2 reasons why you should strongly consider a legal expenses policy
A Legal expenses policy can be purchased as a standalone policy or as an add on to another insurance policy – for example HGV Insurance – and here at Isis Insurance we would strongly recommend legal expenses both in terms of affordability and peace of mind.
There are many reasons to consider a legal expenses policy, here are just two reasons to demonstrate why you may face expensive legal costs through (often) no fault of your own and how a legal expenses policy would cover these costs.
Example 1
A recent BBC investigation (August 2024) showed that cloned car registration plates are on the increase and these cloned plates are used on all types of vehicles – cars, vans and lorries.
This allows criminals to rack up hundreds, and in some case thousands, of car parking (PCN), congestion charges and sometimes actual fixed penalty points. They clone registration plates as they are fully aware they will be driving hundreds of miles and visiting numerous locations, a cloned plate allows them to travel worry-free without buying tickets or paying any regard to driving laws.
As the fines and tickets arrive in your post-box, it is still your responsibility to prove these incidents were not you, and you may need legal advice and representation to defend yourself before and during court proceedings. A recent case study had one innocent driver facing over £1000 of fines, bailiffs at his door and the threat of further legal action and court costs – running potentially into thousands of pounds of additional legal costs.
Legal expenses would cover these legal costs.
Example 2
Some scaffolding poles became loose on a truck, which became dislodged and struck some passing pedestrians, causing serious injury. This truck was insured via an insurance broker, and included a legal expenses policy.
Despite strongly disputing travelling too fast the broker’s client was charged with two driving offences:
1. Use on a road of a motor vehicle/trailer, causing danger or injury due to weight/position/distribution/security of the load.
2. Careless Driving (driving without due care and attention)
Using the legal expenses policy, a solicitor was appointed to defend the broker’s client.
Subsequently, the careless driving charge was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service before trial as there was insufficient evidence to convict on this aspect. Therefore, only the second driving offence remained.
The broker’s client did plead guilty to the second charge, resulting in a fine and 3 penalty points.
Without the legal expenses policy in place to help defend the broker’s client on the first alleged charge, it is likely the client would have ended up facing more penalty points and a bigger fine.
The legal fees amounted to just under £10,000 so not only did the client save this in legal costs, but the expertise of the solicitor also meant the more serious charges were dropped, which may have resulted in a driving ban and loss of HGV driver job and income.
Isis Insurance provides legal expenses insurance, and it is a lot more affordable than you think, and in our opinion well worth the peace of mind that it brings for a small outlay.
Please call our team 0161 641 4909 or visit www.isisinsurance.co.uk