Personal Injury Cover

What is personal injury cover?

Personal injury cover pays out if you become permanently disabled – or die – as a result of an accident. Injuries can range from being unable to use your thumb or index finger to blindness and amputations. Personal injury cover will pay out a tax-free lump sum – and you can often claim more than once as long as the maximum lifetime benefit doesn’t exceed an agreed sum.

Who needs personal injury cover?

Accidents, by their very nature, can happen at any time, any place and to anyone. That's why personal injury cover is available to all UK residents aged between 18 and 64. If you want to protect your earnings - whether you're employed or self-employed - it offers a measure of financial security. Maybe you work at heights or with heavy machinery and want reassurance that your loved ones will be taken care of in the event of a serious accident? Or perhaps you want peace of mind knowing you'll be able to afford necessary changes to your home and lifestyle if you became permanently disabled as the result of one?

When should I start thinking about getting personal injury cover?

If you or your loved ones would suffer financially in the aftermath of a grave permanent injury (or death), personal injury cover may be a consideration. You can usually add a partner to the policy, and in some cases your children too, but they will most likely have a reduced level of cover. It is also worth highlighting that some accidents, like fractures and dislocations, are more likely as we get older. That’s why some providers also offer personal injury cover tailored exclusively for over-50s. This insurance gives policyholders a payout for a wide range of injuries to meet the cost of treatment and recuperation, to help around the house, or even to cover transport costs to and from the hospital. There’s also a lump sum if you die as a result of an injury - reassurance that even if the worst happens you’ll be leaving something behind for your loved ones. These benefits don’t usually reduce with age and the personal injury cover can even continue until your 85^th birthday.

Where should I get personal injury cover from?

Choosing your provider will depend on what level of personal injury cover you're after. A higher level of cover will provide a larger cash payout in the event of accident or fatal injury. With personal injury cover, you pay a monthly premium so it's worth checking whether this remains the same during the length of the policy. Personal injury cover usually gives you coverage almost anywhere in the world and medicals aren’t normally required before you take out the cover. Again, however, it's worth checking these details first. Remember, personal injury cover will only pay out if the injury or death is the result of an accident, so claims can’t be made for natural causes or deliberate acts likely to cause disability or death. Similarly, injuries as a result of dangerous sports or under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be covered.

How can I find out more information about personal injury cover?

With so much choice of personal injury cover policies and providers, getting impartial advice to inform your decision is invaluable. The Money Advice Service is a good place to start. It offers free and unbiased information on both personal injury cover and its cost. Set up by the government, you can access their tips and tools on their website, by phone, in printed guides or by visiting an adviser in person (they have a network throughout the UK).