Blue Badge Insurance Australia. Powered Scooters and Wheelchairs
Blue Badge Insurance Australia offers comprehensive insurance designed specifically for people with disabilities and limited mobility. They insure mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.
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Details
Their products Cover you, your equipment for theft or accidental damage and insure you against third party liability Include a 21 day money back guarantee Cover any legal user you authorise, not just yourself Are supported by their simple and fast claims process The products are 100% underwritten by certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s.
Comprehensive Mobility Scooter Insurance (also applies to Electric/Power wheelchairs) Policy Benefits Accidental Loss and Damage in Australia Repair or replacement of a damaged mobility scooter Loss or damage by fire to your mobility scooter Loss or damage by theft/vandalism to your mobility scooter Loss or damage by flood to your mobility scooter2 Equipment Accessories. cover for loss, theft or damage up to 500
Additional Benefits Personal items that get lost, stolen or damaged while using your mobility scooter Costs incurred to get you and/or your mobility scooter home following accident ‘New for old’ mobility scooter replacement for a total loss for mobility scooters up to 2 years old, from new Temporary insurance cover for replacement mobility scooter whilst yours is being repaired Daily hospital incidentals cash benefit if you are injured following an accident while using your mobility scooter Distress payment following physical assault while using your mobility scooter Cover any legal user you authorise to use your mobility scooter, not just yourself Lump sum payment (to your estate) if you die due to an injury sustained while using your mobility scooter
Liability Third party injury cover3 (for scooters) and Third party injury cover2 (for electric wheelchairs), : protects you if you hit and injure somebody while using your mobility scooter Third party property cover: protects you if you hit and damage somebody’s property while using your mobility scooter
Overseas Cover Cover whilst being transported overseas by air or sea Automatic 21 days overseas cover for: Accidental loss, damage or theft Injury to other people (excluding USA and Canada) Damage to other people’s property
Other Benefits Repairer network for fast and fair claims handling Approved repair costs paid direct to repairer, so you won’t need to pay for repairs and wait to be reimbursed
Considerations
Request a copy or download and read the Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide from the supplier’s website before purchasing.
235.00 per year Electric Wheelchair insurance only From 235.00 per year for Electric Wheelchair insurance plus Blue Badge Community membership (monthly payment options available)
185.00 per year for Mobility Scooter insurance only From 185.00 per year for Mobility Scooter insurance plus Blue Badge Community membership (monthly payment options available)
Standards
Standards Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For more information about standards also see http://at-aust.org/home/assistive_technology/standards.html
TGA Many of the items on the Assistive Technology Australia website are categorised as a Medical Device. Medical devices that are approved for use in Australia have been entered into a national database called the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), which is maintained by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). You can ask the supplier for the ARTG number for the device you wish to purchase and search the ARTG for the entry. To access information on the ARTG visit www.tga.gov.au
When buying a medical device it is advisable to only choose a medical device that is recommended by a healthcare professional and has been included on the ARTG.
Does my auto insurance cover me if I am operating an e-scooter?
Unfortunately, most auto insurance does not cover electric scooter accidents because the liability insurance policy for motor vehicles typically covers only the particular automobile explicitly written into the policy. In some limited instances, however, other policies such as an umbrella policy or health insurance may cover electric scooter riders depending on the circumstances of the accident or the terms of your insurance policy. What the policy covers (liability, med pay, health insurance, etc.) is also highly dependent on the terms of the policy.
You should check with your insurance agent or company to see if you have liability coverage before hopping on an electric scooter.
If I am injured by a driver while operating an e-scooter, does the driver’s automobile insurance cover my accident?
If you are seriously injured while operating an e-scooter because of a driver’s negligence, that driver’s automobile insurance will cover your injuries and missed work. You will need to file a claim with the driver’s insurer and provide evidence that the driver was at fault for the accident.
In Illinois, a negligent driver’s insurance will cover you up to the policy limits for:
- Medical bills from bodily injury
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a normal life
- Mental anguish
What if I am injured while riding an e-scooter and the at-fault driver does not have insurance or refuses to pay?
If you are involved in an accident while riding an e-scooter, and the at-fault driver does not have insurance or refuses to pay, you may be able to file a claim against your own automobile insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident while riding an e-scooter, and the at-fault driver has no insurance and flees the scene in their vehicle, you may be able to file a claim against your own automobile insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
It is important to discuss your case with an attorney to see if you have a claim, as there may be other options available to you. An experienced Chicago electric scooter accident lawyer will have resources to investigate and track down the at-fault driver.
Common Shared Electric Scooter Accidents
Out of all e-scooter related injuries during Chicago’s pilot program, 93% involved the riders themselves. Across the United States, over 80% of all e-scooter fatalities are caused by a collision with motor vehicles.
The number of e-scooter accidents and injuries will undoubtedly rise alongside the rise in popularity of scooter sharing as a means of transportation.
Below are some common e-scooter accident examples along who should be held responsible.
Hit By Car
Even though e-scooters are required by law to ride on the road in Chicago, distracted or inattentive drivers may not see an e-scooter operator until it is too late. A large portion of e-scooter accidents are actually caused by automobiles striking operators from behind on the road. If you are negligently struck and injured by an automobile driver, that driver’s automobile insurance may cover your injuries for up to the policy limits.
Hit By Municipal Truck
If you are negligently struck by a municipal vehicle or a private company-owned vehicle, you may be able to recover against both the driver and the municipality or company the driver works for. Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, an employer is held liable whenever one of its employees negligently causes an injury while acting in the scope of their employment. In this instance, both the driver and the municipality can be held liable for your injuries.
Hit By Biker or Another E-Scooter
These accidents oftentimes occur at intersections and near crosswalks. If you were negligently struck by a biker or another e-scooter, you may be able to recover if the operator has an insurance policy that covers bikes, e-scooters, and other forms of transportation.
Whether coverage exists is highly dependent on the circumstances of the accident and the terms of any insurance policies.
E-Scooter Malfunctions or Suddenly Decelerates
Numerous complaints have arisen in recent years of poor shared e-scooter maintenance, sudden decelerations, and other malfunctions while riders are renting their e-scooters.
Some popular e-scooter companies, including Lime and Bird, have even been the subject of class action complaints about the design, manufacturing, and maintenance defects in their products. In some instances, e-scooters have suddenly decelerated, throwing their operators off the ride platform. In others, electric scooters handlebars have fallen off, causing riders to lose control. Some e-scooters have started fatal housefires.
If you were injured due to a design or manufacturing defect in your shared e-scooter, you may be able to file a direct action against the e-scooter company itself.
E-Scooter Strikes Pothole
If you were injured by striking a pothole on a city road, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and expenses. According to the IIHS, e-scooter riders are twice as likely to be injured because of a pothole than a bicyclist.
The City of Chicago is legally obligated to safely maintain its roadways. That includes properly repairing any dangerous potholes it knew or should have had knowledge of.
If the city failed to maintain its roads and that led to your injuries, you may be able to recover for your damages.
Insurance
Is your mobility scooter not working properly or are you in need of some mobility scooter spare parts? Scooters Australia have experienced manufacturing and service technicians that can get your mobility scooter in working order again.
Book a Test Drive
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There is no question that mobility scooters are a safe and easy way to get around for people who find it difficult to walk long distances.
Most users feel perfectly safe on their scooter, particularly if they have purchased their scooter from a reputable dealer who has trained them on how to safely operate and maintain their device. You can read more about scooter safety here.
But unfortunately accidents sometimes happen, and occasionally a scooter is stolen. According to a survey 25% of mobility scooter users have had an accident at some point, even if it’s only minor.
The most common causes of electric scooter accidents include those caused by poorly made footpaths and ramps, cars running into scooters (even when they are parked), and pedestrian accidents.
Having an accident, or having it stolen, can be both distressing and inconvenient as you may need to have it repaired or replaced, leaving you without your scooter for a while. And it might also leave you exposed to expensive repair costs and even third party liability if the accident caused damage to other people or their property.
Scooters Australia recommends you think seriously about protecting yourself by insuring you and your scooter.
To help you get covered, we have partnered with Blue Badge Insurance –
Australia’s first independence and mobility insurance specialist. Blue Badge have developed a comprehensive insurance policy for mobility scooters with tailored benefits to help you if you are involved in an accident, including:
- Repair or replacement of a damaged mobility scooter
- Loss or damage by fire, flood, theft or vandalism
- Third party injury cover: protects you if you hit and injure somebody while using your mobility scooter
- Third party property cover: protects you if you hit and damage somebody’s property while using your mobility scooter
- Costs incurred to get you and/or your mobility scooter home following accident
- Cover any legal user you authorise to use your mobility scooter, not just yourself
- Overseas cover
To find out more about Blue Badge Insurance and their products, click here or call 1300 304 802.
Do you need insurance?
No, it is not a legal requirement to have insurance on a disability scooter. However, with the rising number of personal claims for injury from those that have ben hit and injured by these vehicles and for accidents that are caused by them, we highly recommend that insurance be obtained. If you have an accident and it transpires that it was your fault, you will have to pay compensation, repair bills and any medical expenses that may occur to you and/or a third party.
In Benidorm, the law has now been changed and it requires all hire companies to provide third party liability insurance to cover any damage caused to other vehicles, property and to public roads.
Be Warned!
Insurance in Spain offer Fully comprehensive insurance packages that cover for theft or damage to the vehicle you are using and cover for damage to other vehicles and / or medical expenses. Please note an invoice for the purchase price of the motorised vehicle will be required on request of an insurance quote.
Apparently not. It is not a legal requirement at this time to register any disability scooter. We do believe that this is being considered due to the high number of them in Spain being used in holiday resorts as a cheap means of transport. With the ever increasing number of disability scooter thefts, incidents and accidents taking place with uninsured scooters, it is only a question of time before the local authorities request some kind of registration process.
Local towns like Benidorm on the Costa Blanca have instigated requirements that all Mobility scooters carry a registration identification badge so that the rental hire firm can be identified in the event of an incident.
As a result of them not being classifies as motor vehicles no form of road tax is payable.
Parking
All normal parking restrictions apply to mobility scooters and electric or powered wheelchairs.
You are not permitted to carry any passengers on or in a mobility scooter. Any mobility scooter that is designed to carry two people cannot be used on the road or pavement as they do not meet the official terms of an invalid carriage in law.
The law does not clarify if children/babies carried in a pouch is lawful. Make the assumption that this is not allowed and stay on the right side of the law.
What Does Moped and Scooter Insurance Cover?
Moped and scooter insurance generally includes coverage types similar to motorcycle and car insurance, such as:
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
Moped and scooter bodily injury liability insurance covers injuries you accidentally cause others in an accident. Property damage liability pays for damage you accidentally cause to someone else’s property, such as a car, fence or pole.
Collision and Comprehensive Insurance
Collision and comprehensive insurance are separate, optional coverage types, but are often sold together. If you have a lease or loan on your moped or scooter, your leasing company or lender will likely require you to carry these coverage types.
- Collision insurance pays for repairs if your moped or scooter is damaged in an accident, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive insurance covers problems such as theft and damage to your moped or scooter from vandalism, flood, fire, falling objects or striking an animal.
Carried Contents and Belongings
Carried contents and belonging coverage pays if your belongings are damaged, stolen or lost while you’re riding the moped or scooter.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage, also known as MedPay, covers medical bills and funeral costs for you or your passengers if you’re in an accident, no matter who was at fault.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists
Uninsured motorist insurance pays for you and your passengers’ medical bills, lost income and other expenses if someone crashes into you and they do not have liability insurance. Underinsured motorist insurance pays for your injuries if the at-fault driver does not have adequate liability insurance.
Moped and Scooter Insurance Discounts
When you insure a moped or scooter you may be able to score a discount such as:
- Multi-policy discount.Bundling insurance is when you buy two or more policies from one insurance company and get a discount. You may be able to bundle moped or scooter coverage with another insurance type, such as auto, home, RV or boat insurance.
- Multi-vehicle discount. When you insure more than one vehicle, such as a car, motorcycle, moped, ATV or snowmobile, you might get a discount. You may also qualify for a multi-vehicle discount if you insure at least two mopeds or scooters.
- Safety discount. If you take an approved moped or scooter safety course, you may be able to pick up a discount.
- Storage discount. Some companies give discounts if you keep the moped or scooter in a garage.
How Much Is Moped and Scooter Insurance?
Moped and scooter insurance can be as cheap as 4 to 6 per month. For example, scooter insurance through Progressive is as low as 75 a year for basic liability insurance. A company called Voom sells pay-per-mile coverage for mopeds and scooters that it says costs as little as 50 a year. Those are inexpensive compared to how much motorcycle insurance costs, which is an average of 178 per month, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis.
To find the best deal on moped and scooter insurance, compare quotes from multiple insurers—starting with your current insurance company for car, home or renters insurance.
Your cost for moped and scooter insurance depends on factors such as:
- Coverage you choose
- Driving record
- Engine size
- Location of your home
- Mileage
- Model, make and vehicle year of moped or scooter
- Years of riding experience
- Your age
Do I Need Insurance If I Rent a Moped, Scooter or E-Scooter?
Insurance laws vary by location regarding mopeds, scooters and e-scooters insurance, so depending on the state and city you’re renting in, you may need insurance.
Before hopping on a rented moped, scooter, e-bike or e-scooter, review the rental agreement’s terms of service to see if any insurance is provided or if you’re left personally liable and responsible if you don’t buy your own insurance. Ask for clarification if you’re uncertain about whether insurance is required and what—if any—coverage is included with the rental contract.
For instance, the Texas Department of Insurance notes some cities in Texas require scooter rental companies to have insurance coverage, but this mainly covers damage to public property, not injuries or other property damage, like damage to a vehicle you crash into.
Will My Car Insurance Cover a Rented Moped, Scooter or E-scooter?
Don’t assume your car insurance will extend to a rental of a moped, scooter or e-scooter, as most likely it will not.
While car insurance coverage usually extends to a rental car, it doesn’t typically cover a rented motorcycle, moped, scooter or e-scooter. That’s because these vehicles have fewer than four wheels.
Will Motorcycle Insurance Cover a Rented Moped, Scooter or E-scooter?
Yes, it might. Some insurance companies extend motorcycle insurance coverage to rentals of other two-wheeled vehicles. For example, with Foremost’s Elite motorcycle insurance package a rental motorcycle or moped is covered under the policy’s enhanced rental coverage.
If you need insurance for a rented two-wheeled vehicle and have a personal motorcycle, moped or scooter insurance policy, contact your insurance company to verify what coverage will extend to rentals.
A motorcycle insurance policy (or one for a moped or gas-powered seated scooter) likely won’t extend to an electric scooter because it’s not a two-wheeled vehicle and you stand on the e-scooter.