On September the 28th 2020 during an early dark evening I met up with my mum and dad to celebrate my birthday as I had not seen my dad in over a year. I use a mobility scooter to get around due to Lower spinal damage and impairment's in my legs. My dads' current level of copd and his health has declined so much that he must use a powered wheelchair to get around. He risks his dignity and health to make the trip to Skegness to see me on this day with all his effort. Even as we sit around a table at the Trawlers catch, he sat there with his chips just to feel part of the table. Even though he could manage only 2 or three chips he was showing that he really wanted to join in but couldn't and he just sat there in a daze. And since I last saw him last year, I can see that things are degrading in him so much. He also has a pacemaker to monitor his heart. So, this day was a very important day for me mainly because I got to see him. After our meal, we headed to the Artisan Skegness cafĂ©. They were closing early in about 20 minutes time but my dad said that’s still enough time. So, we taken a seat before having a nice hot drink. And it was getting on to just pass 7 before we had finished our drinks to leave. I saw them safely to Rutland road to Sherwood B&B on Rutland Road but my dad needed emergency toilet so as he had to scale some step to get relief and limited with mobility access. I talked with my mum outside, she wanted to make sure that I let her know when I get back safe because it got so dark early. I explained my route to my home near Aldi supermarket off burgh road. I am a caring person when around public and always offer them the right of way and always pride myself to reduce my speeds because do care. So, let's get back to my journey home I had just crossed road by a B&B on corner before making a safe decision to use pavement due the darkness on roads and my past accidents dealing with holes. I drove in centre of pavement to avoid small creatures and people, but little did I know, A force suddenly caused a shunt force through front bumper strait up my back and bent back my wheels into the bodywork. And yet I was confused as I saw nothing at all dead in front of me, I had my headlights on but the glare from my dash board was too bright like having a torch light in face and when wearing glasses, now that makes it worst. I climbed off my scooter whilst holding tight with scooter steering to try feel for whatever stopped me. And then I felt a solid bollard and still could not see it at all. I got on my seat confused by asking myself why a bollard there, Then I looked to my right to try and workout why it was so dark there. The streetlight wasn’t even on, and I noticed it was still early in the evening. As I tried to reverse up, I noticed my front wheels bent into my bodywork, As I felt the body work near wheel, a piece broken off from body, and this was the only way wheels could go around. There was a person looking down from a window at me in distress but he had zero interest of being of help and just watched quietly and that made me at un ease, So made an effort to get back to my flat, even though scooter was going to the left and had limited turning. I don’t normally have pains in my back when sitting up, but I did during my difficult drive to my home. I had a very difficult time trying to get it in my flat with limited turning. I had a hard time to relax because I think my body is in shock or something
Now people are asking me, am I insured?
Now here I am going to explain my awkward situation regarding that.
At the end of 2019 my sister referred me to a company who can let me set up an arrangement that
would allow me to get out more.
After lots of Taxi costs and a recent accident that could have left me with a second ankle injury
because of very bumpy dark pavement from going by the bungalows before the car-park to the
shopping complex of Aldi M&S etc.
I needed mobility to help, as walking also caused immense back pains just after a few steps.
Here is how I got my scooter:
Someone visited to explain everything and my choices and options. And set a date for bringing over scooters to see what I should have. There was a model that was perfectly for me and my larger body and documents were wrote up for me but the scooter in question turned out to be slightly too wide because of a storage heater that is never used. It would take me some time before I get permission to move it. So, he left travelled back to where ever he came from. So, they ended up sending someone else with the agreed scooter the kymco agility.
Then I asked them to update the changes on the agreement pack and welcome documents.
But it seemed in the end that I was still paying the same money as the better more expensive model.
But they said that’s normal and taken advantage of my situation.
I am not very good with forms at all so it takes me a while to really understand what is going on sometimes. But they speedily set the process up and confused me with payment dates and told me I get the first 3 months of platinum cover with my scooter. So just before the 3-month cover was nearing I had calls from the company's insurance, I had told him that I have already called the mobility company and talked to someone who promised me a call back. I emailed and Left messages and even when the insurance called me back. I told him I am running out of time but still I tried to get In-touch with anyone at office. They closed down the office and the staff are all self-isolating so there was no one to help me continue my Platinum cover. It seemed there was no service at all even if I was still valid. So, I had to accept that I can only rely on myself now. I was left to try and survive all by myself, I have puncher emergencies had hard time getting replacement inner-tubes because shops were all closed. Lucky for me, A local mobility company PEOPLE FIRST Mobility brought an inner tube to my home, and allowed me to pay for it when shops open again. Not long after another puncture and another inner-tube it was costing me a arm and a leg and being forced to stay in. So, it taken me a while but I finally got solid in filled tyres at the back 2 wheels. Not only have I been paying more for a less quality scooter than originally planned. The scooter they have given me has a serious safety issue as I mentioned above. How this has passed safety I have no idea. If only they let me continue the cover, I would have been covered. So, feel I may have a claim against them, I don’t want to do this, but now I am stranded and stuck paying loads of money every month for no access. Just turning key brings up flashing spanner, Meaning the scooter knows it is very damaged.
It's just ashame the bumper has no shock absorbing ability to the shockwave.
If anyone can assist me here, I will be very grateful
