Leg in plaster....Am I insured ???
Discussion
As some of you know I'm currently in plaster from mid thigh to just above my ankle, with my leg set with a slight bend, oh yes and it's my right leg.
Anyway the incapacitation is killing me I can now put full weight on it and the plaster is really only stopping my knee stepping out sideways again. So at the weekend I had ago to see about driving, I have full mobility in my ankle but the biggest problem was the speed I could shift my foot from throttle to brake so I decided I didn't have enough control to drive a manual, however the XK8 is automatic and suprisingly there is enough room to get in it with one leg locked out, I had ago and although the driving position is not perfect by left foot braking (and I've perfected it so I don't keep bouncing off the windscreen) I can drive and do have IMO sufficient control. However a few people have now said "you're not insured if in plaster" is this a fact ? or is it a case of I wouldn't be insured if shown I was not in full control ?
Anyway the incapacitation is killing me I can now put full weight on it and the plaster is really only stopping my knee stepping out sideways again. So at the weekend I had ago to see about driving, I have full mobility in my ankle but the biggest problem was the speed I could shift my foot from throttle to brake so I decided I didn't have enough control to drive a manual, however the XK8 is automatic and suprisingly there is enough room to get in it with one leg locked out, I had ago and although the driving position is not perfect by left foot braking (and I've perfected it so I don't keep bouncing off the windscreen) I can drive and do have IMO sufficient control. However a few people have now said "you're not insured if in plaster" is this a fact ? or is it a case of I wouldn't be insured if shown I was not in full control ?
Mel - know how you feel... had as many knee operations as you've probably had hot dinners...
I was always told that you had to be signed off by the quack. If they agreed that you were in a suitable condition to drive, then you were OK.
The way this was done with me, was that I had to believe that I was capable of performing an emergency stop AND, I had to hop on the leg in question for 30 seconds...
I was always told that you had to be signed off by the quack. If they agreed that you were in a suitable condition to drive, then you were OK.
The way this was done with me, was that I had to believe that I was capable of performing an emergency stop AND, I had to hop on the leg in question for 30 seconds...
No you're not insured is, I'm afraid, the answer. At least that's what I've been told after having broken bones (and I've had a few!).
Had a broken collar bone a few years back and was told by the doc I should not drive until he OK'd it, which was about 3-4 weeks after (still drove mind, but changing gear was hard) also had the same thing with broken toes (had to learn left foot braking!), didn't have an accident so no problem but I wonder how things stand if you're unlucky.
Not quite sure what the situation is with an auto, suggest you ask the Doc.
BTW get well soon
Had a broken collar bone a few years back and was told by the doc I should not drive until he OK'd it, which was about 3-4 weeks after (still drove mind, but changing gear was hard) also had the same thing with broken toes (had to learn left foot braking!), didn't have an accident so no problem but I wonder how things stand if you're unlucky.
Not quite sure what the situation is with an auto, suggest you ask the Doc.
BTW get well soon
mel, you probably wont like my opinion but you probably know in your heart of hearts that its foolhardy to attempt to drive your car with your leg in plaster. what if you get stopped? do you really think that plod will have a sypathetic ear? even worse if you get involved in an accident there could be serious reprocussions. while i dont doubt you could quite happily drive from a to b safely with your cast i just dont think that its worth the risk. when your cast comes off youll find it strange enough using that leg again and thats with full mobility let alone trying to hit your brake with a load of plaster of paris on your foot. put up with it for a bit longer and enjoy driving again rather then making do with your cast.
just my opinion - feel free to flame me!
paolow
just my opinion - feel free to flame me!
paolow
Mel
Like many things in life, you can risk it and get away with it. Could you really be that confident that if something went wrong quickly, that you would be as capable of dealing with it as you are without the cast on. I think if you are honest with yourself, you would say you are not.
If you were to be unlucky and the Police were to be called, then your insurance company would be informed of your temporary disability. They require that they are told all the relevant facts about your vehicle and your physical ability to drive. I think one of the questions they ask when they quote you is 'do you suffer from any disabilities'. this would be classed as a diability.
With an inflexible leg and it being the leg you would normally accelerate and brake with, I think they would assume that you were a much higher risk, especially if things went pear shaped in a small space of time when you would have to rely on reactions rather than actions by thinking about how hard you applied the brake pedal to control the stopping you needed with your unatural leg and foot.
I think you will find the answer is that they would not cover your own damage but would probably pay out to any third party you hit and damaged or hurt.
Like many things in life, you can risk it and get away with it. Could you really be that confident that if something went wrong quickly, that you would be as capable of dealing with it as you are without the cast on. I think if you are honest with yourself, you would say you are not.
If you were to be unlucky and the Police were to be called, then your insurance company would be informed of your temporary disability. They require that they are told all the relevant facts about your vehicle and your physical ability to drive. I think one of the questions they ask when they quote you is 'do you suffer from any disabilities'. this would be classed as a diability.
With an inflexible leg and it being the leg you would normally accelerate and brake with, I think they would assume that you were a much higher risk, especially if things went pear shaped in a small space of time when you would have to rely on reactions rather than actions by thinking about how hard you applied the brake pedal to control the stopping you needed with your unatural leg and foot.
I think you will find the answer is that they would not cover your own damage but would probably pay out to any third party you hit and damaged or hurt.
I can offer my sympathy Mel, I went through this sort of thing last year when I did my knee in, about 6 weeks of no driving, as soon as the plaster came off and I could physically move my knee again the first thing I did was climb in the car... and then drove to meet this girl I met on holiday where I did my knee.
When in plaster I thought about buying an auto car, but I have a feeling Madcop is right. Even so, I doubt the buggers will give you an orange-park-anywhere badge, but they will call you disabled!
Home time passes quickly for you
When in plaster I thought about buying an auto car, but I have a feeling Madcop is right. Even so, I doubt the buggers will give you an orange-park-anywhere badge, but they will call you disabled!
Home time passes quickly for you
In the dim and distant past, I remember a pot-encrusted youth who drove with one leg and a walking stick. Developed quite a smooth style, eventually.
The silly lad then got a bit cocky and tried to develop other unorthodox driving styles.
One favourite he perfected was to move to the passenger seat, and drive from there......in a car whose steering wheel was clearly visible from outside.
In those days there were virtually no left hookers, and plod used to pound the beat on foot.
Following him round a blind left as he tried this new style, we reached the apex and there stood Mr Footplod, gazing in our direction.
The look on his face was utter confusion. Didn't know whether to grab his note-book, stick out his hand or fill his pants.
As I remember it, he turned quite red and, by the time he decided to jump out into the road, we were both long gone...........
The silly lad then got a bit cocky and tried to develop other unorthodox driving styles.
One favourite he perfected was to move to the passenger seat, and drive from there......in a car whose steering wheel was clearly visible from outside.
In those days there were virtually no left hookers, and plod used to pound the beat on foot.
Following him round a blind left as he tried this new style, we reached the apex and there stood Mr Footplod, gazing in our direction.
The look on his face was utter confusion. Didn't know whether to grab his note-book, stick out his hand or fill his pants.
As I remember it, he turned quite red and, by the time he decided to jump out into the road, we were both long gone...........
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