Thousands raised for Troy Markides to return to Australia after horror accident on Kho Phangan

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Thousands raised for Troy Markides to return to Australia after horror Thailand accident

By Liz Burke

 

Troy Markides was badly injured in a scooter accident last week and had to wait more than 26 hours to receive emergency surgery to save his leg.

 

A MELBOURNE couple’s dream holiday has turned into a nightmare as the young pair face months stuck in Thailand after a horror scooter accident.

 

Troy Markides, 29, and girlfriend Katie Van der End, 21, were on holiday after investing in a bakery franchise in Victoria, and had intended to spend their time celebrating and relaxing before the next busy chapter of their lives.

 

But last week, while riding a hired scooter on popular party island Kho Phangan, the couple crashed in an accident that saw Ms Van der End left with facial injuries and Mr Markides with severe injuries to his leg. He dislocated his knee, tore three ligaments and crushed the main artery in his leg.

 

Full story: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/thousands-raised-for-troy-markides-to-return-to-australia-after-horror-thailand-accident/news-story/9c29c2fe18f30efff75c8e4df96be3cb

 

-- © Copyright News.com.au 2017-07-17

[Orton Rd]

Happens every other week, no valid travel insurance for dangerous activities, and riding a bike on the most dangerous roads in the world, then they expect people to bail them out of their idiotic actions.

Edited July 17, 2017 by Orton Rd

[R123]

According to the news article it is claimed by the mother of the injured man they had insurance but the insurance company will not pay. If true maybe we can have more details of why the insurance company ain't paying...

Perhaps the couple can sell their investment in the bakery franchise to get the monies needed.

If someone is going to ride a motor bike in Thailand get  insurance that will cover any accident and have sufficient private funds to call upon in the event of a problem.

Why should we have any sympathy?

 

 

Edited July 17, 2017 by R123

[impulse]

20 minutes ago, R123 said:

According to the news article it is claimed by the mother of the injured man they had insurance but the insurance company will not pay. If true maybe we can have more details of why the insurance company ain't paying...

Perhaps the couple can sell their investment in the bakery franchise to get the monies needed.

If someone is going to ride a motor bike in Thailand get  insurance that will cover any accident and have sufficient private funds to call upon in the event of a problem.

Why should we have any sympathy?

 

Maybe the travel policy excludes all scooter related incidents, maybe he didn't have a scooter license back home, meaning he wasn't legal to pilot one in LOS- negating coverage.

 

Those of us from the nanny states would assume that the company we rent a vehicle from would provide injury insurance with the rental, and not rent to us if we don't have a license.  In fact, how is it that the scooter's compulsory insurance didn't kick in?

 

Some times, we all learn lessons the hard way.  Just because it hasn't happened to us, doesn't mean we're any smarter than this guy.  Just luckier.

 

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, R123 said:

If true maybe we can have more details of why the insurance company ain't paying...

Just one option:

the insurance would have an easy escape if they find that he had no driving license valid for riding the scooter in Thailand.

 

[4MyEgo]

The BIGGEST problem with people taking out insurance policies is that the majority of them DO NOT READ the policy.

 

I make it a point to go through every policy and when I find out for example that the waiver or excess on a rental vehicle is only $2000 AUS, and the rental vehicle excess is $4,000 AUS, I will search for an insurer who will accept a top up, i.e. $100 extra which allows me top up my cover to $4,000 AUS in the event that I have an accident, therefore the waiver/excess is covered, as the last thing I want when I take out insurance on a rental vehicle is to have to pay out any money from my pocket, and 99.9% of cases motorbike rentals are excluded from the policies.

 

Perhaps governments should make it mandatory that insurance companies ask the question in the questionnaires section, i.e. do you intend to ride a rental motor bike, YES, sorry, we DO NOT cover this, or do you intend on riding a rental motorbike, YES, do you have a valid international motorcycle licence, No, sorry, will not cover you for motorcycles, or yes you will be covered, subject to your licence being current and accepted in that country, simple really, but their making mega bucks because of the loop-holds, stating that you read the disclosure statement which no ones does. 

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Maybe the travel policy excludes all scooter related incidents, maybe he didn't have a scooter license back home, meaning he wasn't legal to pilot one in LOS- negating coverage.

 

Those of us from the nanny states would assume that the company we rent a vehicle from would provide injury insurance with the rental, and not rent to us if we don't have a license.  In fact, how is it that the scooter's compulsory insurance didn't kick in?

 

Some times, we all learn lessons the hard way.  Just because it hasn't happened to us, doesn't mean we're any smarter than this guy.  Just luckier.

 

I was going to rent a motorcycle in Phuket once many years ago, knowing that my travel insurance didn't cover it, so I asked the motorbike rental place if insurance was included, with a big smile yes, insurance, we hold your passport, bring bike back, we give you passport back, no no no I said, do you have insurance, yes again with a big smile, have insurance, can I see the policy please, not have was his reply while scratching his head, and stating all bike very good, no ponpen, each and every place I went to, nobody had insurance, so I ended up renting a bike from a working girl, i.e. the girl I was having for a week said she had a friend who needed money, so I made it clear, I don't have insurance and if the bike goes down, she would be out of pocket, ok, take care my bike please, and I did, but that was a once off, needed to get out and about, and as I kept my passport, it was all good in the event of the bike going down or missing, plan B exit to airport quick smart 555

 

Pays to know what your up against, ask questions in advance, and sight insurance policies or forget it.

Edited July 17, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Perhaps governments should make it mandatory that insurance companies ask the question in the questionnaires section, i.e. do you intend to ride a rental motor bike,

 

Better yet, make injury insurance mandatory if you want to rent scooters to the public.

 

[4MyEgo]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

Better yet, make injury insurance mandatory if you want to rent scooters to the public.

 

Providing a copy to each renter of the scooter in plain English, or face a fine of 50,000 baht

[impulse]

Just now, 4MyEgo said:

Providing a copy to each renter of the scooter in plain English, or face a fine of 50,000 baht

 

It's gotta go beyond that, or they'd just create a market for printing fake insurance certs for handing out to foreigners.  It's got to be something like a full year of insurance paid up to even register a scooter for the rental market. Which would mean a different colored license plate for rental scooters.  

 

Which means I'm dreaming...

[DGS1244]

One reason for cancelled insurance is if the rider was not wearing a helmet or no licence in home country. You need to read the small print. The 'compulsory' cover is very limited on motorcycles.

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

It's gotta go beyond that, or they'd just create a market for printing fake insurance certs for handing out to foreigners.  It's got to be something like a full year of insurance paid up to even register a scooter for the rental market. Which would mean a different colored license plate for rental scooters.  

 

Which means I'm dreaming...

Nothing wrong with dreaming 555

[Dave67]

I tried to get life insurance and the wouldn't cover me for anything other than death by natural causes in Thailand

[Marvo]

15 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

I tried to get life insurance and the wouldn't cover me for anything other than death by natural causes in Thailand

Popping cloggs on a motorcycle seems like a pretty natural occurrence in Thailand. 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, DGS1244 said:

The 'compulsory' cover is very limited on motorcycles.

 

Those of us who have been here for a while are generally aware of that, but I can see where a newbie tourist may not realize that he's only covered for a couple of band-aids, and on his own for anything beyond that.

 

BTW, I've always assumed that compulsory coverage is so low because the 30 baht scheme (or some other Thai social welfare scheme) then kicks in for any real medical care for locals.  Anyone know for sure?

 

Edited July 17, 2017 by impulse

[scubascuba3]

In this example it seems the travel insurance didn't cover bikes over 125cc, thats pretty standard. I'm reading between the lines with details given

[thaiguzzi]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I was going to rent a motorcycle in Phuket once many years ago, knowing that my travel insurance didn't cover it, so I asked the motorbike rental place if insurance was included, with a big smile yes, insurance, we hold your passport, bring bike back, we give you passport back, no no no I said, do you have insurance, yes again with a big smile, have insurance, can I see the policy please, not have was his reply while scratching his head, and stating all bike very good, no ponpen, each and every place I went to, nobody had insurance, so I ended up renting a bike from a working girl, i.e. the girl I was having for a week said she had a friend who needed money, so I made it clear, I don't have insurance and if the bike goes down, she would be out of pocket, ok, take care my bike please, and I did, but that was a once off, needed to get out and about, and as I kept my passport, it was all good in the event of the bike going down or missing, plan B exit to airport quick smart 555

 

Pays to know what your up against, ask questions in advance, and sight insurance policies or forget it.

Charming. Nice selfish attitude there. Give yourself a nice pat on the back.

Borrow a working girl's friend's bike, whilst on a holiday, not offer to pay for damage if you fell off. Then worst comes to the worst, leave them with the mess and payments, whilst you do a runner to the airport.

What a fine specimen of a human being you are. Lovely man, you must feel so proud.

[PoorSucker]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

In this example it seems the travel insurance didn't cover bikes over 125cc, thats pretty standard. I'm reading between the lines with details given

 

A normal travel insurance only cover mopeds under 50cc.

[Thechook]

6 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Happens every other week, no valid travel insurance for dangerous activities, and riding a bike on the most dangerous roads in the world, then they expect people to bail them out of their idiotic actions.

Was on australian news and the insurance company said it doesn't insure for mishaps involving motor bikes and tuk tuks etc in asian countries.  Written on policy so anyone who rents or is a passenger on a bike or tuk tuk you arent covered.

[scubascuba3]

 
A normal travel insurance only cover mopeds under 50cc.

Nah, maybe cheapest of the cheap policies. I check loads and most are 125cc and under

[lvr181]

Happy he is being returned to his home country.

[4MyEgo]

 

3 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Charming. Nice selfish attitude there. Give yourself a nice pat on the back.

Borrow a working girl's friend's bike, whilst on a holiday, not offer to pay for damage if you fell off. Then worst comes to the worst, leave them with the mess and payments, whilst you do a runner to the airport.

What a fine specimen of a human being you are. Lovely man, you must feel so proud.

Charming, nice selfish attitude, lets clear something up here/

 

She was told from the outset that I had no insurance and if I fell off the bike or had an accident, she would not be covered by me, and as she had no insurance the bike would not be covered, and I would not pay for the cost to repair it.

 

It was made clear 5 times to her, she was under no obligation to accept the terms and condition, naturally all care would be taken as it was, but why on earth would you think me being selfish for renting her bike and not paying for any damages if I fell off it, or had an accident, would she pay for any damages to me, do I need to go on, she had no insurance and she knew if I damaged her bike she was up the creek, so to speak, no one forced her, it was a mutual agreement, simple really.

 

Plan B was always an exit plan is someone disagreed with the verbal terms and conditions had I gone down with the bike or had an accident.

 

She knew what she was doing, "take care my bike", at least I was upfront about it, are the motorbike renters or jet-ski or para-sailor's upfront, sorry Mr Farang, we not have insurance, you pay, give me a break Mr Hero.

 

Do I feel proud, it is what it is, she got 2,100 baht to hire me her bike without insurance and me not having insurance, she even got a full tank of gas upon me returning her bike in the same condition as I took it, and didn't have to spread eagle either. 

Edited July 17, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[thaiguzzi]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Charming, nice selfish attitude, lets clear something up here/

 

She was told from the outset that I had no insurance and if I fell off the bike or had an accident, she would not be covered by me, and as she had no insurance the bike would not be covered, and I would not pay for the cost to repair it.

 

It was made clear 5 times to her, she was under no obligation to accept the terms and condition, naturally all care would be taken as it was, but why on earth would you think me being selfish for renting her bike and not paying for any damages if I fell off it, or had an accident, would she pay for any damages to me, do I need to go on, she had no insurance and she knew if I damaged her bike she was up the creek, so to speak, no one forced her, it was a mutual agreement, simple really.

 

Plan B was always an exit plan is someone disagreed with the verbal terms and conditions had I gone down with the bike or had an accident.

 

She knew what she was doing, "take care my bike", at least I was upfront about it, are the motorbike renters or jet-ski or para-sailor's upfront, sorry Mr Farang, we not have insurance, you pay, give me a break Mr Hero.

 

Do I feel proud, it is what it is, she got 2,100 baht to hire me her bike without insurance and me not having insurance, she even got a full tank of gas upon me returning her bike in the same condition as I took it, and didn't have to spread eagle either. 

Hey, ok Mr. Ego.

You can have a week's holiday larging it as the Big White Man, hotel, eating and drinking out, bar fine a girl for the week, rent her scooter. But fall off it, 2k damage in plastics, a broken indicator, brake lever... nah, i aint payin'. Rather do a runner.

My what a lucky girl, she did'nt have to "spread eagle either".

 Carry on Mr. Ego/Superior, do enjoy your holiday.

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, thaiguzzi said:

Hey, ok Mr. Ego.

You can have a week's holiday larging it as the Big White Man, hotel, eating and drinking out, bar fine a girl for the week, rent her scooter. But fall off it, 2k damage in plastics, a broken indicator, brake lever... nah, i aint payin'. Rather do a runner.

My what a lucky girl, she did'nt have to "spread eagle either".

 Carry on Mr. Ego/Superior, do enjoy your holiday.

Don't understand your beef.

 

I am married to a Thai, I live here, and I have done more for Thai's in the 10 years that I have visited Thailand prior to moving here 20 months ago, than most Thai's would have done for or too their own.

 

Don't judge a book by its over, and I am enjoying this holiday which I call retirement thank you very much.

 

Gee's you get your knickers in a twist easy, Oy 555

Edited July 17, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[TheLobster]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Gee's you get your knickers in a twist easy, Oy 555

Gee's you got your knickers in a twist on this topic. Calm down, you're posting crap.

[observer90210]

Did this fellow have a valid motorbike licence for the vehicle he was driving?

 

Did he have accident insurance that covers such bikes away from his country?

 

If the answer is yes, sorry for all that happened and just bad luck...

 

If the answer is no,  well still sorry for his accident and for his girlie and bla bla bla.....but he was careless and irresponsable...hope it gives him a lesson of life for the future...lucky that people paid to get him out of trouble...

[Ulic]

14 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

The BIGGEST problem with people taking out insurance policies is that the majority of them DO NOT READ the policy.

 

I make it a point to go through every policy and when I find out for example that the waiver or excess on a rental vehicle is only $2000 AUS, and the rental vehicle excess is $4,000 AUS, I will search for an insurer who will accept a top up, i.e. $100 extra which allows me top up my cover to $4,000 AUS in the event that I have an accident, therefore the waiver/excess is covered, as the last thing I want when I take out insurance on a rental vehicle is to have to pay out any money from my pocket, and 99.9% of cases motorbike rentals are excluded from the policies.

 

Perhaps governments should make it mandatory that insurance companies ask the question in the questionnaires section, i.e. do you intend to ride a rental motor bike, YES, sorry, we DO NOT cover this, or do you intend on riding a rental motorbike, YES, do you have a valid international motorcycle licence, No, sorry, will not cover you for motorcycles, or yes you will be covered, subject to your licence being current and accepted in that country, simple really, but their making mega bucks because of the loop-holds, stating that you read the disclosure statement which no ones does. 

While I agree with you the insurance lobby will not let it happen. They are more than happy to accept

the money and if nothing happens the vacationing couple are blissfully unaware that they were never

actually covered anyway. The list of exclusions is endless. From existing conditions (high blood pressure

for instance negates coverage from heart attack and stroke) to scooter licencing. All are coverage loopholes.

I for one would welcome Thai travel insurance that was inclusive. IE. You are covered for all accidents

while in Thailand. Not health care coverage but emergency/ accident coverage. eg. Stroke, heart attack,

car/scooter accidents etc..

[sinbin]

Not really related to this story but just a little info regarding DL's in Thailand.

Many farang/foreigners seem to think you can drive here on an 'International Permit'(licence). Well you can but only for the first 3 months of entry. Thereafter you must obtain a 'Thai Licence'. It is in your insurance document small print.    

[impulse]

17 hours ago, Thechook said:

Was on australian news and the insurance company said it doesn't insure for mishaps involving motor bikes and tuk tuks etc in asian countries.  Written on policy so anyone who rents or is a passenger on a bike or tuk tuk you arent covered.

 

The exclusion of tuk-tuks is news to me.  I don't doubt it, but still a surprise.  Then there's the different definitions of tuk-tuk in different areas, with some places referring to baht buses and songtheaws (sp?) as tuk-tuks.  I'm not saying I have a clue, but it wouldn't surprise me to see an insurance company deny a claim for a baht bus accident under such an exclusion.

 

Travel insurance.... It's not as simple as a lot of people make it out to be.  Real simple to buy it, but what are you really getting?  It can take a lawyer with a few spare hours on his hands to wade through the fine print and really understand it.

 

Edited July 18, 2017 by impulse

[CLW]

Nah, maybe cheapest of the cheap policies. I check loads and most are 125cc and under

While I know it's a fact that you describe, it doesn't make much sense to me.
The insurance company allows you also to drive any car, without restriction of power or top speed.
What they expect from that​?