Motor Insurance-Legal Protection & Personal Accident RIP-OFF or WORTH IT?

66misog

Hi there,

I'm about to renew my insurance which has gone up £80 since last year anyway, I have gone through all the comparison sites etc.

It seem's the only way to keep the cost down is to leave off Personal Accident and Legal Protection, but am I wise to do so?

Years ago you would renew Full Comp and be done with, it's only lately these additional extra's seem to have appeared?

Surely if your insured your insured? I'm not sure what benefit all these extra's have?

Any idea's? As need to sort out today really.

Cheers

Quentin

They are just that - "extras". If you can afford them, then they give you that sense of security should you need to make a claim on them, but if the cost outweighs that, then no necessity to have them.

horsechestnut

Contact the insurance firm and ask exactly what you get for your money. Then you can decide if it is worth it for you.
10 years I was involved in an accident (not my fault) and the lawyers were involved. So I think that it is worth paying for.

mattymoo

Without the legal expenses cover you are pretty much on your own in terms of pursuing the other person for uninsured losses such as policy excess and injuries.

Quentin

Chasing uninsured losses isn't a problem if liability is not an issue. If it is, then the legal expenses cover you get as an add on will only help you if they consider you are likely to win the argument over liability. Otherwise you are "on your own" anyway, despite having paid for the legal expenses.

If liability is clear cut, you are better using a claim handler than legal expenses anyway. They won't charge you, and will ensure you get everything to which you are entitled out of the responsible party.

lisyloo

Just wanted to mention that there are cases when it can be useful (although what Quentin has said is of course correct).

My FIL hit a pedestrian a few years ago.
After the 3 year limit on personal injury claims the liability was agreed in my FILs favour.
The insurer (Norwich Union) paid out his excess directly and did not pursue the 3rd party.
They would no have done this if he hadn't paid the legal expenses insurance.

It's not a huge sum but I'm not sure you'd get a claims handler interested in this.
My MIL was much more interested in the letter that said it wasn't his fault, but nevertheless in this case it was worth having.

My advice is basically the same.
If you can afford it then take it for peace of mind.
If you really are struggling for £20 per year then don't take it, but I have to say there are usually better opportunities to save money elsewhere is people's budgets.

66misog

It's been decided that I'll go for the Legal after reading through everyone's replies - Thank you.
BUT, what about Personal Accident? Does anyone know what that means?
:eek:

mcjordi

it means that your insurance company will compensate you for your injuries even if the accident is your fault

66misog

Thank you so much everyone for explaining these to me in good plain old English, Have a lovely weekend!
:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

louloubell_3

Try Bell Insurance. We went with them thi syear and 2 months after we were involved in accident and they have been brilliant and still are.

minimike2

I find this part of the insurance to usually be very cheap and I certainly always take it. It invaluable.