car legal costs insurance

indigo_girl

Hi

Advice please - my car insurance is due for renewal, should I bother with the extra £25 or so to buy legal cost insurance?

Ninty

I always buy it. My grandad originally suggested that I did, so I went ahead with it.

In my first year I had an accident (which was my fault) where someone was seriously injured and Norwich Union appointed a TOP solicitor from Cardiff on my behalf.

We went back and forth to court and police stations and they were with me every step of the way. In total, including compensation claims, I believe that around £30K (Thousand) was spent by them.

I could NEVER have afforded it on my own, I honestly believe that without their help I would have ended up with a SERIOUS ban and fine OR both. I could not have afforded such a good solicitor, I would have been in serious trouble.

I always recommend people buy legal cover, it was worth the £15 I paid for it. If legal cover was £125, id still buy it.

Think of the costs involved if you knocked someone off their bike as you were driving past them etc...Its just not worth leaving it and then wishing that you had bought it afterwards.

Quentin

The legal cover you were given was as part of the insurance policy and nothing to do with the extra "legal cover" which you paid for.

(It was in the interests of the NU to ensure you got off as lightly as possible, and to have their lawyers negotiate the compensation for the injuries you caused)

The extra legal assistance is primarily designed to provide you with the means to pursue any uninsured losses you might suffer when involved in an accident caused by a third party. It is only provided if they believe you have a good chance of winning.

dacouch

For the record if you have an accident that is your fault, any legal costs in defending your claim are paid for by your Insurers, its a standard part of the policy. This is irrespective of whether you have paid for Legal Expense Cover.

Legal Expense Cover is for claiming things from the other driver that are not covered by your own insurance such as your excess, injuries and loss of earnings etc when the accident is not your fault

Ninty

OK, fair point. I was not aware of that. I would still seriously recommend it to anyone though. I was under the impression that if it WAS your fault, there would be less help from them legally in the event of an accident.

Originally, after the accident, as no other cars were involved I received a letter from them saying that due to the circumstances, no legal cover was available from them (I can't remember the exact wording as it was a while ago) but after I pleaded with them that I had taken out additional cover, they seemed to be more helpful.

In any case, insurance is already expensive enough, another £25 on top of the original policy is hardly going to break the bank. My latest insurance was still over £1000, but I spent £24 extra for the legal protection.

Quentin

The legal cover that you were refused was the extra cover you had paid for. As already mentioned this is only provided if there is a reasonable chance you are going to win any claim for damages from the third party.

But again as already posted, in the event of you causing injury or death, then your insurer does provide legal representation should you end up being charged under the RTA. This is representation in the criminal courts, not the county courts (which you would use if necessary to recover uninsured losses using the add on legal cover).

When the accident is your fault, then your insurer is liable for the damage/injury you cause to third parties. Paying for extra legal cover does not affect this in any way.

indigo_girl

Thanks for the info everyone. So ....... does that mean that without the additional cover only my car would be covered in the event of a bad accident that, say, left me badly injured and in need of perhaps lengthy physiotherapy or even (i"m a doom monger) needing changes to my home if I was wheelchair bound?
Would I have to take the other party to court to get that sort of help? and if so what about those solicitors that offer 'no fee no result' help? would those in fact be better as I could appoint my own solicitors instead of the one supplied by the legal help policy?
More questions!......sorry......

Quentin

Your normal comprehensive insurance covers any injury you cause to others. In your scenario, if the bad accident was your fault, then your insurer would pay compensation for all injuries you caused to passengers or third parties (though you - the driver - would not get any compensation).

Were the bad accident caused by a third party, then you would appoint your own solicitor to deal with your compensation for uninsured losses. (Whose fees would be paid by the liable party).

annellen

Hi I am new to this and cannot find where to start a new thread so will ask my question anyway. My son was a passenger in a car involved in an accident his friend who was driving had no legal cover so has been recommended a "no win no fee" company. It was not his friends fault and the other driver was arrested. Looking at the paperwork from this company they want my son to take out an "after the events" policy to insure against any claims made by the other party. This seems ludicrous and can anyone tell me if this is some sort of scam as I have the feeling the policy will not be cheap.
thanks