Frequently asked questions
- Do I need ATE insurance?
- How does ATE insurance benefit me?
- Where can I choose or buy an ATE insurance policy?
- How much does ATE insurance cost?
1. Do I need ATE insurance?
It is recommended and advised that you take on an ATE insurance policy for your legal case. However, it is not a legal requirement to do so.
2. How does ATE insurance benefit me?
As mentioned in the introduction, the ATE insurance can protect you from the financial risks associated with pursuing your claim. For example, you may be liable to pay the legal fees and expenses of your opponent if you lose your claim at court. If you have taken out ATE insurance then the policy will frequently cover the full amount you would otherwise have to pay your opponent.
ATE insurance will also cover your expenses (or disbursements as we prefer to call them). These disbursements can include your medical report, barrister fees and court fees. As the ATE insurance premium is also a disbursement, it can be self-insuring. This means you are not asked to pay for it upfront, but we’ll explain more about this below.
3. Where can I choose or buy an ATE insurance policy?
Your case handler can advise you better based on your accident, the value of your claim and the complexity of the case.
Alternatively you are welcome to research and take out your own ATE insurance policy elsewhere.
4. How much does ATE insurance cost?
You do not need to be worried about whether you can afford ATE insurance as it is free. There is no upfront fee to pay for taking out an ATE insurance policy.
Successful case
With a successful claim, the cost of your ATE insurance premium will come out of your damages (compensation award). Therefore there is no upfront fee to pay towards your ATE insurance policy.
Unsuccessful claim
With an unsuccessful claim, the insurance policy is self-insuring. As the ATE insurance policy is classed as a disbursement, it effectively pays for itself so you will not have to pay anything towards taking out an ATE insurance policy.
This is a disclaimer to say we do not accept liability for any inaccurate or out-of-date information contained on this website at any given time. Whilst we do make every effort to keep the information accurate and up-to-date, you should only treat this information as a guideline. For more information relevant to your claim, you should speak directly to your solicitor.
