Legal Cover with Car Insurance

The_Bloodster · 1 November 2007 at 12:03AM

I have been looking at renewing my car insurance and I have always just selected to have legal cover - but in all the years i've been driving I've never needed it. Do I really need to buy it and if I was to have an accident and not have it could I get it after the event as it were for the same price the insurers offer it at?

Thanks

brazilianwax · 1 November 2007 at 12:04AM

The_Bloodster wrote: »

I have been looking at renewing my car insurance and I have always just selected to have legal cover - but in all the years i've been driving I've never needed it. Do I really need to buy it and if I was to have an accident and not have it could I get it after the event as it were for the same price the insurers offer it at?

Thanks

You couldn't get it after the event (it would defeat the object!).

Mind you, there might be some cross over if you have legal cover with your home insurance.

skyler_2 · 1 November 2007 at 12:19PM

Hi Bloodster

I personally would encourage you to have legal protection cover on your insurance, as in the event of an accident, you are covered for expert advice relating to your accident. I know it's easy to say that you haven't needed it in the past but this is what insurance is for - it's there in the event that you DO need it. Legal protection insurance is not something you can purchase 'after' the event, it has to be in place before. You do not have to take out your legal protection at the same time as you take out your car insurance and you do not have to buy it from the same insurer as you buy your car insurance from.

All that said, I've been quoted £30 for this cover which I think is a bit extreme but I managed to find a much better deal, some £25.00 cheaper.

This was for £4.99 and this was with Best Advice UK. Their phone no. is 0800 085 1898 or you can visit their website - www.bestadviceuk.co.uk . Looking at my policy now it says I'm covered for specialist accident advice, compensation for injuries, recovery of losses, legal costs upto a value of £50,000.00, replacement vehicle facility, out of hours appointments and home visits, free accident helpline 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, which for £4.99 is more than adequate cover for me and a bargain.

I hope this helps you.

Badger_Lady · 1 November 2007 at 12:25PM

Some good advice abov... As always, with insurance, you don't need any of it (driving obligation aside), but it helps to mediate the financial risk of an accident happening.

Personally, I don't choose legal cover because it's generally disproportionately expensive and I think I'm unlikely to need it - therefore I'm taking an additional risk in turn for saving money.

If I did get involved in a complicated car accident and needed legal assistance, I would have to pay for it myself. But, since I think it's unlikely, I'm prepared to take that risk. You might be a more cautious person who would rather have the assurance of legal cover.

However, if you can get it cheap as above, go for it! My buildings insurance came with free legal cover this year, so there's certainly no harm :-)

computerbar · 1 November 2007 at 12:34PM

I am sure it is just another insurance like PPI scam from insurance companies.

What I understands that is where those NO-WIN-NO-FEE (now even no fee in any case even you win) lawyers comes handy.

No you have third party insurance anyway which they will pay to the other party in case of accident.
so if you do not have legal cover and you are the victim of car accident then I think it is better to use these NWNF for maximum payout.

Anybody please confirm if I am right and explain it detail.

regards

skyler_2 · 1 November 2007 at 12:56PM

Hi Computerbar

I don't think this is a scam. My understanding is that if you go down the 'no win no fee' route, then you would have to find a solicitor prepared to take your case on as a 'no win no fee' case which would be extra time and effort on you part. Whereas, if you have the legal protection in place, you already have a panel of good quality Solicitors at your disposal, specialising in this type of legal work, who will do exactly what it says on the policy.

I've just read through my policy documents and as well as the benefits I mentioned earlier, the legal protection will also mean that your excess is recovered by the person whom you have legal protection with, rather than you having to recover it yourself. I didn't know that when you have an accident, whether it is your fault or not, you have to pay the excess up front and then re-claim it back from the other person's insurer, if the accident is not your fault. The legal protection company will also do that for you which again saves time and effort.

Again, from my point of view, £4.99 is money well spent as it saves me all the hassle and gives me piece of mind that I'm covered and other trained professionals handle all the hassle for me. As I have said though, I wouldn't pay £30 for it - that's too expensive.

anynamewilldo_2 · 2 November 2007 at 3:16PM

I agree that you are probably being ripped off - I too was quoted 30 quid, and decided against it, though there are one or two places which offer free legal cover. What's really hard to define is what kind of circumstance legal cover actually covers you for. Anyone care to shed any light on this? All the examples I know of are ones where No Win No Fee is likely to be a really good option. E.g. you skid and crash on mud left by a construction vehicle leaving a building site. You take photos of the mud tracks leading to the site (aren't digi cameras handy!) and have clear evidence that the mud is to blame. A NWNF lawyer will then take up your case to sue the construction company (who are obliged to clean the wheels before the vehicle leaves site) and away you go.

mattymoo · 2 November 2007 at 4:15PM

The "no win, no fee" brigade normally only take clear cut cases where they can get a 100% payout. For many car accidents that is fine.

Legal protection cover will also fight your ground on split liability cases. There is another thread on the go at the moment where Astonsmummy is pursuing a claim for injuries and property damage. It looks like it is going to settle 50/50 so she will only recover half her damages. This is all being funded by the legal protection cover though.

Anynamewilldo - legal protection cover would act in your mud on road example but any case like that will need good evidence to support it.

Policy prices tend to be around the £5-15 mark so the quote of £30 does seem OTT.

Legal Cover with Car Insurance

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