Driving with Broken leg

Notch000

Hi, I'm wondering where I'm fixed regarding driving with a broken leg.. I mashed my left fibia & tibia recently in a bike accident. I've had surgery and do not have a cast on it. But its very much broken for now. It will take 3-6monts to heal. I'm thinking of getting an automatic car to drive. My doctor or surgon have not mentioned anything about driving so far. So is it legal. I'm plsnning n driving an auto with my righ foot but will need a pillow to support my left one ?..I've no problem getting in and out of car.
Thoughts

bbability

You must inform your insurance company. I don't think they will cover you whilst your in plaster

Bpmull

My mother broke her elbow last year and the doctors told her she wouldn't be aloud near a car regardless if it was an auto or manual. The insurance company also said they wouldn't cover her. Maybe it's different for a leg but me and my dad had to chauffeur her around for all those months. Might be worth ringing your insurance company.

Notch000

bbability wrote: »

You must inform your insurance company. I don't think they will cover you whilst your in plaster

As above I don't have plaster on now

Big C

I drive an automatic using hand controls, insurance company have no problem once told

artanevilla

A pillow under your left? Is there not a danger of it getting jammed under the brake?

galwaytt

With an auto you're only supposed to use your right foot anyway, so what difference does it make what shape/condition your left one is ?

Stheno

Notch000 wrote: »

As above I don't have plaster on now

Probably won't matter, you need to talk to your insurance company tbh.

Can't imagine you'd be covered, I damaged my knee last year and was not allowed drive by my doctor.

Notch000

galwaytt wrote: »

With an auto you're only supposed to use your right foot anyway, so what difference does it make what shape/condition your left one is ?

That's what I'm thinking

wexie

I've a family member who recently queried this with her insurance company and was told very clearly she would NOT be covered driving with a broken leg (ankle in her case), cast or no cast, automatic or not. Now, admittedly this was in a different country but I wouldnt imagine they'll think much different about it here.

OP, are you on crutches?

Supergurrier

Tbh OP

You wouldn't have a leg to stand on in court if anything happenned.

(Runs away giggling)

0ph0rce0

Bah, If you crash, just say you broke your leg in the crash.

Larianne

Ask your insurance company and surgeon to clarify.

Notch000

Larianne wrote: »

Ask your insurance company and surgeon to clarify.

Yes boss

Notch000

wexie wrote: »

OP, are you on crutches?

yes

oldyouth

You can't drive if it is against medical advice. As others have said, refer it to your insurers and they will require you to get a cert from your doctor

kasper

not sure if you are allowed to drive if you have a broken leg but you sure are not if your plastered

galwaytt

wexie wrote: »

I've a family member who recently queried this with her insurance company and was told very clearly she would NOT be covered driving with a broken leg (ankle in her case), cast or no cast, automatic or not. Now, admittedly this was in a different country but I wouldnt imagine they'll think much different about it here.

OP, are you on crutches?

Crutches? They're for walking, not driving.

You still don't use your left leg for driving an auto so can't see why it matters.

Stheno

galwaytt wrote: »

Crutches? They're for walking, not driving.

You still don't use your left leg for driving an auto so can't see why it matters.

My physio (:() wouldn't sign me off to drive, as he felt that if I got a sudden spasm of pain due to the injury it would affect my ability to concentrate on driving, even if I was driving an auto, I had a long argument with him about it. The pillow idea of the OPs sounds a bit dodgy too, even in an auto if it's going to be in the footwell, I'm not even figuring out how it would work!

Was off the road about six weeks iirc

Greenmachine

That Casts the dream away.

wexie

galwaytt wrote: »

Crutches? They're for walking, not driving.

You still don't use your left leg for driving an auto so can't see why it matters.

I happen to agree with you, but that doesn't matter as neither of us make the rules. Insurance companies make the rules and they say you can't drive with a broken leg. (from what I've heard anyway).

Either way, I wouldn't risk it without having spoken with the insurance company and getting confirmation in writing.

bazz26

You are really putting yourself out on a limb with this OP.

Seriously though, you really need to speak with your doctor/surgeon and insurance company. Anything offered here is only opinion.

galwaytt

wexie wrote: »

I happen to agree with you, but that doesn't matter as neither of us make the rules. Insurance companies make the rules and they say you can't drive with a broken leg. (from what I've heard anyway).

Either way, I wouldn't risk it without having spoken with the insurance company and getting confirmation in writing.

Not saying don't ask. Interesting to find out tbh. ..

Kevhog1988

broke my right ankle a few months back, drove from manchester to holyhead that evening in a automatic using my left foot... Sons first bday party was the next day.

biko

We can offer many opinions here (as you can't get legal advice on boards) but at the end of the day only one matters, your insurance company's opinion.
They are the ones to talk to and will probably refer to your doctor.

wexie

galwaytt wrote: »

Not saying don't ask. Interesting to find out tbh. ..

It would, the reason I think they'll say know is that my sister who broke her ankle was told she wouldn't be insured driving.

I told her to just rent an automatic for a few weeks, she rang back the insurance company and was told it wouldn't make a difference.

Doesn't make sense to me either.

Aside from spasm Stheno mentioned, but you could argue you could get those with a headache, cracked ribs (actually probably more likely to get them with cracked ribs) etc. etc.

Noccy_Mondy

A friend of mine had her left hip done there a few years back. She drives a school bus and was back driving 9 weeks afterwards!, I'm sure bus regulations and insurance is more specific than that for a normal car...

Guy:Incognito

Just get the leg amputated. Youll already have made the switch to auto so just stay with it.

aujopimur

I met a disabled guy on the Rosslare/Pembroke ferry a few years ago who had only enough use of his right foot to press the accelerator, he had a bit of 2X1 in his hand to operate the brakes.

Stheno

wexie wrote: »

Doesn't make sense to me either.

Aside from spasm Stheno mentioned, but you could argue you could get those with a headache, cracked ribs (actually probably more likely to get them with cracked ribs) etc. etc.

In fairness looking back, my physio was right.

I was in fairly severe pain, taking painkillers containing up to 240 mg of codeine each day, and still had constant spasms/pain in my leg, or having my leg stiffening up considerably, so it wasn't safe for me to drive.

Guy:Incognito

aujopimur wrote: »

I met a disabled guy on the Rosslare/Pembroke ferry a few years ago who had only enough use of his right foot to press the accelerator, he had a bit of 2X1 in his hand to operate the brakes.

You'd think someone would come up with some sort of system to help disabled drivers operate cars safely. Maybe theres a business opportunity there...........