Brit Faced Large Bill After Thailand Bike Crash

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

I read only the headline and knew what's coming next. The common pattern:

Brit

Traveling without proper insurance

Not used to ride a motor bike

Unable to inform himself/licence

Got into troubles

#GOFUNDME

The govt should be forced by hospitals to implement an obligated insurance for All visitors, no matter short or long term. Even for day trippers.

This #gofundme class is not good for Thailands reputation.

"Brit", you said.

I have come across lots of different nationalities who are stupid enough to ride a motorbike in Thailand, the super-stupid ones are the ones who live here and know the dangers.

They too will not be covered by any insurance.

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Indeed there are, unfortunately as is normal they appear not to have been. But clearly the rider had come to that conclusion, or at least so he claims.

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Indeed there are, unfortunately as is normal they appear not to have been. But clearly the rider had come to that conclusion, or at least so he claims.

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Indeed there are, unfortunately as is normal they appear not to have been. But clearly the rider had come to that conclusion, or at least so he claims.

But I don’t see that he claims that. At least not in this report.

I did not bother reading the article after initially doing a word search for "gofund" which came back positive.

1 minute ago, Briggsy said:

The FCA obliges insurance companies to have a one page "Insurance Product Information Document". They tend to be quite clear.

Exactly, they insurance companies each supply a cover page, a simple list of what is covered and what is not, but that is probably too much to understand by the simple minded people who decided to ride a motorbike in Thailand.

I wonder if such people when buying a house in their home country do not read any of the details of their purchase and end up paying hundreds of thousand of pounds for a shoebox. 😃

4 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I have come across lots of different nationalities who are stupid enough to ride a motorbike in Thailand, the super-stupid ones are the ones who live here and know the dangers.

I would argue that the sensible ones that live here have observed how to drive according to Thai road conditions. If you know the dangers, you know how to avoid them.......Motorcyclists from abroad who live here would also find it very hard to give up their passion especially considering the country's beauty and size and pretty decent roads nowadays, well certainly compared to 30 years ago........

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A British traveller was left facing medical costs of around GBP23,000 after suffering serious injuries in a motorbike crash just six days into a planned two-month trip to Thailand. Jude O’Connor required urgent surgery after another rider reportedly pulled out in front of him, throwing him into a parked car.

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Jude suffered a broken shoulder, broken arm, broken nose and a shattered elbow in the crash, which happened in March. He was taken to hospital and told he urgently needed surgery, but said his insurance company later refused to cover the costs.

“I was involved in a serious motorbike accident,” Jude said. “Another bike pulled out on me, throwing me into a parked car. I was taken to hospital and told I urgently needed surgery.”

He said there were delays while waiting for the insurer to respond, before he was informed the policy would not cover the claim because of exclusions he had not been aware of. Jude believed his travel insurance and International Driving Permit would cover him while riding in Thailand.

Jude was riding a 125cc motorbike, which he described as the “smallest commonly available” in Thailand. However, his insurance policy only covered motorbikes up to 50cc, meaning he had to pay privately for surgery and treatment.

“This left us with no choice but to go ahead with essential surgery privately,” he said. “I spent nearly two weeks in hospital in Thailand with my parents, having to fly out to bring me home.”

Jude returned to the UK in April after what he described as a difficult process involving a Fit-To-Fly form and surgeon approval. Since returning home, he has undergone further reconstructive surgery and now faces up to a year of physiotherapy.

The financial impact has also placed significant pressure on his family. Jude said his parents had to borrow money to cover the medical costs. “The total cost of everything has been around GBP23,000 which my parents have had to borrow, putting a huge financial strain on my family,” he said.

Jude launched a GoFundMe page on 23 April with a target of GBP17,500 to help repay the costs. He said he felt “incredibly guilty” about the burden placed on his family and hoped the fundraiser would ease some of the pressure.

He also said he wanted his experience to serve as a warning to other travellers to carefully check the details of their insurance policies before riding motorbikes abroad. The Mirror reported that motorbike accidents remain a major safety issue in Thailand, with between 14,000 and 15,000 motorbike-related deaths recorded annually according to recent statistics.

Pictures courtesy of The Mirror

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 16 May 2026

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Stupid is as stupid does…no valid driving license. Moron.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers.

Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot. The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate.

I have been riding bikes for over 50 years. Without any serious accidents. A few minor ones over the years. Riding a bike here is very dangerous. If not the highest, one of the highest fatality rates in the world. And an accident here can be very costly, to your person. Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye? I have three friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui within the last several years. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. The third one is a close friend, who was hit by a sidecar, and nearly lost his leg. 11 operations later, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

You said. "Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already........."

Yes, that is why I drive a car as my life is worth more than a few quid, riding a motorbike in Thailand is just plain stupid especially for those living here who can afford to drive a car, many Thais do not have that option but I am sure most farangs are not in that situation.

9 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

I would argue that the sensible ones that live here have observed how to drive according to Thai road conditions. If you know the dangers, you know how to avoid them.......Motorcyclists from abroad who live here would also find it very hard to give up their passion especially considering the country's beauty and size and pretty decent roads nowadays, well certainly compared to 30 years ago........

Ask the 24,000 people who die on Thai roads each year, oops, sorry my mistake, you can't as they are dead.

Buy an open top car, that is the same as riding a bike with the wind in your hair, except infinitely safer, a car can be fixed, in many cases a body can not.

7 hours ago, Rams86 said:

When will they ever learn, the last thing you need when holidaying in Pattaya is a motor bike.

Where does it say it happened in Pattaya?

35 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

"Brit", you said.

I have come across lots of different nationalities who are stupid enough to ride a motorbike in Thailand, the super-stupid ones are the ones who live here and know the dangers.

They too will not be covered by any insurance.

Well, here it's not about residents but visitors.

4 hours ago, alien365 said:

Do they even have 50cc here?

Nothing newish.... but yeah plenty of 50cc scoots around.

Hey, Jude.....

This great song goes out to you.

This song talks about fools on a bike, and provides a bit of comfort.

A word of advice: If one is at all uncertain about insurance coverage, then the last thing one should be doing is riding a motorbike in Thailand, and especially in cities.

In addition: These days, one should never travel internationally unless one has a pile of cash on-hand, to cover emergencies. If parents don't have, then also don't go..

If no have....

No have...

Then keep your life real.

Do not take the risk that others might need to pay for.

This is what we call an EXTERNALITY....

YOU, Jude, take the risk.

OTHERS, pay for the risk you took.

Not a good look.

Six days into your holiday and you manage to rent a big and total everything... a cautionary tale if ever there was one. Check your insurance before you do anything as it's likely that it's not covered.

5 hours ago, Krabi King said:

There's no need to scrutinise your insurance policy for this:

50cc = MOPED

50cc + = MOTORCYCLE = another license.

Do you ride at home? No? Why not?

They all know it but take the chance.

What about electric type motor cycles which are ready available in Thailand

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

No tats. I may donate

No tits,I won’t be donating.

48 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, here it's not about residents but visitors.

It is about people who ride motorbikes in Thailand without any insurance.

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

What a scab.

Parents sorted the bill but yet he still starts a gofundme instead of growing a set and sorting out repayments.

Read the article, His parents had to borrow money to pay those medical bills !!

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

"Brit", you said.

I have come across lots of different nationalities who are stupid enough to ride a motorbike in Thailand, the super-stupid ones are the ones who live here and know the dangers.

They too will not be covered by any insurance.

I know people who got there medical bills paid by the insurance after a motorbike crash.

But they had all the paperwork in order. International Driver license, Helmet on, etc, ....

6 minutes ago, off road pat said:

I know people who got there medical bills paid by the insurance after a motorbike crash.

But they had all the paperwork in order. International Driver license, Helmet on, etc, ....

I know people who had their cars repaired after a crash by the insurance company, there was no money paid out for the medical bills though as the car took the damage, not their bodies.

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The degree of recklessness here is astounding.

Hey, I resemble that remark. 😇

He has the look of a puppy that's crapped in the kitchen overnight ...

Shouldn’t the party that pulled out in fromt of him, and caused the accident be responsible and be held liable?

10 minutes ago, schultzlivgthai said:

Shouldn’t the party that pulled out in fromt of him, and caused the accident be responsible and be held liable?

No mention of a collision with or damage to the other bike or injury to the rider so one assumes an inexperience rider not being observant or experienced panicked and swerved while applying handfuls of front brake skidded into a parked car.🤔

Also we only have one side of any story.

6 hours ago, philipsharpe said:

No "incredible guilt" about holding out the begging bowl and relying on strangers then?

It's the new British way. Long gone are the days of personal responsibility and the 'stiff upper lip'. Now it's about victimhood. Is he from Liverpool?

18 minutes ago, schultzlivgthai said:

Shouldn’t the party that pulled out in fromt of him, and caused the accident be responsible and be held liable?

Reads like he swerved to avoid another scoot and smacked a car.

Why would the other parrty be liable ?

Stop renting bikes to tourists period.

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

It is about people who ride motorbikes in Thailand without any insurance.

Nice, that you repeat it. 👍

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers.

Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot. The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate.

I have been riding bikes for over 50 years. Without any serious accidents. A few minor ones over the years. Riding a bike here is very dangerous. If not the highest, one of the highest fatality rates in the world. And an accident here can be very costly, to your person. Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye? I have three friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui within the last several years. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. The third one is a close friend, who was hit by a sidecar, and nearly lost his leg. 11 operations later, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

You're absolutely right. This article should be published in many tv reports around the world, especially Europe. However, most will deny the danger. Would not happen to me or I'm a good driver or the others are the fools, not me.

So, next day, next chance. It's so sad

No problem as long as #Fundme is around...

39 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Reads like he swerved to avoid another scoot and smacked a car.

Why would the other parrty be liable ?

And the other rider probably did not stop.

A farang who lived in the next house to me in Phuket was killed on a motorbike five years ago, and by coincidence a farang who then moved into the house with his Thai wife and child was killed on one as well.