Holiday Insurance - personal liability

bjorn_toby_wilde

Hi folks

Just booked a cycling holiday in Germany and checking my Annual travel insurance policy I notice that it doesn't cover me whilst cycling for "Personal Accident" or "Personal Liability".

I'm not too worried about the Personal Accident side but just wanted to check my facts as regards Personal Liability.

Is Personal Liability normally part of home insurance cover? My Legal and General policy wording seems to say I'm covered for liability at law to third parties as 1. occupier, 2. employer of employees in domestic duties and 3. "as a private individual anywhere in the world" but when I phoned their helpdesk they flatly contradicted that. I'm not sure I trust the lady I spoke to who put me on hold and consulted others twice during the conversation.

Any insurance experts out there?!!

EdGasket

You might need need to look at exclusions both to that section and General exclusions. Somewhere it might say something like liability is limited to claims arrising through the owning of your home or words to that effect. They definitely exclude motor cars; not sure about bicycles.

Pay_me

Just from another point of view check the wording of the policies carefully. As an example I had a policy which stated that I was covered for snowshoeing etc.

The small print then stated that I was only covered for snowshoeing if it wasn't the sole reason for my trip. As I was purposely going on a snowshoeing trip I was not covered. I believe if remembering correctly it stated the same about cycling on my policy. I was covered to cycle anywhere in the world but not if my main aim of the trip was to go cycling.

I ended up needing to buy a new policy the day before my snowshoeing trip. Just thought I would mention it but you may have already read the small print.

huckster

bjorn_toby_wilde wrote: »

Hi folks

Just booked a cycling holiday in Germany and checking my Annual travel insurance policy I notice that it doesn't cover me whilst cycling for "Personal Accident" or "Personal Liability".

I'm not too worried about the Personal Accident side but just wanted to check my facts as regards Personal Liability.

Is Personal Liability normally part of home insurance cover? My Legal and General policy wording seems to say I'm covered for liability at law to third parties as 1. occupier, 2. employer of employees in domestic duties and 3. "as a private individual anywhere in the world" but when I phoned their helpdesk they flatly contradicted that. I'm not sure I trust the lady I spoke to who put me on hold and consulted others twice during the conversation.

Any insurance experts out there?!!

Yes Home Contents Insurance personal liability cover will insure you.

With the annual Travel insurance, if Cycling is excluded as an activity, you can probably include it and then be covered for liability and personal accident. The policy that you have currently is the standard wording, but cover can be extended. You should phone them.

How are you Insuring the bike ?

bjorn_toby_wilde

Thanks all for your very helpful advice.

EdGasket - I've just checked the exclusions and they're very specific about "mechanically propelled vehicles" as you suggested. Thanks for the tip!

Pay_me - Again a good tip. I've checked the small print and all looks fine as far as it being a cycling holiday rather than a holiday with some cycling.

Huckster - I took your advice and phoned them. They were fine about covering things like medical expenses, etc. arising from cycling but couldn't add personal accident or personal liability to the policy, even for an additional fee.

I think my next step is to email Legal and General to clarify. Their policy wording indicates that I should be covered anywhere in the world but the call centre operative didn't agree. I think I need to get it in writing.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Forgot to say - the bikes are hired in Germany.

huckster

Personal liability under Contents Insurance is standard and would cover you on a cycling holiday. Some of the Insurers have foreign call centres who are not well trained.

You may also be covered by Insurance the cycle hire company provides, so check with them.

rs65

bjorn_toby_wilde wrote: »

EdGasket - I've just checked the exclusions and they're very specific about "mechanically propelled vehicles" as you suggested. Thanks for the tip!

A cycle is human propelled isn't it?

bjorn_toby_wilde

Yep, so not excluded.

EdGasket

Maybe liability is included with the hire?

bjorn_toby_wilde

Thanks for all your help guys.

It turns out that personal liability was covered bu my home insurance. I was incorrectly advised over the phone by L&G but an email to them soon got the correct response.

Cheers