Practicality of a car/independence whilst not walking

northerntwo1

As above. I really want more independence and consultant says its likely to be another 6 months in an air cast. I was therefore thinking of buying an automatic car as its my left leg that's in the cast.

But my worry is that it could still provide problems. For example as I need a zimmer or crutches (none weight bearing for a while still) I need space to open the door. If someone parked to the side of me I'd not be able to get back into the car.

What other things should I consider as its a large purchase so I want to try to consider all angles. It's things like I still can't work out how I'd do a full shop but there are people with far worse mobility issues who do, but I honestly can't work out how I'd do this. I'm ok now on crutches but need 2 crutches.

Thanks in advance for replies.

rachaelpie

Are u entitled.to.the higher.rate disability allowance? If so u.could.rent/hire a car.on.the scheme for.6months.
Also.a.disabled parking badge would allow u to.park.in.the larger.spaces, even.if.ur not entitled to.higher rate dla u can have ur.consultant write a letter.to.council explaining.ur reasons.for needing.one, that may help?

sueturnersmith

rachaelpie wrote: »

Are u entitled.to.the higher.rate disability allowance? If so u.could.rent/hire a car.on.the scheme for.6months.
Also.a.disabled parking badge would allow u to.park.in.the larger.spaces, even.if.ur not entitled to.higher rate dla u can have ur.consultant write a letter.to.council explaining.ur reasons.for needing.one, that may help?

It sounds like the OP's disability is temporary, so he/she would not be entitled to DLA with motability or a blue badge.

For shopping, have you considered buying online and getting them to deliver? All major supermarkets will do this, as will many other shops.

Chorlie

Don't take this the wrong way or think I'm being horrible but welcome to the world of being disabled (in a wheelchair), this is what we have to cope with everyday and our legs won't be fixed in a few weeks. Whenever I go out I never know if when I get back to my car if I'll have enough room to get back in it (even when parked in a disabled parking space) or having to ask strangers for help to reach items in shops and having to rely on family / friends when needed to do a big shop / buy big items which I can't carry.

For you it's harder in someways since you can't get a blue badge or DLA, changing your car seems a big thing for only a few weeks, but online shopping makes big shops easier and amazon is great for almost anything else; you'll soon find very quickly who your true friends are. You could look at buying a secondhand wheelchair / scooter (look on eBay) this might make it easier to get out & to carry items.

System

Before taking the plunge on buying a car I suggest you talk to some insurers about driving with one leg in a cast as they may not be willing to provide cover in those circumstances.

rogerblack

Heartily agree with the online shopping.
Is it completely ideal - no.
Is it a hell of a lot easier than struggling round the shops - absolutely.
For 6 months only - think carefully about what you want to do.
If you knock out shopping - with online delivery - would taxis work?
This could work out cheaper even.

northerntwo1

Thanks all. I do online shopping but miss things like shopping and seeing if that meat is fatty, choosing my own veg and other things.

I know it's a big purchase hence why there's probably loads I'm not thinking of. It's been months already in a hard cast and will be 6 more months minimum. Then I need at least 1 further operation and because 1 break was a bone joint highly likely to have arthritis and other problems long term. Estimate by consultant is a year before walking unaided.

I know I'm blessed that this is only hopefully temporary but then because its temporary it has its own problems.

I have a mobility scooter to do school runs that costs £65 a week plus I'm paying for taxis to ferry children around and get to work. Then I just think but would it change much anyway. My consultant is happy for me to drive an automatic but I will need to check with my insurers I didn't think it would be a problem if I had a letter saying fit to drive.

northerntwo1

Chorlie wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way or think I'm being horrible but welcome to the world of being disabled (in a wheelchair), this is what we have to cope with everyday and our legs won't be fixed in a few weeks. Whenever I go out I never know if when I get back to my car if I'll have enough room to get back in it (even when parked in a disabled parking space) or having to ask strangers for help to reach items in shops and having to rely on family / friends when needed to do a big shop / buy big items which I can't carry.

For you it's harder in someways since you can't get a blue badge or DLA, changing your car seems a big thing for only a few weeks, but online shopping makes big shops easier and amazon is great for almost anything else; you'll soon find very quickly who your true friends are. You could look at buying a secondhand wheelchair / scooter (look on eBay) this might make it easier to get out & to carry items.

I hope you don't think I'm rude but how often does that happen? If you didn't have a BB would it make driving pointless. Do you find people do help if you get stuck. I'm my own worst enemy as hate asking for help and friends have been amazing for the last few months but I crave independence.

I know I'm lucky that this is temporary and do have a newly understood respect for those who are like this long term. I watched a man yesterday with no legs at the hospital and he just whizzed around. It made me stop my whinging but also made me realise that I need to try to get as close to independent as I can as I have a young family and its a long 6 weeks stuck indoors.

dori2o

If you are going to be unable to drive/walk for 6 months then apply for 'Access to Work', that will provide funding for taxi's to and from work.

Even though you are tempted to buy an automatic car as there is no clutch to worry about, you may find that you are unable to drive anyway depending on what your Dr and/or your insurance company say.

Chorlie

The older I get the less independent I'm becoming, so having to ask more often but I try to do things myself first.

I do have a Blue Badge, if there isn't a free disabled parking space I have to use a normal one, I try for an end space so no one can park next to me, but a disabled space doesn't always help, not long ago I was parked in a disabled space and I was parked in it but a little to the left to give my maximum space to open my door so I could lift my chair in / out, the car next to my must of been a little towards the right, because when I came back a mini had parked between us so I could get into my car. This has happened several time; I've also had someone park behind me when he came back after waiting 20mins, he said he'd only been a few mins and I can't be in a rush since I'm disabled when asked what he meant he said well its not like you have a job......at the time I did have a job. I've had someone shouting because I'd parked in a disabled space even thou my friend was getting my wheelchair out of the boot, when he pointed that out to her she said so what where is your blue badge she he showed it to her saying a few Russian words.....it used to be bad in the 70’s when I was growing up, everyone seemed to stare at you or the does he want a drink or just being called names.....it had got better but of late its going worse with all the bad press of benefits cheats etc.

sunnyone

Chorlie wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way or think I'm being horrible but welcome to the world of being disabled (in a wheelchair), this is what we have to cope with everyday and our legs won't be fixed in a few weeks. Whenever I go out I never know if when I get back to my car if I'll have enough room to get back in it (even when parked in a disabled parking space) or having to ask strangers for help to reach items in shops and having to rely on family / friends when needed to do a big shop / buy big items which I can't carry.

For you it's harder in someways since you can't get a blue badge or DLA, changing your car seems a big thing for only a few weeks, but online shopping makes big shops easier and amazon is great for almost anything else; you'll soon find very quickly who your true friends are. You could look at buying a secondhand wheelchair / scooter (look on eBay) this might make it easier to get out & to carry items.

northerntwo1 wrote: »

I hope you don't think I'm rude but how often does that happen? If you didn't have a BB would it make driving pointless. Do you find people do help if you get stuck. I'm my own worst enemy as hate asking for help and friends have been amazing for the last few months but I crave independence

When I was an active wheelchair user I have gone to a larger village and there was only two bays suitable for a wheelchair user and both were taken so I waited, one car went and a pickup nearly hit me in its haste to take the bay (no badge), it parked diagonally acroos the bay and made rude gestues at me. They went to the offy and got crates af beer which they put in the rear of the pickup and started to drink, all the time laughing at me waiting to park. The other bay became vacant but I couldnt use it because of the way they parked. I waited a good twenty minutes them I had to leave to pick my son up from school.

Thats not a one off, Ive lost count of the number of times I had to wait for others to move their cars so that I can get back into my car or the bays are two narrow for wheelchair users, Ive gone also fone home many times without doing my buisness because I couldnt get parked.

I now have a WAV which has a six foot ramp that comes out the passenger side, I park as far from the shop as possible and park where there are no other vehicles but many times I get back to the car to find a car parked on that side so I cant get into my car. Every other space will be empty by the way.

I have an agreement with the supermarket I regularly use so that I can use two regular bays, but I still get back to the car and find cars that have ignored the bay markings to prevent me from getting in my car!

I cant see any insurance company covering you to drive while you are recovering, you would also have to speak to Swansea to make sure your licence is ok.