British expat Darren Cummins, 34, is facing GBP22,000 in hospital bills after a motorbike crash in Thailand left him with severe leg injuries, including the loss of five inches of tibia bone.

Cummins, originally from Falkirk, Scotland, moved to Thailand in 2015 after first visiting on holiday. The business development consultant said the crash on 13 June has turned his and his girlfriend's lives "upside down", with three operations still needed before rehabilitation.

Collision on a triple carriageway

Cummins said he was travelling at 100kph when a car allegedly made a U-turn across oncoming traffic on a triple carriageway.

"The driver was travelling in the opposite direction to me so he was on the other side of the triple carriageway and he wanted to do a U-turn," he said.

He said the driver crossed all three lanes and may have believed he could clear two vehicles ahead of Cummins. However, Cummins said he did not see the car until it had passed the second vehicle in the middle lane and was about a metre in front of him.

He said it was impossible to avoid the impact. "My leg took the brunt of the impact but had that been any other part of my body, whether it was my chest or my head, then I wouldn't be here right now."

Cummins said he was thrown about 30 yards from his motorbike, was in and out of consciousness and went into shock. He recalled seeing his "leg just dangling off" and screaming uncontrollably before waking in hospital with an oxygen mask on.

Long recovery and mounting costs

The crash caused a compound fracture at the top of his tibia, with five inches of bone lost. He also suffered comminuted fractures to his ankle and shin and lost the use of his Achilles tendon.

"I lost five inches of tibia, smashed out of my knee, [it] scattered across the road," he said. "I'm lucky to be here."

Cummins, who describes himself as a "motorbike guy" and regularly rode to see Thailand's "beauty", said it is less than likely he will ever walk properly again, though there remains a small chance. He said he has cried himself to sleep over the prospect and doubts he will be able to ride again.

For foreign residents and visitors, his account underlines the potentially substantial upfront costs of serious treatment after a road crash. Cummins said the hospital that accepted his case had already exceeded its initial estimate of about GBP15,000.

"Every single procedure now we get hounded for money before they work on me - even if it's an emergency you have to have the money," he said.

After exhausting his savings, Cummins set up a GoFundMe fundraiser, saying he had never wanted to become "that foreigner in Thailand" asking for help but had swallowed his pride.

Pictures courtesy of Daily Mail

Join the discussion?

17 July 2026

View full article

British expat Darren Cummins, 34

Maybe we should require a minimum age to be an "expat" in Thailand? Maybe 34 is too young.

And a Doctor's prescription to rent or buy a motorcycle, which sounds much more dangerous than cannabis.

Never saw anyone's leg dangling after smoking a joint.

And I prefer the smell of ganja to the smell of "road rash" -- human flesh dragged over asphalt so fast it heats up and starts to burn.

Doesn't seem like we're trying to regulate the most dangerous activity. 🤔

We missed the 'smell' angle of this bike accident report .... are you drugged early today?

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Cummins said he was travelling at 100kph when a car allegedly made a U-turn across oncoming traffic on a triple carriageway.

I'm not a big fan of motorbikes.

And that seems like a high speed to me, although probably common for motorcyclists.

Poor guy, what a thing to happen, it's the danger of riding a scooter/motorcycle though, and he was going a bit fast for Thai roads.

Edited July 17Jul 17 by BritManToo

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

The business development consultant

All these fancy titles, but still gofundme.

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Cummins said he was travelling at 100kph when a car allegedly made a U-turn across oncoming traffic on a triple carriageway.

There you go. Above 80 is risky. Slow down.

Riding a motorcycle without medical insurance, in Thailand, is just plain dumb.

Nowhere in the article or comments did I see the word Insurance. (Damn Ivor just beat me!) Can you buy or rent a motor bike without it?

Most rental companies will tell you the bike is “insured,” but in most cases, this only refers to Por Ror Bor—the basic, mandatory motorbike insurance required by Thai law. Por Ror Bor only covers personal injury to the rider, up to ฿30,000, and does not cover any damage to the motorbike itself.

15 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Riding a motorcycle without medical insurance, in Thailand, is just plain dumb.

13 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Nowhere in the article or comments did I see the word Insurance. (Damn Ivor just beat me!) Can you buy or rent a motor bike without it?

From the gofundme.......inadequate insurance not much of an improvement over none in this case;

"I have a full Thai driver’s license, insurance (though it only covered a fraction), and I’ve built a life here through hard work and respect for my adopted country"

What a big liar about his work!

I dont belive anything he says.

What is the situation with legal liability? Can the driver of the vehicle doing the uturn be sued for compensation, does the driver have insurance for third party? What is the minimum insurance requirements to licence a car in Thailand?

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The business development consultant

After exhausting his savings, Cummins set up a GoFundMe fundraiser,

Does he not have SSO coverage ?

27 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Nowhere in the article or comments did I see the word Insurance. (Damn Ivor just beat me!) Can you buy or rent a motor bike without it?

You can certainly buy one,,,,and any tourist can rent a motorbike probaby with just a basic licence. Only restriction is you need insurance to tax it! I suspect this guy owned his own... the picture suggests a bit of a biker.

11 years here since age 22..no WP obviously because not paid SS for healthcare...just what has this guy been living on. Being an ardent motorcyclist as he said, he should of know to have adequate health insurance and at age 22 -34 is very cheap. Sorry, just another grifter living on the seat of his pants can spot them a mile off..police and immigration should have a look at his hard drive,👍

36 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

just plain dumb.

Riding at 100kph without protective body clothing, especially like his picture on a motorcycle - describes himself as a "motorbike guy" should know a "triple carriageway" is not the same as on a side street. (PS: no mention of a helmet)

Back in the UK I've ridden what they describe as big bikes here, for over 40 years and I'll openly admit that I don't hang around where it is safe to do so. I've also ridden in nearly every country that I have visited in this time.

Here, very rarely will I go over 80kph unless absolutely safe, especially when traffic is busy as obviously it was here. Having been in Thailand so long he should have good experience of what to expect from the locals and probably he will have travelled that highway many times previously and would have been perfectly aware of that "U-turn". Therefore he should have adjusted his speed when approaching.

For him not to see that vehicle, to me it appears that he may have been filtering lanes at speed and possibly changed lanes at last minute without checking what was in front as well as what was behind/alongside. I feel sorry for the guy but can't help feeling that it could have been avoided or at least damage minimised. It would be interesting to know whether he holds a license back in the UK or has only ridden on Thai roads.

4 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

(PS: no mention of a helmet)

There's one in the photo, maybe it's his.

My wife and I came here with a plan, like we would living anywhere around the world. Part of the plan was having robust health insurance that would cover us comprehensively, it’s a critical need, a necessity. It didn’t take very long to see that Thailand has rules for driving, it’s just that most drivers here take them as suggestions. It suggests to me to not ride a two wheeled vehicle!

16 minutes ago, Paul Henry said:

What is the situation with legal liability? Can the driver of the vehicle doing the uturn be sued for compensation, does the driver have insurance for third party? What is the minimum insurance requirements to licence a car in Thailand?

Yes, not a single word about the driver who caused the accident, whether he was arrested, fined, jailed. Nothing. Probably nothing happened, as what he did is normal in Thailand.

Read his gofund me....victim playing at its best

24 minutes ago, norsurin said:

What a big liar about his work!

I dont belive anything he says.

Based on what, exactly?

3 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

British expat Darren Cummins, 34

Maybe we should require a minimum age to be an "expat" in Thailand? Maybe 34 is too young.

And a Doctor's prescription to rent or buy a motorcycle, which sounds much more dangerous than cannabis.

Never saw anyone's leg dangling after smoking a joint.

And I prefer the smell of ganja to the smell of "road rash" -- human flesh dragged over asphalt so fast it heats up and starts to burn.

Doesn't seem like we're trying to regulate the most dangerous activity. 🤔

Here we go again, blaming the victim. But you are not alone. Seems to be the norm among AN readers.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

I'm not a big fan of motorbikes.

And that seems like a high speed to me, although probably common for motorcyclists.

That's not all that fast. I'll get my BMW over 120 Kph on the US highways. You need to look ahead and always keep a safe following distance from other vehicles.

3 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

And a Doctor's prescription to rent or buy a motorcycle, which sounds much more dangerous than cannabis.

You need to wrap yourself in bubble wrap and stay indoors.

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

His go find me clearly states he has a licence 😁 and insurance, which we can all assume is the basic 350 baht a years 😁

Maybe.

But as a "developer", whatever it is, he shall be able to pay by himself if he can afford to stay here, just 34 years old.

One more data point. Had he been in a car with his seat belt on, he'd be at home today enjoying life. With maybe a repair bill for a dent in the car.

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Maybe.

But as a "developer", whatever it is, he shall be able to pay by himself if he can afford to stay here, just 34 years old.

Or have adequate insurance..or work legally and pay SS...too many, in fact thousands of these sponging grifters everywhere, and blatantly advertising the fact...come on, he could get in patient health cover for less that 20k..or just bike insurance for 600 baht a month covering more than the basic 30k

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

I'm not a big fan of motorbikes.

And that seems like a high speed to me, although probably common for motorcyclists.

100 is obviously above the speed limit but not ridiculously excessive. Doing 100 in the left lane and passing vehicles in the two lanes to your right when there is a U- turn is not best practice.