British woman, 20, left for dead in hit and run motorbike crash faces being thrown out of Thai hospital despite horrifying injuries after being hit with £40,000 medical bill

[webfact]

Ruby Spry, 20, was riding a motorbike when a bike travelling in the opposite direction ploughed into her, leaving her with several broken bones and skin lacerations

 

Ruby Spry has been crowdfunding for her £40,000 hospital bill after accident 

By MADELEINE ROSS

 

A British traveller has been left with a hospital bill of approximately £40,000 after she was left for dead on the side of the road in Thailand.

 

Ruby Spry, 20, was riding a motorbike when a bike travelling in the opposite direction ploughed into her before driving off.

 

The driver left Ruby on the side of the road unconscious and with multiple injuries.

 

A passerby who saw her crumpled body made sure that she got to hospital, but the nightmare hasn't ended there for the young Cornish woman.

 

Her family say the hospital asked for £3,000 upfront before they would even administer painkillers and her insurance are not paying out.

 

And after an emergency operation, her family say her travel insurers are 'dragging their heels' leaving them with no choice but to try and crowdfund the bill, which currently stands at £34,000.

 

Her cousin Tegan Howard said on the GoFundMe site: 'Ruby arrived at hospital with a broken bone protruding from her right arm, four broken bones in her hand, a broken wrist, a broken collarbone and multiple lacerations all over her body.

 

Full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11757955/British-woman-20-faces-thrown-Thai-hospital-hit-40-000-medical-bill.html

 

-- © Copyright Daily Mail 2023-02-17

 

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[ezzra]

At 1.6+ million baht owing to them the hospital has every right to asks for their money, the problem is with the UK travel insurance that drags their feet in covering the expenses and not adding to the already mounting miseries and pains of everybody.

[OneMoreFarang]

10 minutes ago, ezzra said:

the problem is with the UK travel insurance that drags their feet in covering the expenses

Maybe.

But maybe riding a bike was not covered in that insurance and maybe there are other limits.

Travel (health) insurances are cheap compared to real international health insurances - for a reason.

 

Obviously it's sad for her to be in such a situation, especially because she didn't cause the accident. But let's compare this with a Thai person who is hit like that by another Thai person on the road. Who pays? Often Thai people struggle to pay something, but expensive treatment is out of the question for many.

[Gknrd]

40000 , wow

 

[geisha]

That’s the second girl in two weeks! Both on motorbikes and refused insurance. 

[spidermike007]

Which hospital? Sounds like BH. One of the costliest in Thailand. 

 

 

Many insurance companies are no better than the New Jersey mafia. Total crooks. 

 

 

[VinnieK]

15 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Which hospital? Sounds like BH. One of the costliest in Thailand. 

 

 

Many insurance companies are no better than the New Jersey mafia. Total crooks. 

 

 

Same goes for hospitals.

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

At 1.6+ million baht owing to them the hospital has every right to asks for their money, the problem is with the UK travel insurance that drags their feet in covering the expenses and not adding to the already mounting miseries and pains of everybody.

Perhaps like many insurance companies travel policies this did not motorcycle accidents, power-boating hang-gliding or other activities deemed high risk

[Olmate]

The  new 300bht entry tax will fix that... Job done????! 

[scubascuba3]

Why aren't the insurers paying out? I'm guessing no helmet or licence 

[spermwhale]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

At 1.6+ million baht owing to them the hospital has every right to asks for their money, the problem is with the UK travel insurance that drags their feet in covering the expenses and not adding to the already mounting miseries and pains of everybody.

The point is they are fleecing her. No way, no how anywhere, especially up country in Thailand, would a hospital charge that much to treat someone for their injuries like hers, not even Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital. 

[ukrules]

Normally you would expect the other drivers insurance to pay out third party injuries.

 

However in Thailand it seems to be very normal for the 'other party' to simply do a runner - at which point the liability for treatment seems to transfer from the person who caused the accident to the victim of the accident.

 

This is a major flaw in the way things are done in this dump.

[RT555]

Getting off cheap at 40,000BHT........

[dsj]

8 minutes ago, RT555 said:

Getting off cheap at 40,000BHT........

That's 40,000 Pounds not BHT

[bradiston]

9 minutes ago, RT555 said:

Getting off cheap at 40,000BHT........

It's £s

[SABloke]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Obviously it's sad for her to be in such a situation, especially because she didn't cause the accident. 

How do you know she didn't? 

[SABloke]

28 minutes ago, spermwhale said:

The point is they are fleecing her. No way, no how anywhere, especially up country in Thailand, would a hospital charge that much to treat someone for their injuries like hers, not even Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital. 

Exactly. So it's possible that her bill isn't that much. All I've read is that a person had a crash - details like "left for dead" and a claim of another motorbike as well as an evil insurance company that doesn't want to pay have been added, but for all we know the poor girl lost control of a bike that she wasn't licenced to drive. 

[ikke1959]

Normally the vehicle that caused the accident has to pay the costs...In this case the hit and runner...Stupid of the girl to travel without a travel insurance  of course. and of course the bill is too high, as probably for Thais it is much lower..1,6 million THB.. while expensive surgeries here on THais are not half of it, including hospitalization... 

[jacko45k]

34 minutes ago, RT555 said:

Getting off cheap at 40,000BHT........

 £40,000, that is 1,640,000 baht, insanely expensive for broken bones.

[Funkymover]

And I thought the government pay , after all didn't they just say, they pay out over 400 million baht on tourists  medical bills and that's the reason for the new, 300 baht landing tax 

[thaibeachlovers]

56 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Perhaps like many insurance companies travel policies this did not motorcycle accidents, power-boating hang-gliding or other activities deemed high risk

As she apparently had insurance that seems likely. If one isn't covered for riding a m'bike just DON'T. Thailand is NOT the place to learn to ride a m'bike.

 

Are we to be continually reading of young people thinking it's safe to ride a m'bike in LOS getting into strife?

Surely it's time for western governments to put a travel warning out to prevent young western tourists doing something they shouldn't?

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

 £40,000 that is 1,640,000 baht, insanely expensive for broken bones.

Without knowing exactly what the damage was one can't say that. A broken bone can be more than a simple fracture; was she in ICU,  was a GA needed, were rods or plates used, etc?

[PingRoundTheWorld]

46 minutes ago, spermwhale said:

The point is they are fleecing her. No way, no how anywhere, especially up country in Thailand, would a hospital charge that much to treat someone for their injuries like hers, not even Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital. 

Exactly. This is extortion and should be a criminal offense. Treating a few broken bones does not cost 1.5 million baht. Not even close. They're overcharging her because she literally has no choice except pay up.

[proton]

Will the 300 baht landing fee cover this sort of accident after June the 1st? somehow I think not

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Without knowing exactly what the damage was one can't say that. A broken bone can be more than a simple fracture; was she in ICU,  was a GA needed, were rods or plates used, etc?

I read a list of the injuries and saw a picture of her.....I can say that and did.....

There was no mention of ICU in the UK press nor here so I suspect not. 

I have had a bad wrist injury where rods were used at BHP.

[Mike Teavee]

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Surely it's time for western governments to put a travel warning out to prevent young western tourists doing something they shouldn't?

You mean something like this… 

Road travel

There are a high number of road traffic accidents in Thailand especially involving motorcycles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Thailand as the world’s deadliest countries for fatalities on motorcycles.

To drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand, under Thai law you must have the correct licence and appropriate insurance for the category of vehicle you’re using. You will need to apply for a Thai driving licence or, if you already hold a UK licence, an International Driving Permit. If you drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand without a valid licence, this may invalidate your travel insurance if you have an accident or injury.

Motorcycles or scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and can’t be used legally on a public road. Before you hire a vehicle, make sure you’re covered by your travel insurance and check the small print of the lease agreement. 

 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/safety-and-security

[OneMoreFarang]

28 minutes ago, SABloke said:

How do you know she didn't? 

That's what is written in the article.

[BananaStrong]

EVERYONE must know these are the most dangerous roads.  At 20, you can find the internet.  You can do some searching.  You can be a responsible adult.

 

play the game, pay the man!!!!     I've never rented a motorbike, never will.   Not worth it.   So there are never stories about me.   Want some excitement, understand the risks.....

 

This is not a NORMAL country when it comes to being on a motorbike.  I don't care about the overcharging, this is the result.   If you are overcharged and not want to pay, check out.   

 

sorry, no symphony from me and motorbike accidents with farang.

 

group of people, rent a car. 

take a bus.   train.   

 

I'm going to the MOST DANGEROUS country in the world for motorbikes and will rent a motorbike.

 

ok

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

And after an emergency operation, her family say her travel insurers are 'dragging their heels' leaving them with no choice but to try and crowdfund the bill, which currently stands at £34,000.

'Now the insurance company have said they're not going to pay out, we're fundraising to try and cover a portion of the costs we need to cover Ruby's surgery and hospital care.

 

I wonder why?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, geisha said:

That’s the second girl in two weeks! Both on motorbikes and refused insurance. 

Maybe it's a caveat in the small print?