Gold Coast motorbike rider Joel Burum-Mikelat sues over Oxenford crash

Half of road users have reported a disturbing increase in an alarming driving habit - a Gold Coast motorbike rider claims it changed his life. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES

A motorbike rider who suffered a cut testicle and a mangled ankle in a crash with an SUV is suing the other driver, claiming they failed to give way because of distraction.

It comes after new research revealed half of road users had reported increased risk-taking behaviours and distraction on the roads since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joel Burum-Mikelat claims an SUV ploughed into him and his girlfriend while they were riding a motorbike along an Oxenford road earlier this year.

The 32-year-old believes he is lucky to be alive, escaping with a broken, dislocated ankle and a severed ligament requiring surgery.

He suffered a cut to his testicle from the bike tank.

The concreter has been unable to return to work months after the crash.

Joel Burum-Mikelat's injured ankle.

“I can’t remember much about the collision other than waking up on the ground,” Mr Burum-Mikelat said.

“I haven’t been able to do boxing, basketball or run and I’m still in quite a bit of pain.

“It’s been tough having no income and I’m starting to really struggle financially.”

Slater and Gordon Southport lawyer Roberto Chata is representing Mr Burum-Mikelat in motor vehicle accident claims against the other driver’s insurer.

“Crashes can happen in the blink of an eye and can be life-changing. Not just for those involved but for their family and friends too,” Mr Chata said.

Joel Burum-Mikelat

Forty six per cent of Australians have reported an increase in distracted driving on the roads since the post-pandemic return to work.

This was according to a Roy Morgan survey of more than 1000 people, conducted by Slater and Gordon.

The state government has flagged driver distraction as a growing contributor to the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads.

Each year, an average of 29 people are killed and 1284 are seriously injured on Queensland roads as a result of crashes where driver distraction was involved.

Road Accident Action Group life member Graeme Ransley said modern cars with “in-built distractions” such as touch screens were adding to the problem.

More people are reporting driver distraction on the roads.

Mr Ransley said tougher laws were needed to manage the safe use of new car technology - something which state and territory governments are investigating.

“The car manufacturers are not actually being pushed hard enough by governments to implement those (safer) systems,” he said.

“People are not managing the distractions. They know the distractions are there, but in some ways, people are not capable of managing themselves.”

Mr Ransley said personal responsibility also needed to be reinforced in children through the use of school education programs.