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Mr. Knight claimed the animal appeared in front of his vehicle and that the collision was unavoidable.

But Garnet Thomas, a driver travelling south, testified he saw the moose on his side of the road and slowed down. He said Mr. Knight’s vehicle passed his without slowing and that he heard the sounds of the collision and saw the moose flying through the air, in his rear-view mirror.

The judge found that had he been keeping a proper lookout, Mr. Knight would have seen the moose at the shoulder of the highway.

He also said Mr. Knight should have braked when he saw the headlights of Mr. Thomas’s vehicle blacked out briefly, since a reasonable driver would have thought there was a “material risk,” that it was an animal standing in the headlights.

The judge noted Carolee Knight’s injuries were “devastating” and that the mother of three had “lost control of her life.”

The fact that she is aware of her limitations makes her loss even more profound

She suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that has permanently affected her cognitive abilities, memory, ability to read and her employability as a teacher.

“In my view, the fact that she is aware of her limitations makes her loss even more profound,” said the judge.

The judge noted her husband admitted he took none of the precautions that might have avoided the accident, and said he was aware he must be cautious in his ruling given the fact the wife was the plaintiff and therefore he stood to benefit from an award in her favour.

But he said he didn’t believe the husband was trying to deceive him.

Carolee Knight was awarded $1.4-million for cost of care, $1,350,000 for loss of earning capacity, $350,000 for pain and suffering, $40,000 for past care and $25,000 for loss of housekeeping.

The award will be paid out by the husband’s insurance company.