Motor Vehicle Legal Protection Insurance Helps Meet The Legal Expense Of Road Accident Claims

Q: Does it cost you any money to use your motor legal protection cover?

Generally speaking, it will not cost you any money to use your motor insurance legal protection cover. On occasion, you may have a small excess to pay of £50 or so. However, many legal expenses policies do not require payment of an excess. Remember to check the specific wording of your individual motor insurance policy.

Q: Will your no claims be affected or your motor insurance premium go up by using your legal cover?

Generally, motor legal protection insurance operates similar to the windscreen aspect of your policy. In other words – when you claim on the legal protection aspect of your policy, you may have an excess to pay. However, the use of the motor insurance legal cover in and of itself generally does not have an effect on your motor policy premium or the no claims aspect of your policy. Still you would need to check the specific wording of motor insurance legal protection.

Q: Can passengers injured in your car make use of your motor legal protection cover?

Your motor policy will specify who can use the motor legal protection. As a general rule – the policy holders will be able to use the cove. More rarely would the legal cover apply to passengers injured in the same road accident. Passengers are perhaps best to choose their own solicitor using a no win no fee to help make their claim for compensation. There may be a conflict of interest should the same solicitor act for driver and passengers in the same vehicle (especially when there is a possibility of driver error).

Discover what motor vehicle legal protection insurance is and how it can pay your legal expenses of claiming compensation in the event of a road accident.

We consider road accident claims for vehicle damage, whiplash injury and serious personal injury.

Finally, we provide access to our FAQ and Q&A. You will find common questions about legal expenses cover and real life road accident victim questions answered.

Table of Contents

Motor Vehicle Legal Protection Insurance Helps Meet The Legal Expense Of Road Accident Claims

What is motor vehicle legal protection insurance?

The law (s143 Road Traffic Act) requires that we all have motor vehicle insurance if we use (or permit to be used) a car or other motor vehicle on a road or other public place.

When you take out your motor insurance you will often be given the option by your insurer of additional bolt on extras to add to your motor vehicle insurance.

Motor vehicle legal protection cover is one such extra, which will cover your legal costs of making a claim following an accident involving your vehicle.

Insurers May Call Motor Vehicle Legal Protection Cover By Different Names

The name used by insurers can vary between motor legal protection cover to motor legal expenses insurance. Each insurer may call the cover by a slightly different name.

What types of claim will motor expenses legal protection cover?

The wording of your vehicle legal protection expenses cover will define the types of claim you can be assisted with. However, typically it will include:

Vehicle damage claims

A claim against another vehicle owner for damage to your vehicle in a road accident.

Whiplash small claims

A claim against a vehicle driver for whiplash related injuries.

See our road accident small claims article for more details as to what is classed as a small claim.

Personal injury

A claim against another vehicle driver for all types of personal injury – such as concussion, broken limbs, etc.

Other losses in a motor vehicle accident

There are a number of other losses you might suffer in a road accident. This might include lost income, medical expenses, etc. These aspects should be claimed as part of your personal injury claim funded by motor legal expenses insurance.

How much legal expenses cover will you have?

The amount of legal cover is specified in your motor legal protection policy. However, typically you have upwards of £15,000 legal fees cover.

Legal Fees And Disbursements

Your cover will typically include the costs of your solicitor’s fees for running your claim.

In addition – you will have the costs of disbursements paid. Disbursements being sums that your solicitor will have to pay out as part of your claim. For example – obtaining a medical report to support your whiplash claim.

See our no win no fee article for a fuller description of what your legal costs can include.

What if a claim is made against you?

Generally – motor vehicle legal protection cover is to cover the legal costs of helping you make a claim.

If a claim was made against you – your motor insurance would generally cover the legal cost of settling or defending that claim.

Example Of Your Motor Insurer Covering Legal Costs

For example – imagine you made a driving error, crossed a giveway and hit another car.

The claim made by the other car driver would be covered by your minimum third party insurance as would the legal cost of your insurer dealing with the settlement of that claim.

In other words – you do not need motor vehicle legal protection cover to help with a claim made against you.

Can you choose your own solicitor via the legal expenses cover?

The motor insurance will spell out whether you can choose your own solicitor. However, most motor insurance legal expenses cover will require you to use their own panel solicitor or their in-house legal team.

can a car passenger make a claim — Motor Insurance Legal Protection Cover Questions

FAQ / Q&A About Motor Vehicle Legal Protection

Does it cost you any money to use your motor legal protection cover?

Will your no claims be affected or your motor insurance premium go up by using your legal cover?

Can passengers injured in your car make use of your motor legal protection cover?

FREE Telephone / Online Legal Help

We recommend your take a look at our specialist solicitor free legal help options if you have been injured in a road accident and wish to consider your options. You can access our free direct dial telephone help and online assistance.