A cyclist who was paralysed when a distracted driver hit him while reaching for her ringing mobile phone says his life has "irreversibly changed forever".
Katherine Roche was trying to put the phone on speaker and her children were in the car when she hit Graham Walters at Burpengary in August 2016.
The mother was today given a wholly suspended two-and-half-year sentence for dangerous driving and was also disqualified from getting behind the wheel for two years.
Mr Walters, who now uses a wheelchair, read an emotional victim impact statement to the District Court in Brisbane and said his life was so much harder than it needed to be.
"My injuries are taking a toll on me and my family and they are lifelong, mind numbing and all-consuming," he said.
"It's the simple things in my life that I miss the most.
"Like holding my wife's hand when we go for a walk.
"Now she either helps push the wheelchair or both of my hands are used to push the wheels around.
"I miss walking our dogs. I miss swimming in our pool. I miss a full body hug.
"I miss helping with the groceries. I miss hanging out the washing.
"I miss standing and riding my bike. I miss being fully independent. I miss me."
Mr Walters said he accepted the sentence imposed by the court and wants to be the face of a campaign against the use of mobile phones while driving.
"We all hear about those people who are killed but we never hear about those people who are still left like myself," he said.
"It's a struggle every day."
