Legal to drive with a broken ankle?

countingthepennies

Is it legal to drive in the UK with a broken ankle? Any advice gratefully received :-)

smunchkinp

dont know about the legalities, as long as you're in full control of the vehicle, i cant see why anyone would pull you over and see you've a broken ankle.

However, make a claim and the insurance people will more than likely use it as an excuse not to pay out

muckybutt

I dont think there are any specific laws that say you cant, however if stopped by plod they would probably take a dim view on it.

You have to make sure you have full control of the vehicle whilst you are driving it, you may also get into deep doo doo with your insurance.

vikingaero

Full control of the vehicle is the key. For instance I could drive Mrs V's automatic car with a broken left ankle if I wanted to.

Tiddlywinks

... also, what does your sick / fit note say?

When I had an op on my shoulder, I asked the doctor to specifically cover driving on the note.

mazza111

I can't see you being in full control of the car with a cast or even an air boot on unless it's the left foot and an automatic as Vikingaero stated.

Mike1966

Might not be illegal. But could be very difficult to be in complete control and in the event of an accident the preverbial might hit the fan.

Ultrasonic

Another cosideration would be the risk of further damage to the injured ankle. If someone stamped on the brake in an emergency situation with a broken right ankle, the result might not be good...

joedenise

I was advised by the hospital not to drive even though I drive an automatic - that was my left foot. The actual words used were "if you have an accident you won't have a leg to stand on with the insurance company"lol. Not sure the pun was intended though.

Denise

cyclonebri1

joedenise wrote: »

I was advised by the hospital not to drive even though I drive an automatic - that was my left foot. The actual words used were "if you have an accident you won't have a leg to stand on with the insurance company"lol. Not sure the pun was intended though.

Denise

But you wouldn't have anyway??? :o

The key is "have you been advised against driving??", if you have you are taking a real risk if it goes teats up,

thenudeone

There's are a lot of scaremongering here about insurers not paying out.

An insurance company will only pay out to a third party if you are at fault in some way. It doesn't matter whether that is because you misjudged a bend, failed to give way, were speeding, were drunk, were sending a text, or driving with a broken ankle. The insurers will cover your legal liability to other for damage and injuries that are your fault.

If you are not at fault (for example, because you have a heart attack at the wheel, and you weren't driving against medical advice) the insurer WILL NOT pay out to third parties for injuries or damage.

It is only very rarely that an insurer can or will attempt to reclaim payout costs from you. If they could, there would be little point in having third party insurance, because the policyholder would always end up paying personally anyway, and such a term in the policy would probably breach the Unfair Contract Terms Act

Some policies specially for convicted drink drivers now state that the insurer can reclaim the costs from the policyholder in drink-related accidents; but that's an exception. Check your policy exclusions. I would be very surprised if it excludes claims in circumstances like this.