Car Insurance / Injury

[ilovemarkb]

My son broke his collar bone so has been unable to drive. He is due at the fracture clinic at the end of the week. He start driving again yesterday because he says he feels ok but where would this leave him if he had a car accident (insurance wise) thanks

[boxtops]

Unless he's been discharged by his doctor as medically fit to drive, he's leaving himself wide open - his insurers would refuse to indemnify him.

[ilovemarkb]

ok thanks !!! he,s banned as from now !!!!

[boxtops]

Same thing happened to my OH when he broke his kneecap - the GP kept him off work a couple of weeks longer than normal, to ensure that he'd be able to drive safely once he returned to work.

If your son works for an employer and has submitted a sick note, they shouldn't let him work until the GP has issued a Fit Note (the equivalent these days of being signed off) - otherwise their employers' liability insurance doesn't cover them, either, if anything happened to him at work.

[ilovemarkb]

he is in full time education so hasnt needed a sick note !!

[boxtops]

Aha - but equally, the same might apply to the school, he needs to be fit to go back!

[ilovemarkb]

ok thanks xxx

[EDDIE51]

Was he actually told not to drive by a doctor or was it just too painful/ difficult ?
If he was told by a doctor he has to be certified as fit to drive or he will not be insured and he has to tell his insurance company that he was advised not to drive and state this on all future insurance quotes.

[boxtops]

Eddie, only if he still can't drive at the time he's renewing his cover. Once it's healed and he's fit again, insurers don't want to know. Same as if you break your leg.

[EDDIE51]

You still need to tell them, better safe than sorry, insurers will stoop to any length to refuse a claim nowadays. Not declaring will give them the chance to do that, the insurance quote asks if you have EVER been medically advised not to drive. There is no qualification so you have to tell them every detail and let them decide. Someone who has broken a bone once has a higher chance of breaking it again so the risk is higher.

[boxtops]

Hmm, I see your point but I think it's arguable. OH broke his kneecap two years ago and couldn't drive for six months - we wouldn't have thought to declare that unless specifically asked on a quote form, it's healed and he's fit to drive again.

[EDDIE51]

boxtops all the insurance quote forms I have seen have a question that says ''Have you EVER been medically advised not to drive?'' there are no if or buts you just have to say yes or no and give details if the answer is yes. I agree that in the case of broken bones they will not refuse to cover you but not declaring it means you have failed to declare facts and lets them off the hook to void your claim.

[boxtops]

Fair point Eddie - it's been a very long time since I last had to fill in such a form - the on-line forms we fill in these days for quotes have asked that question (not in the last year, certainly). We'll look out for it, though.

[boxtops]

^have NOT asked that question

[EDDIE51]

insurance companies now actually employ people whose sole job is to find ways to void claims and refuse payouts.