ACC has backed down, admitting it failed an Alexandra man, whose left leg was amputated in 2021 following complications arising from a car crash in 1983, and agreeing to pay his family the full compensation he was entitled.
Alan Keith Nicholl - who was known to his friends and family as Keith - died in August 2022 aged 75 after suffering serious health issues in his later life due to the ongoing effects of the crash.
ACC was assessing Keith for coverage of his injuries at the time of his death, but when he died it told the family he was not covered and, as a result, not entitled to the tens of thousands of dollars of compensation he should have received.
The family fought ACC over its decision, even turning to the assistance of an advocate.
But ACC initially refused to revisit its decisions and only this year apologised to the family for its mistakes, and agreed to a $22,324 payment outside of the scope of statutory entitlements - the amount Keith should have received while alive for the loss of his leg - as well as a $5000 additional payment to recognise the family's extra effort in bringing the matter to a close.
Keith's family were relieved ACC had finally done what it should have done all along, but wanted to make sure no one else went through what they did.
Keith's daughter Karen Sinclair said she was ecstatic ACC had finally backed down.
"I'm over the moon that they've finally been held responsible," she said.
"It's all behind us, we can close it off," Keith's widow Ann Nicholl told RNZ.
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