Applying for group 2 licence after a TBI - Headway

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Applying for group 2 licence after a TBI

Reeve77 profile image
8 Replies

Hi, last year I suffered a TBI after a fall down some steps, after a few weeks in hospital I went home where I made a full recovery, I had my car licence revoked for 6 months which I now have back. I recently applied for a group 2 licence but was refused in the grounds that I may be above a 2% risk of having a seizure, I have never ever had a seizure and it has been over 12 months since my accident, my GP says she can't write a letter as it is too specialist for her and I have written to my consultant asking for a letter, has anyone else had this trouble? How did you get on? Is there some sort of independent test or assessment I can do to show I am below a 2% risk per annum? It has been 15 months now and like I said I have never had a seizure, many thanks

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Reeve77 profile image
Reeve77
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8 Replies
RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman

I guess the question is how are they working out that your above 2%?

Epilepsy is fairly common after a brain injury though the risks demise with time.

I suspect giving the medical DVLA number a ring to clarify.

Reeve77 profile image
Reeve77 in reply to RogerCMerriman

Hi, thanks for the reply, trust me I have been on the phone many times, apparently they came to that conclusion because the box that asks have you suffered a TBI in the last ten years was ticked yes (as it should be) that was enough to say I'm above a 2% risk..........

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman in reply to Reeve77

sadly having a BI and a TBI in particular increase the risk of Epilepsy is increased above normal population, if DVLA are using 10 years to, assume a over 2% risk that is going to be difficult to argue, Need to find out the exact reason if it's simply a TBI within 10 years.

Reeve77 profile image
Reeve77 in reply to RogerCMerriman

I spoke with them today again, it is just the risk factor within ten years however they have now said that a letter saying that my consultant has reasonable belief that I am at 2% or below and to also say that to date I have never had a seizure will be good enough.......watch this space

Reeve77 profile image
Reeve77 in reply to RogerCMerriman

Hi, sorry for the late info but thought you may be interested, so, apparently the average person is based on a risk of 1% of having a seizure (that is everyone) after having a head injury they put you up to above a 2% risk, % risk going higher based on the injury, any open brain surgery or any surgery intervention would put you on a 10 year ban from applying for a group 2 licence, mine wasn’t due to the fact I have haemophilia so no intervention was taken (I guess in this case it did me a favour) so no surgery means no ban, my private consultant and the nhs consultant both agreed I was no more risk than the average person 1% or below, therefore was granted my group 2, I have also just passed my theory with 94% pass 😀😀😀😀

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman in reply to Reeve77

Ooh well done on the theory test! I’m old enough that that there wasn’t much of a theory test!

DTBI profile image
DTBI

Can understand their stance as I had the first seizure I've ever had 11mths after my TBI. Suspect it depends on the exact type of injury your brain encountered so should be down to a Neuro expert to support you. Good luck & Merry Christmas.

Reeve77 profile image
Reeve77

After many many months and many letters I have finally been given my group 2 on my licence!!!!!

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