Tragic scooter crash in Thailand leaves Queensland dad in coma

[malibukid]

safer to walk here and stay in shape.

[ChipButty]

I stopped a Chinese couple last week wanting to rent a bike, they had no license I told them to download BOLT it will save your life and cheaper, 

[Spock]

48 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Taking a taxi suddenly seems not such a bad idea.

I pay the extra on my insurance then wear helmet, jeans and shoes as a pillion passenger. I make sure the rider and bike are legal. My Thai friend always wears a decent helmet and clothes despite being relatively poor. It's not that hard or expensive to protect yourself. Motorbike accidents strike young and old alike - but probably, particularly the young and naïve, 

[RichardColeman]

amazing none of these parents and relatives volunteer to sell their house for the sons benefit but file a go fund me page ! 

[Thonburi-tales]

7 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"Good chance family is reading this!".

As they are begging for $280,000 from complete strangers as a result of his foolishness, they'll just have to put up with the opinions of complete strangers.

Exactly. Well put. Cant stand all these  do-gooder Christians who throw money at  complete strangers. The idiot wasnt wearing a helmet and probably didnt have a valid licence.

Go Fund Me encourages people to continue behaving irresponsibly. The two New York guys that started GFM  are multi millionaires.

I would shut all crowd funding sites down. Social media is totally out of control.Either that or tax it 90 cents in the dollar like in the 1950's.

Dont like it then get a real job.

[steven100]

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

As usual topics like this are filled with unempathetic rubbishy comments (likely mostly from the boomer crowd) from folk who think they have never put a foot wrong and live perfect lives. Good chance family is reading this!

 

er '   I hope someone is reading this as it might change their mind about jumping on a bike in Thailand with no helmet, no insurance, no license ....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

 

and I think we have all done silly things at times when younger .....  but not to this extent as the risks far outway any reasoning.   

[steven100]

wow   !     $280,000  .....   just sell the Gold Coast Condo and the Porsche ... 

[mrmicbkktxl]

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

As usual topics like this are filled with unempathetic rubbishy comments (likely mostly from the boomer crowd) from folk who think they have never put a foot wrong and live perfect lives. Good chance family is reading this!

Are you for real?Nothing to do with boomer or not boomer,more about common sense.It's 2024 not to difficult to find information if I  want to travel to a foreign country.There are many websites what are waring about this and that.

[CFCol]

11 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think I remember Thailand wanted to make sure every tourist has a health insurance.

What happened to that project?

I think everybody who thinks for a minute should make sure they have a valid health insurance before they travel.

And if for whatever reason they don't have an insurance then maybe it's a good idea to be careful.

 

"catastrophic collision with a concrete barrier" sounds to me like nobody else was involved.

 

Sad

 

Yourself mixing up health insurance and accident insurance. Two different things.

[jacko45k]

36 minutes ago, Thonburi-tales said:

Go Fund Me encourages people to continue behaving irresponsibly. The two New York guys that started GFM  are multi millionaires.

As do a lot of compensation lawsuits.... anyone for very hot coffee.

[Straight8]

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

As usual topics like this are filled with unempathetic rubbishy comments (likely mostly from the boomer crowd) from folk who think they have never put a foot wrong and live perfect lives. Good chance family is reading this!

You can start by donating to his 'GoFundMe' fund since you're so sympathetic.

 

Sure, no one wishes harm to anyone who was just trying to have a bit of fun, but when you take those risks & they are quite big, you may end up paying a price.

 

 

[Drumbuie]

8 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Health insurance would normally cover medical costs as a result of those circumstances, travel insurance would not, they are two completely different types of policy.

https://www.chubbtravelinsurance.co.th/cti/th-en/home

Travel insurance includes the cost of accidents and medical bills while you are travelling beyond your home country. 

[stix40]

Rent a car and make sure you have adequate insurance.

Forget about motorbikes

Here ! 

[Lopburikid]

10 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Driving a motorcycle in Thailand, without a helmet, and without proper insurance, maybe not even a valid motorcycle license. I can't even fathom why anyone would come here and even take a chance riding a motorcycle, knowing full-well that this is a seriously dangerous place to drive anything, let alone a motorbike without a helmet.

Agree. I would imagine that a lot of tourists who hire/rent scooters/motorbikes have never ridden one in their own country.

[bluejets]

12 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think I remember Thailand wanted to make sure every tourist has a health insurance.

Wouldn't do any good anyhow as write up suggests he was not wearing a helmet.

Whether or not he was licenced to ride a bike would come further down the list.

[kwilco]

12 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

sounds to me like nobody else was involved.

..and does that signify to you?

[OneMoreFarang]

26 minutes ago, CFCol said:

 

Yourself mixing up health insurance and accident insurance. Two different things.

I wrote health insurance because health insurances pay for hospital treatments.

Sometimes those are travel insurances, sometimes private health insurance which are valid world wide, sometimes health insurance as part of another package.

[mikebell]

8 hours ago, uttradit said:

This happens weekly in Thailand.

Daily?  Lots of unlicensed, unhelmeted, uninsured Thais at large.

[IamNoone88]

If it is illegal to sell a firearm to some one without a firearms/gun license, then it should be the same for companies and individuals who rent motor vehicles to those without a license.

 

There ahould be a No License - No Rent policy.

 

There was a earlier flurry of action against rental companies by police but that has gone quiet.

 

Maybe time for a civil case .... bikes should be rented to people without valid and proper home and international motorcycle licenses or a valid Thai motorcycle license.

 

Close it down at the source.

 

 

[BumGun]

12 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think I remember Thailand wanted to make sure every tourist has a health insurance.

What happened to that project?

If he wasn't wearing a helmet as seemingly stated in the article (his partner was) (i.e breaking the law ) his insurance would be invalid anyway, similarly riding drunk and crashing, invalid insurance, unlicensed, invalid insirance .  More insurance wont; solve the problem.  One possible suggestion, you could set up a no fault system similar to NZ and treat people for their injuries regardless of poor decision making.

 

Commiserations to him and his family though, a terrible time ahead

[Spock]

2 hours ago, Bobthegimp said:

They've raised under 8 grand, so it looks like the unfortunate fellow isn't going home any time soon.  His kids are 3 and 9.  I hope to God the oldest one hasn't read this thread.   

 

The scooter probably only came with one helmet.  My guess is that he gave the helmet to his female companion and chose to take the risk on himself (and his kids, by proxy).  A very bad stroke of luck that will destroy many lives. 

 

A few hours ago I posted a link to a video of the last scene of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" which was rightfully taken down.

 

While harsh, it's probably the kindest thing to do. 

 

Up north last year, the rental shops all had multiple helmets from which to select. My Thai friend and I felt a bit stupid bringing them from Bangkok.

[fredwiggy]

1 hour ago, Thonburi-tales said:

Exactly. Well put. Cant stand all these  do-gooder Christians who throw money at  complete strangers. The idiot wasnt wearing a helmet and probably didnt have a valid licence.

Go Fund Me encourages people to continue behaving irresponsibly. The two New York guys that started GFM  are multi millionaires.

I would shut all crowd funding sites down. Social media is totally out of control.Either that or tax it 90 cents in the dollar like in the 1950's.

Dont like it then get a real job.

Look up the definitions of empathy and sympathy. How is it that people who donate to help an unfortunate one are Christian do gooders? This means you aren't a believer and also that you believe it takes a Christian to be a donator. Go Fund Me's are for people who need help because they can't afford a treatment for themselves or family, friends that suffer from a disease, accident or tragedy. Most of these, from what I've researched, are legitimate. Some aren't. Some get a lot of money looking to buy a laptop, or in another case, a Starbucks employee that wanted to be a dancer, received thousands of dollars because he made a lady leave Starbucks because she didn't have a mask on during the Covid deal, and she complained about him to a manager. Try looking at the crowd funding sites before you comment. You'll see people suffering from cancer, many young children, who haven't the resources to pay for treatment. Treatment which should be paid for by the government, like Canada and other places do, including Thailand for it's citizens. People die daily because they can't afford insurance. There are millions in poverty worldwide who could use a crowd funding site to keep themselves or a family member alive. There isn't such a thing as a "real" job. All jobs are real. Many get paid a lot of money for ruining the planet, poisoning people by over medication, or just moving money around. These people can afford insurance, but aren't contributing to society. Many who are hard workers all their lives can't afford retirement. Look up narcissism. It matches a lot of people in the world, and many who are world leaders. These people also don't care for or can't stand others who are in need.

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

amazing none of these parents and relatives volunteer to sell their house for the sons benefit but file a go fund me page ! 

From the link:

 

"In a poignant plea, a close friend revealed that Simmons’ mother is contemplating the drastic measure of selling her home to alleviate the crushing burden of medical bills." 

Edited February 10 by Old Croc

[alien365]

3 hours ago, damo1967 said:

NO NEED to add to any Go Fund Me...   surely this guy had insurance....  had a motorbike licence...  was sober.. had a helmet on etc etc... no drugs in system...  His insurance will pay for him.    DO NOT DONATE TO THESE STUPID PEOPLE...   

I never donate to these people, but that doesn't mean I should dissuade others. I don't really have the money to be helping others, but some have a lot more cash and may want to help a person in need. I doubt we are all perfect here and have been stupid at times. What's the phrase, those in glass houses... 

[Bangkok Barry]

 

Reading AN is like being trapped in Groundhog Day. Same stories every day - foreigner in motorcycle accident, foreigner falls from balcony, pickup drives itself off the road, motorcyclist killed at 3am, jealous boyfriend/husband murders /girlfriend/wife, teenagers in running street battle at 2am.

 

EDIT: I forgot this one: Pattaya Songtaew Driver Brutally Attacks Competitor After Argument Over Chinese Customers

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 10 by Bangkok Barry

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

wow   !     $280,000  .....   just sell the Gold Coast Condo and the Porsche ... 

 

He live in Tewantin and works as a chef at a bistro.... What porsche and condo should he sell ?

[Ralf001]

21 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

From the link:

 

"In a poignant plea, a close friend revealed that Simmons’ mother is contemplating the drastic measure of selling her home to alleviate the crushing burden of medical bills." 

Selling is a bit dramatic... use it as collateral for a loan.

[newnative]

If Thailand prohibited tourists from renting motorbikes accidents like this one could be prevented.  No sympathy for the victim--he had no business being on a motorcycle, and certainly not without a helmet.  Absolutely correct for the insurance company to deny coverage.

[Ben Zioner]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think I remember Thailand wanted to make sure every tourist has a health insurance.

What happened to that project?

I think everybody who thinks for a minute should make sure they have a valid health insurance before they travel.

And if for whatever reason they don't have an insurance then maybe it's a good idea to be careful.

 

"catastrophic collision with a concrete barrier" sounds to me like nobody else was involved.

 

Sad

At 300 Baht per arrival, the 280000 USD bill of the gentleman would require about 25000 arrivals.

[brianthainess]

I realize the answer is probably no, but if you have a full M/C license from your own country like the UK, and wore a helmet would insurance pay out if you didn't have an international driving permit?