You shop around and buy your car insurance online, just like a lot of other people do. You've found a really good deal that saves you money. So, when you get to the end of the checkout process, do you check the Yes or No box next to Legal Expenses Cover? It will cost a little more, and it's not a must-have, so you might be tempted to leave it out. Not to mention that it's not the most well-known part of insurance! But it's something we think you should really think about...
You shop around and buy your car insurance online, just like a lot of other people do. You've found a really good deal that saves you money. So, when you get to the end of the checkout process, do you check the Yes or No box next to Legal Expenses Cover? It will cost a little more, and it's not a must-have, so you might be tempted to leave it out. Not to mention that it's not the most well-known part of insurance! We think, though, that you should really think about adding it if it's not already in the policy. And here is one reason why:
Jake, one of our freelance writers, was in a car accident early in the year. He is very proud of his Golf Mark I, and he has spent many enjoyable weekends working on it. So it was only natural that he wanted insurance that covered everything, even legal costs.
After the accident, it was clear that this was the right choice. Since the back of the car was hit, some of the damage could be fixed. The insurance company took care of the claim quickly. Jake also got a broken wrist and whiplash, which was bad. If he hadn't bought legal expenses insurance, he would have had to pay for a lawyer himself to help him get the money he was owed. Jake was able to get his compensation quickly because he had the cover. Jake works as a freelance writer, so he doesn't get sick pay from his boss. Money is lost when time is wasted. Jake didn't have a job for a month and a month's worth of pay. But because Jake had legal expenses cover, he was able to make a claim for lost wages and will get paid for them any day now.
How much does this peace of mind and income security cost all together? An extra GBP2 a month on his insurance premium is a good use of anyone's money.
Fully comprehensive car insurance will take care of your car, but what about the driver? Jake wasn't at fault for the accident, but he had to miss a month of work because of it. If he didn't have coverage for legal costs, he would have had to pay for getting paid. With it, he was just as safe as his favourite car, and he didn't have to worry about whether or not he could afford to file a claim.
Take another typical accident: you don't get hurt, but your car has to sit in the shop for two weeks while parts come in. If you don't have replacement car rental as part of your insurance plan, you'll have to use public transportation, which isn't why you bought your own car in the first place. With legal expense cover, you can rent a car and know that you will be paid for the trouble and trouble you caused.
When you make a claim on your legal expenses policy, all you have to do is give the same information about the accident that you would normally. All the paperwork will be taken care of for you. You might need to talk to your lawyer or testify in court, but you won't have to pay any legal fees.
And the cost is low or even free in some cases. It is something that Admiral always does. Most insurers have a fee, but the average fee is only about GBP20 per year. For example, More Than charges GBP17.85 and Budget adds GBP24. Think about the legal battles that have happened in the past because of accident claims, especially those that involved serious injuries and claims. Costs and payments can add up to millions of dollars. In situations like these, there's no question that having legal expenses covered is a good idea.
So, when you buy car insurance next time, make sure your policy covers legal costs. If it's not part of the standard package, take it as an extra. You won't even notice the extra cost, but if you ever need it, you'll know the benefits.
