mark bates ebor mobility john accident
John Brown receiving his new mobility scooter from Nathan Smith (left), Sales and Trading Executive for Mark Bates, and Andy Todd (right), Managing Director of Ebor Mobility

Ebor Mobility and insurance specialist Mark Bates have stepped in and presented pensioner John Brown with a new mobility scooter after a pavement parking and pothole incident resulted in severe injuries and his device being written off.

The incident occurred on the 2nd November when 75-year-old John from Grimsby was forced to leave the pavement which was blocked by a van and ride his mobility scooter in a cycle lane on the road.

Whilst riding on the path, his rear wheel struck the deep pothole, causing his mobility scooter to tip and leaving the elderly rider with several injuries, including fractured ribs.

In addition to his personal injuries, John’s mobility scooter – his lifeline to staying active, mobile and independent – was also written off, with damage so severe that the vital mobility aid was unsafe to drive.

Advertisement | Continue story below

Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), John’s condition means he’s unable to walk more than 10 yards without needing to rest.

In the three months that followed the accident, John’s insurance company and the local council failed to agree as to who was responsible for the accident, leaving John without a safe working scooter.

Learning of John’s plight, Ebor Mobility, a mobility specialist from Holme-on-Spalding-Moor and mobility scooter insurance company Mark Bates decided to step in and present him with a brand-new scooter.

In addition to the free, four-wheeled mobility scooter, John has also been given three months of free insurance by Mark Bates.

Speaking with Greg Morris, Engagement Manager at Mark Bates, he explained why the company decided to go out of its way to help.

“After 25 years of insuring mobility products, we understand the importance of these products to their independence,” he explained.

“This is a way we can give back to people that really rely on their equipment and get John out and about again. “

Speaking to Grimsby Live, Andy Todd, Managing Director of Ebor Mobility, discussed why he wanted to help John become mobile again.

“We strive to help people out, that is our main goal, we’re here to help people. So as long as we do, that’s what is important,” he told the local newspaper.

“I’ve known John for a good couple of years, he bought his old one from another one of our customers and we’ve helped him out with a few repairs that he’s needed.

“We had been speaking to him about what happened with his scooter for a while, but over the past couple of weeks we’ve managed to kick stuff off and get the ball rolling.”

The collaboration between Ebor Mobility and Mark Bates highlights the importance of dealers and suppliers to work closely together to support often vulnerable end-users in the industry who rely on their mobility aids.

“Working closely with our dealers is massively important and we can’t stress enough the importance of our business partners to our success,” continued Greg.

“They are our shop window but also help to shape the policies that we offer to cover their customers fully. Andy is a great guy who is dedicated to his customers and knows that we are there to support him and help in whatever way we can.”

The number of potholes across the breadth of England’s roads is on the rise, with the number of potholes reported by members of the public to local authorities increasing by 44 per cent between 2017 and 2018, according to data obtained by the RAC.

With local authorities having fewer resources to invest in general road upkeep, often to the dismay of motor vehicle users, cyclists and mobility aid users, THIIS asked Greg whether the insurance specialist has seen a rise in pothole accidents.

“We settle thousands of claims a year and see all sorts of eventualities,” he said.

“Potholes and poorly maintained pathways are a large contributor to our claims total. We work hard to make sure it is as simple as possible for our customers to get their repairs and replacements taken care of by their preferred mobility retailer.”

As Greg pointed out, however, there are several factors at play when it comes to roads and pavements, with local authorities under increasing pressure to deliver more with less.

“All local authorities take accessibility very seriously. Unfortunately, with the current bad weather and stretched budgets, we understand these accidents arise and are often no-ones fault,” finished Greg.

“This is why it is so important to have the correct protection in place should the worst happen and make sure users maintain their independence. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise of users who have no or completely inadequate cover in place for their needs, and are then left to struggle without their product.”

Recently, the Department for Transport’s Baroness Vere of Norbiton called on mobility retailers to do more to ensure the safety of their customers, with a key recommendation being to ensure customers “take out insurance to cover personal safety, other people’s safety and the value of the vehicle.”

THIIS ROUND-UP
Join the 3,750+ mobility professionals who stay informed with THIIS' twice-weekly industry updates.
We respect your privacy
https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/mark-bates-ebor-mobility-john-accident.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/mark-bates-ebor-mobility-john-accident-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettNewsroomRetailer NewsSupplier NewsTrade NewsAndy Todd,Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,COPD,Department for Transport,Ebor Mobility,Greg Morris,John Brown,Mark Bates,mobility accidents,mobility scooter,pavement parking,potholeEbor Mobility and insurance specialist Mark Bates have stepped in and presented pensioner John Brown with a new mobility scooter after a pavement parking and pothole incident resulted in severe injuries and his device being written off. The incident occurred on the 2nd November when 75-year-old John from Grimsby was...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals