Accidents happen
Accidents do, unfortunately, happen and it is nice to know that your insurance covers any expenses you are entitled to pursue. Or does it? When you see what's missing you’ll want the peace of mind that Composite Legal Expenses can offer you. Providing there are reasonable prospects to pursue the other party.
How does The Motor Section work?
Composite Legal Expenses acts as your own personal legal department. The service will negotiate with third parties to recover any of the following losses for you. All legal fees and costs are met by Composite Legal Expenses up to £75,000 per claim.
Who pays the excess?
Your fully comprehensive policy may carry an excess. Composite Legal Expenses seeks recovery of that excess should a claim be made.
Motor accident repair costs
If your policy is Third Party Fire and Theft or Third Party only, Composite Legal Expenses will negotiate recompense for repairs to your vehicle.
Where an accident is clearly not your fault and where you have full details of the other person and their Insurers we can usually appoint a garage for you and arrange repairs immediately without you having to pay a penny as we recover directly from the other party (see ‘Repairs/car hire facility qualifications’).
Clothing and personal effects
Your insurance policy may not cover loss or damage to clothing or personal effects. Composite Legal Expenses will negotiate on your behalf.
Out of pocket expenses
Extra travel fares enabling you to complete your journey are an example of out of pocket expenses which can be recovered.
Car hire/loss of use
We will recover the cost of hire of alternative transport whilst your vehicle is repaired. If you are involved in a motor accident which is clearly someone else's fault, we will provide you with a replacement vehicle to put you back on the road (see ‘Repairs/car hire facility qualifications’).
Vehicle recovery and storage charges
Recovery of these costs which can be expensive if your vehicle is damaged far from home and is stored pending inspection which you have to pay for.
Medical fees
Recovery of costs for medical assessments required to pursue any personal injury claim.
Personal injury or death
Legal expenses support to enable you or your personal representatives to claim damages for yourself or your passengers.
Territorial limits
Accidents which occur in the United Kingdom and Western Europe.
Repairs/car hire facility qualifications
To qualify you must:
a) Be clearly not at fault for the accident
b) Provide full details of the other person i.e.
(i) name and address of owner and driver.
(ii) name, address and relevant policy number of the third party motor insurers.
(iii) make, model and registration number of the third party vehicle.
(iv) the accident circumstances on a Composite Legal Expenses claim form.
c) Agree to our arranging an inspection of your vehicle and for repairs to take place at a garage of our choice.
d) Agree to the recovering of cost from the other party. Solicitors may be appointed to act as necessary.
e) The accident must have occurred in Great Britain, The Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
f) The age and licence requirements of the hire provider must be met.
g) If comprehensive insurance is held the vehicle must be repaired or reinstated under the terms of the policy.
The type of car provided and the choice of hirer used will be subject to availability and at the discretion of Composite Legal Expenses.
There is no pre-set limit as to the repair cost or hire period which will depend on the accident and other circumstances. Normally a vehicle can be provided for the full repair period.
Please note that any repairs or car hire costs incurred without specific instructions from Composite Legal Expenses claims department are not covered under this scheme.
Legal advice at your service
If you have an accident and you want to make sure of your legal position, you just dial the legal helpline – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our professional legal consultants will help guide and advise you on your legal rights whenever you need help. The service covers all areas of the law including motor prosecutions, personal injury, matrimonial or neighbour disputes, consumer matters, financial, domestic and employment problems. All you do is telephone the number on your policy and quote your policy number and legal advice is there for the asking.
Motoring prosecutions
Defence of matters that could cause you to lose your driving licence involving use of the vehicle where there is a proper defence and the circumstances do not include alcohol or drugs, parking or non-endorsable offences, fixed penalty offences (unless licence is under threat of suspension), pleas of mitigation only. There is no cover for the first £150 of legal fees and legal costs where there are 6 or more penalty points. Cover is provided at a limit of £1,000 per incident. UK only.
Motoring consumer cover
Pursuing a dispute which relates to the sale, purchase, hire, service, repair or test of a vehicle. You will be responsible for the first £150 of legal fees and there is a waiting period of six months in the first period of insurance. Claims falling within the Small Claims Court Limits will receive full legal advice and assistance and payment of any unrecovered issue fee but the appointment of a solicitor is at our discretion. Cover is limited to £1,000 per incident and there must be a minimum amount in dispute of £500. UK only.
Message Transmission
You have had an accident. You are miles from anywhere. You only have time or loose change to make one phone call. Who do you call? The helpline at Composite Legal Expenses. Anywhere in the UK we will pass on a message as requested.
Accident recovery at your service
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident in the UK that leaves your car immobile, we will transport the driver and up to 7 passengers to the destination of your choice in the UK, provided that your vehicle is taken to one of our approved garages for repair. Hotel accommodation may be utilised at our discretion if it is considered a suitable alternative.
Car hire without charge
Only available to policyholders over 21 years of age. If your vehicle is immobilised following an accident how do you get about? Your Complete Accident Care policy gives you 24 hours car hire in the form of a basic emergency replacement vehicle. The hire cost is completely free of charge. Should you need the car longer than 24 hours simply telephone Composite Legal Expenses on our out of hours emergency number to obtain as to whether your claim should cover its expenses. You will be responsible for the petrol used and any costs required under the normal conditions of hire e.g. collision damage excess waiver where applicable.
