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