My Fight for Fairness: A Broken Truck and a Tough System

You Tube @ Life In The Hard Lane

Let Me Paint You a Picture

Two years ago, my truck—once proud enough to win Count’s Kustoms’ “Show Us Your Ride”—was damaged in an engine fire. But this wasn’t just any vehicle.

This was my family truck, a 1940 Custom Pickup that I’d helped rebuild since I was 14. It held years of love, effort, and memories. When the fire happened in 2022, I filed an insurance claim, trusting the system would make it right.

But it didn’t.

The repairs were a disaster. The truck broke down repeatedly, and later assessments uncovered serious faults: cracked cylinder heads, faulty wiring, and clear signs that the original damage had never been fully repaired. Today, it sits in pieces in my garage—a constant reminder of a fight that’s still unresolved.

I followed the complaint process laid out by my insurer. I turned to the advised dispute resolution service, hoping for accountability. But after months of delays, back-and-forth, and shifting explanations, I was told my only option was to take it to court.

So I did.

With no money for a lawyer and no help from legal aid beyond vague advice, I walked into a Queensland Magistrates Court representing myself. It was daunting. I faced two seasoned legal teams who knew the system like a second language.

I hoped for fairness. I got dismissed on a technicality—because I’d filed “too early.” Not because I was wrong, not because the damage wasn’t real, but because I didn’t know a hidden rule that no one tells you unless you pay thousands to find out.

The court awarded costs against me. I left that day feeling like the legal system isn’t built for people at all—it’s built for... well I am sure you can answer that.

And the worst part? This happens every day to everyday people—the same people insurers claim to protect.

This isn’t just about a truck.

It’s about what happens when you try to do the right thing and get punished anyway. It’s about how hard it is to fight for justice when you're priced out of it.

Legal aid barely scratches the surface. Private lawyers quoted me over $3,000 just to start. The process is full of traps—confusing, exhausting, and stacked against the vulnerable.

So now, I’m sharing my story.

I'm not doing this for pity—I'm doing it for awareness, connection, and change. I know I’m getting annihilated in the process—but I’m bringing it into the public eye, step by step, on my YouTube channel.

You’ll see what it really looks like when you take on insurance companies and courtroom systems without backup. The tactics, the gaps, the sidelining responsibility and the real truths.

If you’ve ever felt silenced, shut down, or dismissed by a system that claims to serve you—

You’re not alone.

Let’s talk about it. Let’s expose it. And maybe—just maybe—we’ll find a better way through it. Together.

If my perspective resonates with you or you have a story to share, I’d love to hear from you. Visit my YouTube channel @Life In The Hard Lane or reach out via the contact page.

Erika B Armstrong