Scooter crash victim Stacey Liddle fears being held hostage over Thailand hospital bill

[rooster59]

Scooter crash victim Stacey Liddle fears being held hostage over Thailand hospital bill

By Tim Rose
Kimberley Caines

 

 

The Australian woman who could lose her leg after a horrible scooter accident in Thailand fears being held hostage over her hospital bill.

 

Stacey Liddle, 30, from Brisbane, has just discovered there is a bed waiting for her at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where she is expected to arrive on Monday. 

 

She had been facing a bureaucratic nightmare when she was told there was no bed for her at the Sydney hospital.

 

Full story: https://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/11/09/21/16/brisbane-woman-stacey-liddle-facing-bureaucratic-nightmare-to-come-home

 

9NEWS: 2017-11-11

[darksidedog]

Way too many of these situations occurring. In pretty much all the accidents, people only find out they aren't covered when it is too late. Travel Insurance companies really should make it very apparent to policy holders that riding motorbikes is not covered, or at least have to offer it as an optional extra.

[impulse]

10 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Way too many of these situations occurring. In pretty much all the accidents, people only find out they aren't covered when it is too late. Travel Insurance companies really should make it very apparent to policy holders that riding motorbikes is not covered, or at least have to offer it as an optional extra.

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

[tonray]

21 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Way too many of these situations occurring. In pretty much all the accidents, people only find out they aren't covered when it is too late. Travel Insurance companies really should make it very apparent to policy holders that riding motorbikes is not covered, or at least have to offer it as an optional extra.

It's clearly written in just about all policies. Motorcycle riding, Bungee Jumping, going over the waterfall in a barrel, hooking up with a ladyboy...all forbidden.

[tonray]

Just now, impulse said:

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

Then we make Thailand a nanny state...yeah !!

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, tonray said:

Then we make Thailand a nanny state...yeah !!

 

Come back and post after your loved one gets taken out by an uninsured Thai motorist and you get smacked with a million baht of medical bills.  Or electrocuted in a shoddy hotel pool.  Or has a sign fall on them in a breeze...

 

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by impulse

[DurianBreath]

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

All that will happen is there will be even more fake International Driving Permits/Licences that tourist buy in Bangkok and use to rent vehicles. It won't solve the problem. The onus should be on the renter to ensure they have adequate cover. All they have to do is type "driving in Thailand" into google before they come on holiday to find everything they need to know, and then get the required insurance or just not drive/ride once they get here...

[tonray]

24 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Come back and post after your loved one gets taken out by an uninsured Thai motorist and you get smacked with a million baht of medical bills.  Or electrocuted in a shoddy hotel pool.  Or has a sign fall on them in a breeze...

 

 

Be careful I doubt you'll be covered if you fall off your high horse.

[impulse]

28 minutes ago, DurianBreath said:

All that will happen is there will be even more fake International Driving Permits/Licences that tourist buy in Bangkok and use to rent vehicles. It won't solve the problem. The onus should be on the renter to ensure they have adequate cover. All they have to do is type "driving in Thailand" into google before they come on holiday to find everything they need to know, and then get the required insurance or just not drive/ride once they get here...

 

I don't disagree that everyone should know whether they're covered or not.  They should.  But adequate insurance as a requirement to putting a vehicle on the road goes way beyond the tourist rental market.  And liability insurance in general is a much bigger issue when people are electrocuted, poisoned, and have signs falling on them. 

 

Check the mandatory road insurance coverage limits and anything more than a minor knee scrape becomes a social problem when one or more of the parties is unable to come up with the dosh to pay.  There are countless threads just on TVF (one running right now) about settling up after an accident where the party at fault can't (or won't) pay.  Imagine what it's like on Thai social media.

 

One other benefit of mandatory insurance is that insurance companies are loathe to cover facilities and practices that are pretty much deathtraps.  Weeds out a lot of dangers before they can even open to the unsuspecting public...  Could even raise Thailand a notch or 2 above the deadliest destination for several countries' tourists.

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by impulse

[Psimbo]

Media hype by an Horstrylian news source stirring the pot without the facts and speculating. Sort of like the fake Brit mugging the other week. Looks good hysteria -wise though. 'Nightmare' my erse- there are people in far worse situations.

[the guest]

Don't come to Thailand without valid insurance, and don't think you can get treated for free at the expense of the country. Isn't it about time immigration made it compulsory for all Aliens to have insurance ?

[steven100]

ungrateful falang.  Comes to Thailand, hires a motorbike without a bike licence, insurance doesn't cover bike accidents, the hospital is doing what it can to save her leg ... they expect to be paid like any hospital,  she appears to worry about the bill as she doesn't seem to have enough money.

She complains about the hospital conditions .... 

 

I say push her bed out onto the street and see how she fares   !!       it's not the hospitals fault she had the accident.

[NCC1701A]

Research has discovered that large amounts of young people are developing an entitlement complex.

The psychological trend comes from the belief that you are superior to others and are more deserving of certain things.

This form of narcissism has some significant consequences such as disappointment and a tendency to lash out.

 

https://www.indy100.com/article/young-people-entitlement-disappointed-narcissism-psychology-research-7867961

 

her leg looks really bad. she was taken to the wrong hospital. she should have been taken to Bangkok Hospital and later transported to Bumrungrad Hospital.

 

I think her pain medication is keeping her from realizing the cats are there to keep the rat population in check.

Edited November 11, 2017 by NCC1701A

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, the guest said:

Don't come to Thailand without valid insurance, and don't think you can get treated for free at the expense of the country. Isn't it about time immigration made it compulsory for all Aliens to have insurance ?

If you sit at an airport in Thailand and you see somebody on crutches, chances are they hurt themselves on a motorbike.  Just ask them.  It is not really in the interest of Thailand to penalize everyone for the mistakes of a few idiots.  They should see how Malaysia and other neighbors handles this before making a reactionary, decision as they have done so far too many times already.

[hansnl]

4 hours ago, tonray said:

Then we make Thailand a nanny state...yeah !!

It's got nothing to Thailand becoming a nanny state, it is about taking reasonable care for yourself, or companies doing what the law says.

Although insurance companies should maybe play a clearer path.

[impulse]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

ungrateful falang.  Comes to Thailand, hires a motorbike without a bike licence, insurance doesn't cover bike accidents, the hospital is doing what it can to save her leg ... they expect to be paid like any hospital,  she appears to worry about the bill as she doesn't seem to have enough money.

She complains about the hospital conditions .... 

 

I say push her bed out onto the street and see how she fares   !!      it's not the hospitals fault she had the accident.

 

Are they doing everything they can to save the leg, or did they meet their legal obligation by saving her life, and are now waiting for a guaranty of payment before they save her leg? 

 

Not disagreeing with your disdain for her sense of entitlement, just pointing out one main difference between the practices of Thai hospitals and those back home.  Back home, they'd do everything they can to save the leg and worry about payment later.  In Thailand, they'll save your life, but you may lose a limb while you scrape up the dosh to pay for luxury services like salvaging limbs (amputation is so much cheaper than reconstruction). 

 

Also a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of renting a scooter without proper insurance.  How much is your leg worth relative to the cost of insurance?

 

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by impulse

[Thechook]

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

Why not ensure that the rental comanies only hire them out to those with a licence.

[GLewis]

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Come back and post after your loved one gets taken out by an uninsured Thai motorist and you get smacked with a million baht of medical bills.  Or electrocuted in a shoddy hotel pool.  Or has a sign fall on them in a breeze...

 

 

Hey none of those criteria applied to her. She rented the bike, but did not take the time to see if her insurance covered her. Plus I would bet dollars to donuts she had never ridden one before.   So the guilt falls directly on her. She seems to spend more time trying to generate more news stories about herself hoping to get more money to her Go Fund Me Page, than she does to recovery.    Sorry for her yes, but it stops there.

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Why not ensure that the rental comanies only hire them out to those with a licence.

 

I honestly think that's a great idea, but totally unenforceable (at least directly) given the money trail(s) and corrupt cops. 

 

Making them pay for any cock-ups should their scooters be involved in an uninsured wreck would be a good start down that path.

 

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, GLewis said:

Hey none of those criteria applied to her. She rented the bike, but did not take the time to see if her insurance covered her. Plus I would bet dollars to donuts she had never ridden one before.   So the guilt falls directly on her. She seems to spend more time trying to generate more news stories about herself hoping to get more money to her Go Fund Me Page, than she does to recovery.    Sorry for her yes, but it stops there.

 

See, that's the danger of jumping into a discussion based on hearing (or reading) one sentence, without hearing the back and forth (or reading the posts) leading to that one sentence. 

 

[LivinginKata]

10 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Why not ensure that the rental comanies only hire them out to those with a licence.

 

Don't be silly - bike rental guys would loose income, plus they make like bandits on bike repair claims from the driver.

[shaurene]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

Yes. But you know like all of us, that would never happen in Thailand.

[Just Weird]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Way too many of these situations occurring. In pretty much all the accidents, people only find out they aren't covered when it is too late. Travel Insurance companies really should make it very apparent to policy holders that riding motorbikes is not covered, or at least have to offer it as an optional extra.

The restriction is made very clear in the policy conditions.

[Just Weird]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

ungrateful falang.  Comes to Thailand, hires a motorbike without a bike licence, insurance doesn't cover bike accidents, the hospital is doing what it can to save her leg ... they expect to be paid like any hospital,  she appears to worry about the bill as she doesn't seem to have enough money.

She complains about the hospital conditions .... 

 

I say push her bed out onto the street and see how she fares   !!       it's not the hospitals fault she had the accident.

"I say push her bed out onto the street and see how she fares   !!"

Me too, but only after the whinger has paid her bill, of course.

[steven100]

6 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Come back and post after your loved one gets taken out by an uninsured Thai motorist and you get smacked with a million baht of medical bills.  Or electrocuted in a shoddy hotel pool.  Or has a sign fall on them in a breeze...

 

 

well bypass Thailand as your next holiday.  Maybe cheaper to holiday in Laos ...

But if you want 4 star services then stay home .

[DurianBreath]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I don't disagree that everyone should know whether they're covered or not.  They should.  But adequate insurance as a requirement to putting a vehicle on the road goes way beyond the tourist rental market.  And liability insurance in general is a much bigger issue when people are electrocuted, poisoned, and have signs falling on them. 

 

Check the mandatory road insurance coverage limits and anything more than a minor knee scrape becomes a social problem when one or more of the parties is unable to come up with the dosh to pay.  There are countless threads just on TVF (one running right now) about settling up after an accident where the party at fault can't (or won't) pay.  Imagine what it's like on Thai social media.

 

One other benefit of mandatory insurance is that insurance companies are loathe to cover facilities and practices that are pretty much deathtraps.  Weeds out a lot of dangers before they can even open to the unsuspecting public...  Could even raise Thailand a notch or 2 above the deadliest destination for several countries' tourists.

 

Yeah, I agree with everything you say. But in the meantime tourists really should use their computer to do more than just book a flight to Thailand. There's so much available information which can inform their decisions. As you quite rightly imply though, insurance is a minefield here, for anything...Thailand 4.0 anyone...?

[farcanell]

6 hours ago, tonray said:

It's clearly written in just about all policies. Motorcycle riding, Bungee Jumping, going over the waterfall in a barrel, hooking up with a ladyboy...all forbidden.

Research shows that the more signs One puts up, the less likely they are to be read..... ergo the expression “fine print”, which outline the terms and conditions, but is all to often signed as an acknowledgment of acceptance, albeit the box marked “ have you read the fine print ?” Was checked yes.

[Meljames]

6 hours ago, tonray said:

It's clearly written in just about all policies.

Nothing's clearly written in an insurance policy.

 

The sales reps though are missing out on revenue by not pushing a two wheeler add-on.

Edited November 11, 2017 by Meljames

[Foxxster]

1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Don't be silly - bike rental guys would loose income, plus they make like bandits on bike repair claims from the driver.

They wouldn't just lose some income, my guess would be a minimum of 75% 

[transam]

6 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Better to throw the responsibility on to the scooter rental agencies to provide hospital coverage in case of an accident.   Like they do in civilized places, where a reasonable (not ridiculously low) level of hospital cover is mandatory just to put a vehicle on the road. 

 

And if the rider doesn't qualify and they rent the scooter to him/her anyway- then it's on the rental company to reach deeeep into their pockets and pay.   That would solve several problems with one reasonable rule.  

 

Yes, the Gov of the day should TELL rent outlets that ALL folk must be covered by insurance using their machines.....Will that happen....

Nobody gives a stuff....