Malki
Oct 22nd, 2005, 10:26 am
Hi guys
Just a warning tale about insurance and other such cover when touring abroad.
I had a little mishap when touring in Holland recently, took my eye off the road for about 3 seconds to check the GPS and never noticed my mate on his bike stopped at flashing amber light in front of me, hit him square on at about 30mph.
Both went tumbling down the road. Luckily this happened right outside the fire station and they assisted right away.
I had a shoulder injury and an ambulance was called, but they declined to attend because we were both on our feet. A kind lady driver took me to hospital where I was treated for a broken collar bone and broken ribs and a damaged hip.
The FJR was looked after by the fire service and they stored it until it was recovered to the UK.
The hospital were not going to entertain me without an insurance policy or an E111, luckily I managed to get the E111 out my top box before being taken to Hospital, so might be worth keeping it in an inside jacket pocket when touring. I could not walk after the accident, and after treatment was wheeled out into the hospital car park and left to fend for myself!! My mates were there, but not much they could do to assist at that time. I was in a wheelchair I was not allowed to keep and not given a crutch, I was in a bit of a pickle.
A local taxi driver asked if he could assist, he took me to an hotel where I checked in with help from my mates and started calling insurance companies etc. Mates dilemma was if they stayed they missed their ferry. So, long story cut short, I chased them on their way thinking the insurance Co. would have me out of there in about 24 hours. Not the case.
After numerous phone calls and faxing of hospital reports to them, the claims company reckoned I was not covered because of my "dangerous" activity of motorcycling. I assured them that I had checked with the insurance Co. before setting out that i was indeed covered. Did they take my word, NO. It was 6pm and they said they would need to wait till the next day to check with them. Nothing for it but to settle down in the chair and wait. Luckily hotel staff were very nice and kept bringing lots of liquid painkiller to my room and even cut up my steak so I could eat with one hand.
One phone call to Carole Nash, bike was sorted and examined and on its way home long before I was.
Next day, midday nothing heard, contacted the claims company and they said, we think your motorcycle is too big for you to be covered !! WHAT!! More waiting, they phoned back and said, "hey, guess what, you ARE covered" mutter
grumble. They asked me to get a train or a taxi the 100 miles to Schipol airport, I told them I could not walk and would need other arrangements. More waiting. Another call from them, the hospital report did not mention I could not walk. They ordered me back to the Hospital to be re-assessed. I had to organise a Private ambulance to hospital, taxi back, armed with proper hospital report this time. More faxing and calls.
Nothing more heard that night...another painful night in the chair, unable to lie down. More liquid painkiller.
Day 3, bearing in mind I was unable to shower or change clothes due to injuries. Claims company phoned back again offering a taxi to the airport...what part of 'unable to walk do you not understand?' I basically told them to get the finger out and get me home! 4 hours later, they called back, private ambulance on route from Amsterdam will assist me on the flight home, and private ambulance waiting at Glasgow to take you home. Hooray! So I got home ok, Business Class as well..lol. 5pm Venlo to Schipol through the traffic = ambulance blue lighting it up the hard shoulder most of the way!
Bottom line:- None of the ambulances would even start their engines before noting full details of insurance policy, so pays to check that you are fully covered for motorcycling. Credit card was handy for the hotel, who incidentally, never charged me for room service or faxing etc. only charged me for 2 nights and not the 3 full days. And a contract phone when you can worry about the bill when you get home.
Costs :- FJR1300 £7087.42 in damages, so written off.
Mates ZZR1200 £5600 damages, also written off.
Hire car for my mate at my insurance expense (Est. £500)
Mates riding gear Etc. £700
Hotel, taxis, private ambulances and flight home £4000+
Getting the bike home £1000+
Damage to luggage, helmet and other gear £2000
Liquid painkiller and food €286
Mobile phone bill while abroad £182
Replacement bike (BMW K1200LT SE) £9000 - £6300 paid out for FJR = £2700
Loss of the balance of this years bike insurance policy £300 (policy cancelled due to write off)
Insurance Excess £350
New insurance policy £437
Transfer of private plate £80
Another mates speeding fine trying to get back to where I was £300...lol.. not included in the total.
Total bill roughly £25,137 for a bump at <30mph.
Claims are still ongoing but a lot of the above are not payable by any insurance, especially taxis and mobile phone calls, prescriptions Etc.
Moral of the story is CHECK your personal insurance covers you, and please don't even think about travelling without it, and make sure you travel with an E111.
P.S. Loved the FJR but now moving onto something a little more sedate, If I can do that amount of damage at <30mph then I sure as hell don't need 155mph anymore.
Malki
Just a warning tale about insurance and other such cover when touring abroad.
I had a little mishap when touring in Holland recently, took my eye off the road for about 3 seconds to check the GPS and never noticed my mate on his bike stopped at flashing amber light in front of me, hit him square on at about 30mph.
Both went tumbling down the road. Luckily this happened right outside the fire station and they assisted right away.
I had a shoulder injury and an ambulance was called, but they declined to attend because we were both on our feet. A kind lady driver took me to hospital where I was treated for a broken collar bone and broken ribs and a damaged hip.
The FJR was looked after by the fire service and they stored it until it was recovered to the UK.
The hospital were not going to entertain me without an insurance policy or an E111, luckily I managed to get the E111 out my top box before being taken to Hospital, so might be worth keeping it in an inside jacket pocket when touring. I could not walk after the accident, and after treatment was wheeled out into the hospital car park and left to fend for myself!! My mates were there, but not much they could do to assist at that time. I was in a wheelchair I was not allowed to keep and not given a crutch, I was in a bit of a pickle.
A local taxi driver asked if he could assist, he took me to an hotel where I checked in with help from my mates and started calling insurance companies etc. Mates dilemma was if they stayed they missed their ferry. So, long story cut short, I chased them on their way thinking the insurance Co. would have me out of there in about 24 hours. Not the case.
After numerous phone calls and faxing of hospital reports to them, the claims company reckoned I was not covered because of my "dangerous" activity of motorcycling. I assured them that I had checked with the insurance Co. before setting out that i was indeed covered. Did they take my word, NO. It was 6pm and they said they would need to wait till the next day to check with them. Nothing for it but to settle down in the chair and wait. Luckily hotel staff were very nice and kept bringing lots of liquid painkiller to my room and even cut up my steak so I could eat with one hand.
One phone call to Carole Nash, bike was sorted and examined and on its way home long before I was.
Next day, midday nothing heard, contacted the claims company and they said, we think your motorcycle is too big for you to be covered !! WHAT!! More waiting, they phoned back and said, "hey, guess what, you ARE covered" mutter
grumble. They asked me to get a train or a taxi the 100 miles to Schipol airport, I told them I could not walk and would need other arrangements. More waiting. Another call from them, the hospital report did not mention I could not walk. They ordered me back to the Hospital to be re-assessed. I had to organise a Private ambulance to hospital, taxi back, armed with proper hospital report this time. More faxing and calls.
Nothing more heard that night...another painful night in the chair, unable to lie down. More liquid painkiller.
Day 3, bearing in mind I was unable to shower or change clothes due to injuries. Claims company phoned back again offering a taxi to the airport...what part of 'unable to walk do you not understand?' I basically told them to get the finger out and get me home! 4 hours later, they called back, private ambulance on route from Amsterdam will assist me on the flight home, and private ambulance waiting at Glasgow to take you home. Hooray! So I got home ok, Business Class as well..lol. 5pm Venlo to Schipol through the traffic = ambulance blue lighting it up the hard shoulder most of the way!
Bottom line:- None of the ambulances would even start their engines before noting full details of insurance policy, so pays to check that you are fully covered for motorcycling. Credit card was handy for the hotel, who incidentally, never charged me for room service or faxing etc. only charged me for 2 nights and not the 3 full days. And a contract phone when you can worry about the bill when you get home.
Costs :- FJR1300 £7087.42 in damages, so written off.
Mates ZZR1200 £5600 damages, also written off.
Hire car for my mate at my insurance expense (Est. £500)
Mates riding gear Etc. £700
Hotel, taxis, private ambulances and flight home £4000+
Getting the bike home £1000+
Damage to luggage, helmet and other gear £2000
Liquid painkiller and food €286
Mobile phone bill while abroad £182
Replacement bike (BMW K1200LT SE) £9000 - £6300 paid out for FJR = £2700
Loss of the balance of this years bike insurance policy £300 (policy cancelled due to write off)
Insurance Excess £350
New insurance policy £437
Transfer of private plate £80
Another mates speeding fine trying to get back to where I was £300...lol.. not included in the total.
Total bill roughly £25,137 for a bump at <30mph.
Claims are still ongoing but a lot of the above are not payable by any insurance, especially taxis and mobile phone calls, prescriptions Etc.
Moral of the story is CHECK your personal insurance covers you, and please don't even think about travelling without it, and make sure you travel with an E111.
P.S. Loved the FJR but now moving onto something a little more sedate, If I can do that amount of damage at <30mph then I sure as hell don't need 155mph anymore.
Malki