NEWS: RAC To Include Legal Expenses Insurance To Two Million Members

The RAC is set to include up to £50,000 legal expenses insurance – Motor Legal Care – for around two million of its individual breakdown members.
Supporting the organisation’s vision to be seen as the "motorist’s champion," the introduction of Motor Legal Care will enable qualifying RAC members* to pursue claims for uninsured losses following UK road accidents should they wish to.
The RAC said: "Protecting members as both drivers and passengers, Motor Legal Care is worth £25 and provides cover for legal costs up to £50,000 as well as assistance with a replacement vehicle while theirs is being repaired. We believe Motor Legal Care will revolutionise the legal expenses insurance market which has traditionally been dominated by brokers and direct insurers selling the cover as a costly add-on to motor policies."
The RAC took the decision to include Motor Legal Care with new and existing breakdown policies in light of the Jackson Reforms which are designed to put an end to the compensation culture in personal injury accident claims. The changes, which came into effect on 1 April, include the banning of referral fees for passing on personal injury cases and a limit to the fees that can be recouped from bringing ‘no win, no fee’ claims. RAC Motor Legal Care provides cover to qualifying members* from 1 April 2013. However, the RAC can also assist with claims dating back up to three years.
In addition, the RAC is also now providing Accident Care to members who need to have their vehicles rescued or recovered following road accidents. Wherever possible, the RAC will aim to recover the cost of this service on the member’s behalf.
RAC insurance director Kerry Michael said: "While a change to the personal injury claim system was clearly needed, there is a danger that some people will find it far more difficult to get access to justice. By including legal expenses insurance within our industry-leading breakdown cover, we believe we are making it easier and more affordable for our members to pursue legitimate personal injury claims should they want to. Our Accident Care service is also designed to make our members’ lives simpler in the event of an accident. The last thing you need after a road accident is the added concern and financial burden of having to get your stricken vehicle recovered."
For more information on Motor Legal Care, visit: www.rac.co.uk/motorlegal or call RAC Membership Services on 0800 092 6830.
And for more information on Accident Care, visit www.rac.co.uk/insurance/accident-legal/accident-care or call 0800 0966 999.

* Qualifying members refers to individual customers who have bought their breakdown membership directly from the RAC rather than via a corporate partner.