Insurance and brain injury

[Shaft]

First things first, not after sympathy, or expecting I'll get any, but I thought it was worth getting that out of the way.

I've just spent most of the weekend in hospital, after having a minor stroke on Friday morning; as a result, I'm aware that I can't drive for a month, but I don't need to inform the DVLA, as long as I'm cleared to drive at the end of that period.

However, everything I've read says I should (not must) inform my insurance company before I start driving again.

So my question is twofold; does anyone have any experience of telling them and the consequences of it (ie, did your premium go up, were you refused a renewal/had your policy cancelled) or, did you not bother to tell them, then have it bite you on the arse later?

Note, I'm looking for firsthand experience here, not 'my sister's, brother-in-law's, fat mate down the pub reckons......', or ' I would've thought......' type answers.

Just wanna find out a few facts.

Cheers people.
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20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
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[nowhere.elysium]

Hmm. Given that it's not a long-term medical condition as such, I'm quite interested to see what the deal with this sort of thing is, too.

Despite prior instructions to the contrary, I hope you're ok, Shaft.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[yen_powell]

I've got a leaflet here that says you don't have to tell your insurance company unless you are deemed unfit to drive/ride after the month is up.

I had the same thing in 2005, book an appointment with your doctor for 4 weeks after the day of your stroke.

edit

leaflet is from The Stroke Association and is called 'Driving After a stroke'.
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[P.addy]

What nowhere/yen said, its not a necessity unless you are unfit after the 4 week period, family member had the same.

Hope you are ok, seemed as sound as a pound when I met you, shame to hear something shit has happened

[plugger147]

I have an ongoing medical issue in the old swede, which I have neither informed the dvla or my insurance about. The dvla state on there website that they don't have to be informed about my problem unless it's causing dizziness which it hasn't so far, and as far as my insurance company state:

Health – if you learn that you or a named driver on your policy has any physical or medical condition that affects their ability to drive, your insurer needs to be informed. For more information regarding medical conditions that can affect your ability to drive check the dvla website.

So no I haven't informed them and don't intend to in the future.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[Shaft]

Thanks n.e, no lasting side effects that I can detect, except (despite 39 hours straight with no sleep, due to hourly obs) I can't sleep, as I lay there wondering if I'm going to wake up a dribbling vegetable!

Cheers y-p, I never thought of them (bit new to all this) I'll see if I can find that document.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Llama-Farmer]

If it affects your ability to drive, you have to inform insurance and DVLA regardless.

Also, IF IT SAYS IN YOUR INSURANCE POLICY YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM, then you have to tell them. Read the small print, it could say in there that they have to be informed of medical issues, and if you don't inform them, it's a breach of contract and your insurance would be void.

So check your policy. If it doesn't say, you don't have to tell them, and I wouldn't bother, they're likely to bang a higher premium on you, increase the excess and maybe even refuse to insure you. Cos there's no rhyme or reason to what insurance companies do

[Cunnington]

Mrs Cunnington had a seizure a few years back, and under the guidance of her GP voluntarily surrendered her licence on medical grounds for a year.

A couple of weeks later, she then had to apply for it back, to obtain a letter from the DVLA stating that she wasn't entitled to drive, so that she could get a free bus pass (due to her 'disability' preventing her from driving). The DVLA contacted her GP, who confirmed their advice was that she shouldn't drive.

At the time, we had a car each and an old Landrover, all under an Admiral Multicar policy, so got rid of her car, and took her off the insurance for the other two. At the end of her year, we got a letter from the DVLA, and I tried to get her back on the insurance of the Landy, so that we could go out and I could get pished for a change. The incompetents at Admiral wanted a copy of the letter from the DVLA before they would agree to it, but were unaware that the department that receives faxes and puts them on the system for the rest of the call centre closes at mid-day on a Saturday.

On the basis of this experience, Admiral are only concerned with the DVLA's opinion, and if medical advice is that you dont need to tell the DVLA, I wouldnt stress about your insurance company.

On a side note, Mrs C was 6 months pregnant when she started driving again, which provided several amusing moments trying to park a Discovery in a supermarket car park, whilst still being able to get in and out!
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The Shaggy D.A. wrote: "You are invisible. Those who can see you are trying to kill you."

[scorps]

My other half sustained massive head injuries in an accident. Not allowed to drive for a year. The doctor had to send a letter to the dvla to say he was considered fit to drive. he then got a letter from the DVLA to keep on him should he have an accident to prove he was okay to drive or something like that. I believe that your doctor will inform the DVLA that you are okay. At no time did he have to inform his insurance once hed got the all clear.
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Do not presume that I am male.

[yen_powell]

[Shaft]

The weirdest thing for me, was how it happened; been perfectly OK since I got up, then, while delivering a car back to a customer, it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't seem to know what I was doing, as though I'd forgotten how to drive.

I couldn't seem to work out what gear to be in and I stalled the car at one point, because I didn't dip the clutch in time, as I was coming to a stop.

Thought it might be low blood sugar, so I stopped to buy a can of Red Bull, took it out of the fridge then walked to the counter, registering a bang, which I took to be the fridge door closing; when I went to pay, I had nothing in my hand and the bang turned out to be me dropping the can, which I hadn't even noticed.

Now I know it was due to the stroke happening in the part of my brain that controls coordination and feeling in the left side.

Perhaps the most frightening aspect was, if the incident with the can hadn't happened, making me realise I was losing the feeling in my hand, I would've put it down to tiredness and gone home and put my feet up, so who knows what could've happened next.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Kwaks]

[shereen]

Now Im not at all telling you what to do as it is your choice and only you know how you feel, but it was only at the weekend I was talking to an old friend who (6 months or so ago) had a minor stroke. He is basically nearly at 100% back to his old self but he was telling me that he has to concentrate a lot more when it comes to driving, he said he cant really do 2 things at once when driving, i.e opening a window whilst keeping an eye on the road, changing the radio channel etc etc. He is thinking about getting an automatic to make it easier for him.

Just make sure you feel 100% before you get back to it. As minor as you say it is, a stroke is still a stroke.

Back to the matter in hand he didnt inform his insurance company

GWS Shaft!
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[Llama-Farmer]

[Ste]

Dvla & brain injury... I initially had my license revoked for about 18 months. The dvla doctors base their decisions on what the consultants and gp say in reports and in your notes.

You can download the appropriate medical form to fill in on the DVLA website, but if you know that your license will be revoked then you're better off to surrender your license voluntarily. If you do that you'll have an easier time getting your license back when you're eligible to.

If you have a DVLA notifiable medical condition then you have to inform your insurance company.

I surrendered my license at the end of 2008.

[yen_powell]

When I saw my doctor for testing one of the tests is squeezing her hand. I made damned sure she wasn't able to use that hand for the next 10 minutes cos if she thought I wasn't able to drive/ride it goes on to DVLA and then it takes ages for them to do anything. I vaguely remember having to stand on one leg with my eyes closed and touch the tip of my nose with my eyes closed as well.
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits