Legal cover, why you need it

[busy builder]

32 months ago we had a crash in our Hymer motorhome.
Driving down A9, a car pulled out in front and then stopped. I stood on the brakes but a 4 tonne motorhome doesn't stop on a sixpence.
He admitted liability, we got the Hymer fixed but took 6 months, so no motorhome use.
Over the following 2 years he came up with every excuse possible...we were driving too fast, the A9 is 30mph , he didn't realise he had to give way. Said we didn't own the motorhome...we had traded it in so had sale paperwork.
Our solicitor had estimated costs at nearly£7000, set a court date in March, his legal didn't show up, them appealled. Set another court date for June 12th. They offered £650, we rejected that, then they didn't appear again on court date.
Two days after they caved in and paid up.

 

[John RTW]

When I was knocked off my motorcycle back in 1999 by some 18 year old boy racer in his Dads Golf GTI, it took around eight years to sort out the legal wranglings and compensation, which was finally settled in the Royal Courts. The accident fucked up my body, mind, marriage and career so no amount of money would be enough. God knows what all the legal costs over those years would have been, just so glad I didn't have to pay them. I always tick the box the legal cover.

 

[ChasMill]

After my accident five years ago, I claimed against the Motor Legal Liability policy that I had for another bike. Suddenly the "no win, no fee" solicitors get very active, as they knew they would be paid whatever happened. Worth having fore that reason alone.

 

[Hann]

What does `legal cover` do that your normal insurance doesn`t in the event of a non-blame accident?

If you get knocked off your bike then surely everything you claim for to put you back in the position you were in before the accident is covered by claiming on their insurance?
Or is it not that simple?

 

[John RTW]

It gets very messy when it involves personal injury and career ending injuries, my motorcycle and clothing was actually paid out pretty quickly, but for the injuries and career ending consequences took years to fight for. Even after leaving the Mob and working at the museum they had people filming me at work or while I was cutting my lawn, anything to kill the claim for my injuries after the accident. To fight these allegations that I was fighting fit, I had many private medical consults by both sides (in Bristol/Birmingham) to prove or disprove each others claim. Many trips to London to visit my Barrister and everything was covered and paid out after they settled out of court after the Judge declared a five minute break. If I had of lost I would have still been paid out for my expenses and for those of my witnesses. Not sure on insurance policies but I was pretty impressed on what they spent on my case. A court hearing at the Royal Court thrown in, I even got to bump into Mo Al Fayed there.

 

[Hann]

they had people filming me at work or while I was cutting my lawn

Good grief that`s unbelievable - did you actually see them outside your house with a camera filming you?

 

[John RTW]

I wasn't aware at the time but then I'd recall a van parked there but wouldn't think too much of it as the little shop on the corner had a van for running supplies. My Sister had to go into hospital for something serious so I had my two year old nephew with me at work for the day, the staff loved it. I was filmed picking him up out of his child seat and walking him into the museum and this was classed as being fit, he's two and it was a Rav 4 so easy to lift out and him climb back in, but still they had video of me doing this. Sneaky bastards, good job I didn't catch them. This actually pissed the Judge right off and then the prosecution (as it felt like) knew they had messed up, so the offer was made after the tea break. It would never be enough to pay for my shit life since, but enough to pay off my mortgage and start my travels.

 

[FatAl]

I had a career ending injury, the other party admitted liability, but the injury compo took best part of four years to sort out. I was backwards and forwards to hospital for operations and physio for nearly three years. When fit enough i started a part time driving job, and was filmed. My solicitor read out one of the reports were they had followed me in a car for about 80 miles. They recorded me and a colleague having a brew at the services, then on to our destination. We were dropping off a car for a customer that my mate was driving, I was driving the taxi car to get us back. I drove on the way back At no point did I consider I was being followed, I just drove that way on twisty roads back then, I took off at a swift pace, the spies stated they were unable to keep pace and gave up, I was only in a Peugeot 306 turbo diesel. My solicitor thought it was hilarious.