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26/07/2011 17:16:35 www.clicklegalservices.co.uk Administrator Posts: 374

LEGAL EXPENSES INSURANCE This can be broken down into two categories: Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance is sometimes sold as an "added extra" to your car or house insurance, credit card or any loan agreement you may have. Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance should cover you "in case" something happens - i.e. legal costs cover to pursue a case - say, a car accident claim. It is always cheaper to obtain insurance for a something that might not happen before the event - than it is to obtain insurance after the event. It will usually cover your own solicitors' costs and disbursements - and most importantly it will protect you against the costs incurred by the Defendant in your claim if are unsuccessful. Litigation is expensive and you or your solicitor should always ensure that you are protected. After the Event Legal Expense Insurance After the Event Legal Expenses Insurance is purchased after the event that has given rise to a claim has occurred. Click Legal will arrange this for you after we have established that you have no Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance with which to fund the claim. The premium policy is normally much higher. A typical Before the Event Legal Expense Insurance policy might cost £20 - £30 per year. A typical After The Event Legal Expenses Insurance for a Road Traffic Accident for instance would typically be in excess of £600 and can run to thousands of pounds depending on the circumstances. LEGAL EXPENSE INSURANCE - WHAT'S THE CATCH? There isn't one really. Most people don't realise they have cover. The most common complaint made to the Financial Services Ombudsman is about who chooses the solicitors who will act for you. The Insurer says that as they are paying - so they should choose - but the Policyholder says "It's my claim" I want to choose my own Solicitor. CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN SOLICITORS IF I HAVE BEFORE THE EVENT LEGAL EXPENSE INSURANCE? Yes. Absolutely. This is such a key point. You have the right to choose your own solicitor - if you have Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance - no matter what the insurers say. The Insurance Companies (Legal Expenses Insurance) Regulations 1990 gives people the right to choose their own Solicitor. This has been backed up in a recent European Court of Justice case called "Eschwig" You have freedom of choice as to which solicitor you want to act for you - from day one - regardless of what the insurers say with before the event legal expenses insurance policies. Whilst you may wish to go along with your insurers- and this is your choice, they will simply sell your details to one of their "panel" firms. Jack Straw has recently identified this as part of “insurers’ dirty little secret”. LEGAL EXPENSE INSURANCE - WHAT DOES IT COVER? Both Before the Event Legal Expense Insurance and After the Event Legal Expenses Insurance will cover the costs of you taking advice and pursuing a course of action/claim through Click Legal. edited by www.clicklegalservices.co.uk on 26/07/2011

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