Motor Legal Protection

StevieJ

Is this worth taking out? if you are insured what losses are you likely to have to recover apart from say excess. Is there anything major that you might not be covered for and this would help.

lisyloo

The main ones I can think of are loss of income if you can't work and personal injury.
These could be major for example if you were paralysed from the neck down and needed a bungalow and 24 hour care for the rest of your life.

For personal injury you can get a conditional fee agreement (no win no fee).

StevieJ

lisyloo wrote: »

The main ones I can think of are loss of income if you can't work and personal injury.
These could be major for example if you were paralysed from the neck down and needed a bungalow and 24 hour care for the rest of your life.

For personal injury you can get a conditional fee agreement (no win no fee).

Why doesn't your normal comprehensive insurance cover that?

Quentin

You might get a small amount of personal accident cover with comp insurance, but you need to claim for personal injuries from the responsible third party. If you are at fault and cause injury to yourself your motor policy won't cover this. (If you want to be covered, take out appropriate personal injury/accidental injury insurance)

StevieJ

Quentin wrote: »

You might get a small amount of personal accident cover with comp insurance, but you need to claim for personal injuries from the responsible third party. If you are at fault and cause injury to yourself your motor policy won't cover this. (If you want to be covered, take out appropriate personal injury/accidental injury insurance)

So if a 3rd party in injured and it is my fault, my insurance will pay up, if I am injured and it is my fault, tough, if I am injured and it is not my fault I will need Motor legal protection to sue whoever is responsible (or bring in an ambulance chaser). Does the insurance company do the spadework for you, getting lawyers etc?

lisyloo

Why doesn't your normal comprehensive insurance cover that?

Because it's car insurance not personal accident insurance (although as Quentin said some policies have a modest amoun included).

if I am injured and it is my fault, tough

Yes, if you want personal accident cover then buy it seperately.
You may have some sickness cover already for example I have permanent health insurance to cover my income nutil retirement if I'm sick (whether illness or accident), but it would not cover additional costs like house modifications.

if I am injured and it is not my fault I will need Motor legal protection to sue whoever is responsible (or bring in an ambulance chaser)

You could claim yourself direct, so it is not mandatory to have legal cover but generally you would want to get legal representation as you lack the knowledge of the legal system to negotiate the best offer and don't know what injuries are "worth". Furthermore you could be in hospital/coma/paralysed etc.

Does the insurance company do the spadework for you, getting lawyers etc?

If you take the legal insurance then yes.
If you don't then I'm sure they would be willing to recommend someone (for which they take a referral fee). This does not mean that person would be good or local (and able to visit you in hospital).
It's a bit like their "recommended" garages. They aren't necessarily superior, they are merely the ones that give them the best discounts/commission.
So sure they will help but they won't necessarily be the best solicitor for you.
If I were recovering from serious injuries then I would personally want a solicitor who would be able to visit me if that became necessary.

StevieJ

lisyloo wrote: »

Yes, if you want personal accident cover then buy it seperately.
You may have some sickness cover already for example I have permanent health insurance to cover my income nutil retirement if I'm sick (whether illness or accident), but it would not cover additional costs like house modifications.

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The problem is I don't need the bells and whistles of income protection but it would be nice to have insurance to cover other necessities if you were badly injured in a car crash.

lisyloo

The problem is I don't need the bells and whistles of income protection

Really?
You could manage without an income? Good for you.

but it would be nice to have insurance to cover other necessities if you were badly injured in a car crash.

Then you probably need personal accident cover which would pay out a lump sum.
A lump sum could cover house alterations (stair lift), alternative therapy, care etc.
You should obvious check that it doesn't exclude motoring accidents if that's your main concern.