The policy’s relevance and role as a legal safety net has been optimised by virtue of it being one specifically designed for the transport sector, rather than just a generic legal expenses policy failing to understand and address the issues and nuances of the world of passenger transport.
The policy examines all the legal potholes a bus and coach operator could encounter during their business journey, offering comprehensive protection against these. The list includes: employment disputes and compensation awards, HMRC inspections, contractual disputes and infringements of restrictive covenants, property damage and repossessing land or property from third parties, defending legal charges, protection against claims alleging Data Protection breaches, and debt recovery.
Very modern issues also receive protection under the policy, with these including legal costs arising from a director suffering identity theft.
One enlightened and more unusual area of legal protection is up to £10,000 of cover should crisis communications be required, following a serious incident or fatality. This will pay for specialist crisis PR to help manage the business’s reputation and minimise damage to it.
This robust and relevant legal expenses policy also offers access to legal helplines and document suites. By focusing on exactly what the transport operator requires from a legal protection point of view, it avoids the frills that could be of no use, but which increase the cost of the policy by virtue of being included.
The new legal expenses cover is provided by ARAG UK, part of ARAG SE – a global leader in legal expenses protection and a company that believes all business owners should be able to assert their legal rights. It steps in to assist an insured operator wherever a reasonable prospect of success in a legal defence exists.
The policy costs just £100 plus Insurance Premium Tax to cover the first vehicle in a fleet and then £25 plus IPT for all other vehicles added. At this affordable cost, it is something no operator should overlook.
Gauntlet director, Ian McCarron, says: “Gauntlet is once again leading the way in offering its clients outstanding protection that is current and relevant. We would urge all bus and coach operators to take a good look at this legal expenses cover, as we believe it to have a place within the suite of protection that the majority of bus and coach operators require for their business’s financial security.”
To find out more about how to protect your business from what could be potentially crucifying legal costs incurred through both defending an action and possibly having to make an award to a third party, contact Thomas O’Connell on 0113 244 8686.
