Each year hundreds of young Australians are injured or worse from motorbike and scooter related incidents overseas.
1Cover customer Jordon Hunt knows this all too well.
On the last day of her Balinese holiday 23 year old Jordon Hunt got on the back of a scooter and the next thing she remembers is a four-wheel drive coming straight towards her at 60 km/h.
Waking up in hospital she had broken her leg and was going to require emergency surgery.
Luckily for Jordon she was covered by 1Cover. Her expenses came to more than $48,000, but her travel insurance policy only cost her $70.
Watch to hear from Jordon about her holiday-horror.
Jordon went to Bali to celebrate the end of her exams. She ticked all the boxes when it came to holiday activities - visiting temples, swimming with manta rays, she even touched a sea snake which is supposed to give you good luck. But on the last day of her holiday her trip took a significant turn.
Prior to the crash, Jordon, along with her friend, had been out for a final night in Bali when they decided to accept a ride home with others who lived close to where they were staying.
"It was just a normal day. I didn’t thing anything was going to happen."
Jordon having a fantastic time in Bali before her accident
The last thing Jordon recalls before her scooter crash in Bali is the sight of a car hurtling towards her at full speed.
“I remember being face-to-face with this white four-wheel drive coming straight towards me at 60km per hour,” Jordon says. “Then I just tightly closed my eyes as you’d expect you’d do in a dangerous situation like that.”
Jordon was thrown to the ground, sustaining a tremendous injury to her right knee and femur. While she initially lost consciousness, Jordon remembers waking up on the ground in a daze.
“I woke up, looking at the sky, with the bike still across my legs. The first thing I did was wiggle my toes, thinking to myself, if I can wiggle my toes, then I'm not paralyzed.”
Jordon had taken the vast impact of the fall to her knee, which was now fractured in multiple places, and open right down to the bone.
Jordon's injuries after her accident.
Jordon was taken to hospital where she would undergo emergency surgery and begin her extensive rehabilitation program. 1Cover ensured all her medical expenses were covered, her flights back home, along with her boyfriend’s and ongoing income protection whilst she was out of work.
Jordon's injuries and stiches post surgery
Jordon’s ongoing condition meant she was unable to work her pharmacy assistant job. Thankfully her insurance covered her for additional loss of income payments.
“1Cover were able to give me $400 a week, which helped covered my mortgage, doctor’ and physio appointments. I was really thankful for that.”
“It's amazing that even though 1Cover paid for so much in Bali, they're still paying me and supporting me here in Australia. If it wasn’t for 1Cover I’d be out of pocket by like $50,000.”
Jordon, recovering back at home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Bali’s bustling roads are notoriously dangerous, with over 150 victims turning up to Bali’s main hospital each day seeking treatment from traffic incidents. Keep yourself safe by following these tips:
Remember, the faster you’re going, the longer it will take you to stop. Be aware of local traffic laws and road rules, and never go above the speed limit. Whilst the main danger might seem like the other vehicles on the road, a high percentage of accidents are caused by poor road surface conditions. Keep an eye on the roads, and keep your speed down to minimise this risk.
If you're getting on the back of a bike with someone you don't know that well, make sure you have a discussion before you set off. It’s important that you and the driver are aware of the road rules.
Stylish clothing feels good, but it's most important to wear clothing that will protect you when riding. Always wear a helmet and reflective stripes and/or brighter clothing so you stand out.
Before you ride off into the sunset, make sure you double check your motorcycle thoroughly. This includes your signals, lights and horns, tires, brakes are all working as they should be.
It's simple, if you've been drinking alcohol, don't drive or ride. Plus, if you do, your travel insurance will be invalid.
Hiring a scooter or moped on your trip? It's vital to get scooter travel insurance to cover you should things go wrong.
1Cover's travel insurance policies cover you if:
- You're the driver and you hold a current, valid Australian motorcycle license (engine capacity greater than 50cc)
- You're the passenger on a moped, scooter or motorcycle and the person driving has a valid license for the country you're in
- You're wearing a helmet in line with local laws/requirements.
You won’t be covered for anything arising from your scooter riding if:
Natalie wrote this article, as Head of Marketing at 1Cover she's got over 10 years of insurance experience under her belt and can answer your trickiest travel insurance questions. Natalie has written about all types of travel insurance from tips and tricks, money saving ideas, pre-existing illnesses and more. Learn more about Natalie.
1Cover ® is a registered trademark of 1Cover Pty Ltd. 1Cover Pty Ltd ABN 91 105 954 265, is an authorised representative of Coffre-Fort Pty Limited ABN 66 125 358 518, AFS Licence No. 472457. Before you buy, please read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination. Any information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider these having regard to the Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’). Before you purchase, please note in particular, the eligibility criteria, travel warnings in place and limitations to claim under multiple policy sections.
This insurance is underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia, principal place of business at Level 19, 20 Martin Place, Sydney NSW, 2000. 1Cover's postal address is PO Box 6798, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153, Australia.
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