What happens if you are involved in an accident?

[raindropsalways]

Unfortunately, I cannot answer even a portion of the questions, only inform you of the events and what happened to me after my accident.

 

First of all, we were in Grenada at the time of my accident. Not the best place to be. I did a little flip on a rather steep down-hill not realizing the top layer was loose gravel. When I realized I was in trouble, I immediately released the throttle and turned to avoid going all the way to the bottom. Result, I ended up on the side of the road underneath the scooter.

 

Suddenly, on this rather lonely street, there was a traffic jam. My first contact was with a rather aggressive taxi/tour van guy that was looking to get rich. He was telling everyone I hit my head and did not know what I was doing. Regardless, there was another taxi/tour van that offered to take us to the ship at a reasonable price. Meantime, Ruth found a couple that got the scooter off me and was assisting. To that couple, I would like to express my thanks, Thank you! As far as the traffic jam, I also delayed two of the ship's tour buses.

 

On the way back to the ship, we picked up a representative from Grenada (no idea of her capacity) and the vehicle was allowed to take me all the way to the ship. On board they took x-rays and immediately determined I would be transferred to the local hospital because I had a fractured hip, broken clavicle and abrasions from my little left toe all the way to the top of my head (all left side).

 

Fortunately, I had my insurance info with me and just handed it to the ship. Meantime, there was an accident involving a ship's tour and those injured were sent to the private hospital, thus I end up in Grenada General Hospital. The ship did send an escort with me.

 

In addition to my insurance info, I travel with fairly complete medical records. I maintain a complete list of all my prescriptions, dosage and what they are for. This immediately alerted the doctors that I was a “high risk” patient. The doctor at the General Hospital told the insurance company that they, and the other nearby hospital, did not have the necessary facilities to take care of me. Result, after two days in Grenada General, I was Air Evac to Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale where I underwent surgery immediately after I was admitted.

 

After a reasonable (?) stay in Broward Health, I was transferred to a Rehab (?)/Nursing facility near my home. Commercial flight with escort. Oh, my scooter got to ride in an ambulance from the airport to the facility all by itself. All the way throughout, I insisted that the scooter stay with me. It was even squeezed on the Air Evac along with my luggage.

 

I was very fortunate to be traveling with a couple wonderful friends, Ruth and Nancy. They were able to contact my son and keep him up to date as best as possible. The also called me in the hospital from the ship. Both ladies pitched in and assisted with packing my luggage. The ship had assigned crew members to pack my things.

 

Fortunately, since I was aware of Air Evac cost, I always get travel insurance. Even before this, it has paid for itself a number times. I doubt that I will every find out the exact cost. I was told that the Air Evac alone cost in the upper $20,000 range cash in advance. So please, when you book that next cruise, also get the insurance for your own peace of mind.

 

Between January 31 (accident) and February 27 (arrived home), there are some blurred areas. If you have any specific questions, I will attempt to answer best I can.

 

As far as future plans, I will be on the Serenade OTS when she sails away on April 29, 2016 Transatlantic. Actually, we have the Jungle Queen booked on the afternoon of April 28... we have seen about everything else in Fort Lauderdale.

 

Betty

[Going Coastal]

What an adventure you had!

Thanks for posting.

[Enforcer]

Hi Betty,

 

I hope that you are either now well or on the road to recovery and I wish you all the best.

 

I am from the UK so travel insurance is a must when outside the UK (although when in the EEC it is a little different), your advice is very sound.

 

Pete

[searoses]

I hope you post this in more than one forum.....valuable example of why you must have considerable ins away from home.....I hope your recovery is going g well and that you a wonderful cruise in april....

[ZellaLamb]

I am so glad to see that you are recovering and actively planning that next cruise. It was really special to me to get to meet you and Ruth in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Your input on these boards was missed! Your story is filled with valuable information for all of us. Im just sorry that's we have to learn from example. You have some good tips for dealing with insurance and I plan on leaning on you for more advice. I wonder if you would consider posting a little primer on this board on the ins and outs of travel insurance?

 

Continue to heal those bones and gather strength for your next adventure!

 

Kate

.Zellalamb

 

Please excuse typos. I'm on an iPad.

[GeezerCouple]

I am so glad to see that you are recovering and actively planning that next cruise. It was really special to me to get to meet you and Ruth in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Your input on these boards was missed! Your story is filled with valuable information for all of us. Im just sorry that's we have to learn from example. You have some good tips for dealing with insurance and I plan on leaning on you for more advice. I wonder if you would consider posting a little primer on this board on the ins and outs of travel insurance?

 

Continue to heal those bones and gather strength for your next adventure!

 

Kate

.Zellalamb

 

Please excuse typos. I'm on an iPad.

 

You might want to start following a few threads or general browsing on the CC Travel Insurance sub-forum:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=635

 

And OP... you might want to post your experience on Travel Insurance, so others can also learn how important insurance can be.

 

So glad you are okay...!

[LondonTowner]

raindropsalways

 

Glad you managed to get to a hospital quickly and air lifted to a hospital back in the US. Now you are on the road to recovery nice to know your accident has not put you off travelling.

 

In summer 2014 we were on holiday in Crete, Greece and my scooter turned over, I fell off and the scooter fell on top of me. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt at all, but an accident can happen at any time.

 

I would never travel anywhere at all without adequate travel insurance, it is very important.

[raindropsalways]

Thank you all for your concern. Yes, I am gradually getting better.

 

As per someone's suggestion, I did post on the Travel Insurance Forum. Also, I am on a number of roll calls and I think I mentioned getting travel insurance on all.

 

Kate – Now you know why you did not from us. I'm slowly catching up with the world. As far as travel insurance, I'm really not qualified. My logic goes way back to when I was a little girl and we never walked out of the house without emergency information on us. I just make up a little wallet size insurance card with policy number and contact information on one side and family contact information on the other side.

 

I have been on over 50 cruises and have used my travel insurance five times with this one being the biggest expenditures. When I had my by-pass, instead of canceling, I used the “interruption” clause and caught up with my companions on the second leg of the cruise. The others were just minor things, regardless, the insurance did save me money.

 

Betty

[Slugsta]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident and nasty injuries. I hope you make a full and speedy recovery.

[shepherdqueen]

Thank you for sharing. We do wish you a full recovery! I took a nasty fall on the pool deck of our second cruise - I was OK without medical attention (aside from being sore and very bruised), but that made us reconsider and we always have insurance now.