What is private liability insurance

Personal Liability Insurance

What is private liability insurance?

The private liability insurance is designed to protect the property and covers damage that you inflict on third parties. Justified claims are covered by the insurance, while unjustified ones are warded off. In this sense, private liability insurance takes on the function of a passive legal expenses insurance.

Personal Liability Insurance

Even small damages can result in high claims if, for example, an injury to Person A that you are responsible for leads to high treatment costs or loss of property for you. Private liability insurance covers the financial consequences of the misfortune for you. 

A private liability insurance can be taken out cheaply as a combined product with the household insurance.

These risks are insured

Liability claims can quickly cost many thousands of francs and thus become a threat to your existence. Even if private liability insurance is not compulsory, it is therefore highly recommended that you take out one. The following groups of people can be insured:

    • Individuals and families
    • pet owners
    • Tenants (including holiday apartments)
    • Homeowners in their own home
    • part-time employees
    • Members of the Swiss Army, community service workers, firefighters
    • Athletes, shooters and gun owners
    • E-bike riders and cyclists
    • People who take care of things
    • Employer of household staff

If a rental property is deliberately changed, however, the costs for this are not borne. The restoration costs of a rental property are not borne by private liability insurance. So if you paint the rental apartment green before moving out, but the landlord wants to have white walls, you have to pay for the correction yourself. Furthermore, property damage, damage due to violations of the law and damage in the context of paid activities are not covered by private liability insurance.

Insured persons and scope

The private liability insurance always covers the persons who are also listed in the insurance policy. Important to note: Coverage under a family insurance policy may vary depending on the provider. For some, children are insured until they complete their first education, for others, however, children up to the age of 30.
A private liability insurance is valid worldwide, there are no regional or spatial restrictions for the scope.

These benefits are insured

Personal liability insurance usually covers damage to property and people. In addition, financial loss resulting from personal injury or property damage is insured. The aforementioned passive legal protection effect comes into play when claims are made against you. The insurance then checks whether you are liable in individual cases or not. If necessary, the claims against you will be warded off.

Additional cover can also be insured: owners of model aircraft can benefit from this extension as well as people who rent or use foreign horses. Third-party driver insurance can also be taken out. This happens when you borrow a car and cause damage. The liability insurance of the vehicle owner does not bear the damage in this case! Important: It can only be an exceptional case. Regular rental and use of the vehicle cannot be covered by third-party driver insurance.

Conclusion on personal liability insurance

Personal liability insurance is rightly named: Even if it is not a real compulsory insurance, it should still be seen as such. It protects against existential risks by assuming personal injury, property damage and financial loss. In addition, it fends off unjustified claims against you and can be expanded with various additional covers. This provides comprehensive protection against liability claims for you or your family.
Find out more about this insurance here and take a household items and Liability insurance comparison in front. An unbeatable combination for your protection!

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What is home insurance?

what is household insurance

What is household insurance?

The household contents insurance covers furnishings and furniture after water damage, after a burglary, fire or other events at new value. Movable objects that are intended for private use are protected, and various risks are also covered. Household contents insurance is often combined with private liability insurance because such a combination product is cheaper.

what is household insurance

These risks are insured

The following risks can be insured in household insurance:

    • Water damage (including damage caused by aquariums or water beds)
    • Fire, blaze and smoke
    • Burglary and robbery
    • Lightning strike, scorch damage, explosion and implosion
    • natural hazards

Important: Household insurance is not a compulsory insurance in Switzerland! However, there are individual cantons in which the conclusion of fire and natural damage coverage is mandatory. Specifically, these are the cantons of Jura, Vaud, Freiburg and Nidwalden. Cantonal fire insurance is mandatory for the cantons of Vaud and Nidwalden; in the other cantons, coverage can be provided through private insurance.
The following risks are not hedged:

    • Damage caused by wars and internal unrest, by riots, rebellions or riots
    • Damage from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
    • Damage caused by changes in the structure of the atomic nucleus

In addition, the insurers can individually provide further exclusions.

Scope and insured group of people

Household insurance can be taken out as individual or family insurance. In the latter variant, several people are covered in one household. It is also possible to add another person to individual insurance if, for example, a couple moves in together. The household goods that are in your own four walls are protected, and separate rooms, which also belong to your place of residence, are also insured. This can be cellars or craft rooms, for example. In addition, the external insurance covers the part of the household items that is not currently in the household. This is relevant if a move is carried out and some of the household items have already been moved out of the apartment.

In addition to the usual cover from fire, water or burglary damage, additional cover can be agreed. These then relate, for example, to glass on the building or to furniture, to simple theft when you are away and a household insurance can be taken out.

Household insurance provides these benefits

The household contents insurance insures your household goods at new value and thus enables the repair or replacement of damaged objects. In addition, various follow-up costs are also insured, whereby maximum amounts are set for this. Such follow-up costs include:

    • Clearance and disposal costs
    • Cost of living
    • Cost of a lock change
    • Mitigation and rescue costs
    • Replacement cost
    • Costs for emergency measures and emergency glazing

Conclusion on household insurance in Switzerland

Home insurance may not be compulsory, but it is an excellent addition to insurance coverage. It covers damage caused to personal belongings. Common risks include fire, water, theft and natural hazards, theft outside the home and broken glass can also be insured. Because the apartment is rarely devastated by a flood when you are not living in a risk area, protection against theft and burglary is most important.

You can now take advantage of the offers for combined household contents and personal liability insurance in Use a home contents and liability insurance comparison or find out about individual products. Worth it!

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Comparison of Swiss providers of legal expenses insurance

Legal providers

Comparison of Swiss providers of legal expenses insurance

Each of the providers offers their own rules regarding waiting periods and termination rights. What they all have in common, however, is that they do not waive the right of termination after a claim.

Legal providers

This means that the insurance company or the insured person has 14 days to cancel the insurance even after settling a claim. Otherwise, it usually applies that termination is possible at the end of the insurance year.

The individual insurance companies offer different combination packages. These are not useful for all insured persons, so it is advisable to take a close look before taking out the insurance and compare which benefits are actually needed. Combi products are usually cheaper in the annual premium. If benefits that are not required are insured, the person concerned will have to pay dearly again.
Real estate legal protection is not possible for every insured person. This is usually done as part of a privateLegal protection insurance offered, but this is only possible at an additional cost.

In general, fines, costs in favor of third parties or liability insurers as well as compensation payments under private legal expenses insurance are excluded. This applies equally to traffic legal expenses insurance.
The insurers mentioned offer their services to private individuals. Important: Legal expenses insurance always applies to disputes that have their place of jurisdiction in Switzerland or in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The following table provides an overview of the most important providers of legal expenses insurance in Switzerland:

insurance
Products
headquarters
insurance carrier
Assista TCS
TCS Standard (private legal protection) TCS Standard (traffic legal protection) TCS Standard (private and traffic legal protection) TCS Plus (traffic legal protection)
Vernier
Assista legal protection AG
CAP
CAP for owners (private legal protection) CAP (for owners) (private and traffic legal protection) CAP for tenants (private legal protection) CAP for tenants (traffic legal protection) CAP (for tenants) (private and traffic legal protection)
Wallisellen
CAP Rechtsschutz-Versicherungsgesellschaft AG
Dextra legal protection
Dextra legal protection (private legal protection) Dextra legal protection (traffic legal protection) Dextra legal protection (private and transport legal protection)
Zurich
Dextra Rechtsschutz AG
Groupe Mutuel
Groupe Mutuel (private legal protection) Groupe Mutuel (traffic legal protection) Groupe Mutuel (private and transport legal protection)
Vernier
TCS AG
Protekta
Protekta (private legal protection) Protekta (traffic legal protection) Protekta (private and transport legal protection)
Bern
Protekta Recherschutz-Versicherung AG
Visana
Visana (private legal protection) Visana (traffic legal protection) Visana (private and transport legal protection)
Bern
Protekta Recherschutz-Versicherung AG
AXA-ARAG
AXA-ARAG OPTIMA (private legal protection) AXA-ARAG OPTIMA (traffic legal protection) AXA-ARAG OPTIMA (private and traffic legal protection) AXA-ARAG BASIC (private legal protection) AXA-ARAG BASIC (traffic legal protection) AXA-ARAG BASIC (private and traffic legal protection)
Zurich
AXA-ARAG Rechtsschutz AG
Coop legal protection
Coop legal protection (private legal protection) Coop legal protection (traffic legal protection) Coop legal protection (private and transport legal protection)
Aarau
Coop legal protection AG
ELVIA
ELVIA (traffic legal protection) ELVIA (private and traffic legal protection)
Zurich
CAP Rechtsschutz-Versicherungsgesellschaft AG
Helsana
Helsana (private and traffic legal protection) Important: Take out insurance only after taking out one of the products: Healthcare supplement TOP or COMPLETA at Helsana
Zurich
Helsana legal protection AG
smile direct
smile.legal clever (private legal protection) smile.legal clever (transport legal protection) smile.legal clever (private and transport legal protection) smile.legal premium (private legal protection) smile.legal premium (transport legal protection) smile.legal premium (private and transport legal protection)
Zurich
Coop legal protection AG
Basel insurance companies
baloisedirect.ch (private legal protection) baloisedirect.ch (traffic legal protection) baloisedirect.ch (private and traffic legal protection)
Vernier
TCS AG
CSS
CSS (private legal protection) CSS (traffic legal protection) CSS (private and transport legal protection) CSS Economy (private legal protection) CSS Economy (traffic legal protection) CSS Economy (private and transport legal protection)
Lucerne
Orion legal protection insurance AG
Generali
Fortuna Generali TOP (private legal protection) Fortuna Generali TOP (traffic legal protection) Fortuna Generali TOP (private and transport legal protection) Fortuna Generali BASIC (private legal protection) Fortuna Generali BASIC (traffic legal protection) Fortuna Generali BASIC (private and traffic legal protection)
adliswil
Fortuna Rechtsschutz-Versicherungsgesellschaft AG
Justis legal protection
JUSTIS legal protection without traffic (private legal protection) JUSTIS legal protection (private and traffic legal protection)
Etoy VD
CAP Rechtsschutz-Versicherungsgesellschaft AG
VCS
VCS legal protection (private legal protection) VCS legal protection (traffic legal protection) VCS legal protection (private and transport legal protection)
Basel
Orion legal protection insurance AG

If you want to know more about the individual insurers or find legal protection insurance now want to, click here and compare the offers!

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10 tips for legal expenses insurance

10 tips for legal expenses insurance

10 tips for legal expenses insurance

Here are ten important tips that you should consider when taking out legal expenses insurance!

10 tips for legal expenses insurance

1. Make a risk assessment first

Legal protection insurance can be useful, but it is not always necessary. Before taking out such insurance, check whether you are exposed to such risks at all. For example, the risk of getting into a major legal dispute is significantly greater for tenants of an apartment or for workers who drive to work every day than with a pensioner or homeowner who lives in his own house. Many risks are not insured at all, as is often the case with family, divorce and inheritance law.

2. Use free options

Anyone who is a tenant in the Tenant Protection Association can take advantage of free legal advice in the event of a dispute. The community arbitration boards can also be used free of charge. Furthermore, proceedings before the social security court are not associated with costs for you, which also applies to labor law processes. If the assistance of a lawyer is deemed necessary in the legal process, but you cannot pay for it, there is an offer for free legal assistance. These options help you to save money because you do not have to cover such cases with legal protection insurance. Of course, legal protection insurance offers significantly more room for maneuver if there is a risk that is also covered by the insurance.

3. Traffic legal protection insurance also for pedestrians


Do you live in the big city? Or do you take a walk every day or do you walk to work? Then legal protection insurance can also be useful for you. Contrary to the general assumption, this is not only useful for those who drive their car every day, but also for people who regularly do without it and use other means of transport or are on foot. Disputes often arise in accidents, which are made worse if such accidents result in lengthy or even incurable injuries. It can be about the degree of work ability as well as the future pension amount, compensation payments and the assumption of legal costs. The premium for traffic legal expenses insurance is negligible compared to the possible costs!

4. Compare offers

Not only should you check whether various legal protection insurance services are already covered by another insurance (e.g. parts of real estate legal protection insurance via building insurance), you should also look at the prices and services of the individual providers. These differ enormously in some cases and it is quite possible that a provider may charge twice the amount for the same service. In some cases, benefits are also severely restricted and are only increased if horrendous additional premiums are charged. Exact testing and comparison are the order of the day!

5. Choose a lawyer yourself

Most legal expenses insurers do not give their policyholders a free choice when it comes to hiring a lawyer. Are lawyers then prescribed here? if these are not commissioned but a different one is chosen, the insurance benefits will be refused. If you do not want to be confined to the insurance lawyers, you should make sure that you have a free choice of lawyer when you sign the contract. In some cases, the selection is only based on? Specialist lawyers? limited, which is a limitation you can still live with if the remaining terms of the insurance contract are acceptable to you. The disadvantage of insurance lawyers: they often try to make a comparison and do everything to avoid an expensive process. In many cases, this can be detrimental to the insured.

6. Note termination options

Before signing the insurance contract, make sure that it can be canceled at any time. Most of these contracts are tacitly renewed for one year if they are not terminated with a specific notice period at the end of the insurance year. It is also important that you can give notice for an important reason outside the normal notice periods. Most insurance companies reserve the right to terminate after a claim has been settled. The policyholder should also have this right!

7. Observe waiting periods

Before you sign the contract, please note the waiting periods, which are also known as waiting periods. The insurance providers differ in this point and so there are providers who have waiting periods of one month as well as those who have a waiting period of three months. These deadlines are often differentiated according to which legal area is affected. In general, no insurance claims based on pending disputes will be accepted. So if you think it would be possible to take out legal protection insurance because a dispute with the landlord threatens to end up in court, you're wrong! It is precisely this approach that is to be prevented, which is why insurers are waiting.

8. Note exclusions

Many exclusions are the same for all insurance companies. No legal protection insurance will surely take over disputes involving disagreements between the insured and one's own company. Disputes arising from family law, divorce and inheritance law, liability cases or legal cases relating to tax and levy law are also not taken over. In addition, the individual insurers can include further exclusions in their contractual terms and thus determine in which legal case they will act and when not. Insurers often also differ in typical points, such as in labor law. While some providers completely exclude such protection, others at least offer initial advice from internal lawyers.

9. Note the coverage heights

A legal dispute can quickly become very expensive. It is not for nothing that most legal expenses insurance companies have ruled out family law disputes, because there are the most common legal cases that involve high costs. It is therefore important for you as the policyholder that the guaranteed levels of coverage per insured event. These are usually given per case and calendar year. In addition, a maximum amount for advice from the lawyer is often contractually stipulated. It is important to know that many insurers provide for termination if there are regular insurance claims. Even if these cases are actually covered by legal expenses insurance, no insurer accepts that he regularly has to pay large amounts for an insured person. He will exercise his special right of termination.

10. Register a claim in good time

Almost everyone is familiar with this procedure from car insurance: if an accident has occurred, the insurer would like to be informed immediately of all the details. If necessary, he will appoint an expert and have the actual damage estimated before payment of the services. This procedure is also important for legal expenses insurance. A possible dispute is first reported to the insurance company, which then decides on how to proceed and, if necessary, makes a cost commitment. If you do not take this step, but contact a lawyer directly for advice, you can expect the benefits to be cut by legal expenses insurance. They cannot be deleted entirely, but a reduction is permitted. It is therefore always advisable to inform the insurer first and only then to take further steps in the possible legal dispute.

Additional tip: Find legal protection insurance now and compare the offers!

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Legal protection: When does the insurance cover apply?

Legal protection Start of validity

Legal protection: Start of validity / When does the insurance cover apply?

It is a common experience of insurers that those interested in legal protection insurance register and conclude a contract. At almost the same time, a request for assumption of costs in a legal dispute is made.

Legal protection Start of validity

Unfortunately, this is unnecessary, because legal disputes that are already in progress will not be taken over. The inquirers receive a rejection and have to bear the costs incurred by the lawyer, expert and court.

With the waiting period, also known as the waiting period, insurers protect themselves against possible abuse and against someone claiming a benefit who has not yet paid anything in the form of the annual premiums to be paid. Usually there is a waiting period of between one and three months, although the insurance policies differ. 

But not only the insurers themselves can set different waiting times, different waiting times can also apply to individual legal areas. One example of this is legal protection for tenants, which is usually set for a three-month waiting period. For example, if a lawsuit is filed for termination, it is foreseeable after moving out and is therefore not covered by the insurance. 

But if you already have ongoing legal expenses insurance and then file a lawsuit, you can rely on the insurer's benefits.

But who already has one ongoing legal protection insurance leads and then filing a lawsuit can rely on the insurer's services.

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Family law: What does legal protection insurance cover?

Legal expenses insurance

Family law: What does legal protection insurance cover?

The answer to the question in the heading is clear: usually nothing! The reason: disputes that can be assigned to family law are usually deleted from the list of benefits offered by legal expenses insurance.

Legal expenses insurance

These disputes often drag on for a long time and are very costly. Few insurers offer services in this area at all. This also applies to disputes relating to divorce and inheritance law.

In some cases, however, the insurers offer free initial advice. This must be carried out by an internal lawyer and is limited to a maximum of CHF 500 per case and calendar year. Often, further disputes can be avoided after such advice or cleared out of the way. However, these insurance providers do not cover any additional services, so any lawyer and litigation costs incurred must be borne by yourself.

Insured persons are therefore advised, on the one hand, to find out well about the provider of the legal protection insurance chosen or to take a close look at the scope of benefits offered in terms of family law. On the other hand, it is sometimes possible to insure additional benefits against payment of a higher premium, which can be helpful in individual cases.

Insured persons are therefore advised to find out about the provider of the chosen legal protection insurance to inform or to take a close look at the scope of services offered in terms of family law.

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Tenancy law: What does legal protection insurance cover?

tenancy

Tenancy law: What does legal protection insurance cover?

In most cases, disputes arising from the rental of apartments or houses or other real estate are taken over.

tenancy

Possible disputes can be, for example:

    • there is a sudden termination of the apartment
    • the landlord does not want to accept a rent reduction
    • no repairs are carried out by the landlord
    • Problems with the handover of the apartment after moving out occurred
    • the landlord demands a significantly higher rent with no apparent claim
    • Defects are not eliminated

Legal protection insurance covers such disputes and, for example, assumes the costs that result from a lawsuit and from hiring a lawyer. However, the benefits of the individual insurance providers can vary. The premiums to be paid also generally vary and should be compared carefully before the contract is concluded.

Usually, a waiting period of three months must be observed after taking out legal protection insurance, some insurers only require a waiting period of one month. Disputes that are already in progress will not be taken over, which means that a legal case that has already occurred must be paid by the person concerned. 

If there is a dispute regarding tenancy law, the conciliation authority of the respective municipality is responsible first. An agreement should be reached there between the parties, which is a free procedure. If an agreement is not possible, the competent court is called and is to enforce the claims. 

Legal protection insurance is important for this, as it covers the costs of the sometimes very expensive process.

Tip: The tenants' association also offers free advice, which can only be used by members. For everyone else, private legal expenses insurance is the method of choice.

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Legal protection provisions: what needs to be considered?

Legal regulations

Legal protection provisions: what needs to be considered?

It is not only the price that should determine the right legal protection insurance. Performance should also play a role and is checked against the provisions set out in the insurance contract.

Legal regulations

The following provisions are particularly important:

    • Overlapping areas of law
      It is possible that a legal area of legal protection insurance is also covered by another insurance. In some cases, this makes legal protection insurance unnecessary.
    • Find combined insurance
      Combined insurance is often cheaper than individual insurance contracts because the insurance company grants certain discounts. Private and traffic legal expenses insurance are therefore often combined.
    • price comparison
      The differences between the individual insurers are sometimes up to 100 percent of the premiums. Therefore, please compare the prices before signing an insurance contract!
    • waiting periods
      Most insurers have set waiting periods, so that an insured event can only be reported after this period has expired or taken over by the insurance company. Please take this into account when concluding the contract! The waiting periods are usually between one and three months.
    • scope
      Not all insurers offer the same benefit for legal expenses insurance. In some cases, however, at least advice from internal lawyers is offered for excluded services. Other areas of law are completely excluded, as far as family, divorce and inheritance law are concerned.
    • Choice of lawyer
      The insurance companies usually provide a lawyer who can be commissioned to advise you in the event of damage. However, some insurers leave the choice of lawyer to the insured. Further details are regulated in the general insurance regulations.
    • termination
      The notice periods vary from insurer to insurer. Pay attention to possible annual termination options so that you remain more flexible.

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Legal protection after an accident

Legal protection after an accident

Legal protection after an accident

A Legal protection insurance covers also the costs resulting from disputes after an accident. There are two types of legal protection insurance: private and traffic legal protection insurance.

Legal protection after an accident

It is possible to combine both and thus have two products in one insurance. It is also possible to take out both insurance policies separately. The private legal protection insurance covers the following cases:

    • Patients' rights: disputes after incorrect treatment or generally resulting from medical treatment after an accident.
    • Private and social insurance: If legal reimbursements are actually refused, the legal case can be transferred to the private legal protection insurance.
    • Insurance law: If accident insurance does not pay, legal expenses insurance takes over.
    • Compensation: If an action for damages is filed, the costs for this are covered by legal expenses insurance.
    • Victim support: Advice and immediate help are provided, legal protection insurance also helps in addition to other victim support services.

The second area is covered by the traffic legal protection insurance, whereby the way you are on the road? on foot, by car or by bike, by bus or by train? The following areas are covered:

    • Question of guilt: If the guilt is not cleared and you think that you are not to blame, the legal expenses insurance covers the costs for the clarification of the case.
    • Redress: Legal expenses insurance occurs if the opponent of the accident does not fulfill his obligation to make amends for the damage.
    • Own insurance: If your own comprehensive insurance does not take over the damage, legal protection insurance takes effect.
    • Traffic law: If the traffic law has been violated, legal protection insurance will take effect. This can be the case, for example, when a driver's license is withdrawn despite an unsolved question of guilt.

Legal protection insurance covers the legal and legal costs as well as advice to the policyholder. It also occurs in the case of claims for damages. Important: Usually there is a waiting period of between one and three months, legal disputes that are already in progress are not taken over. If you report damage during the waiting period, this case will be rejected.

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Legal protection family law

Legal protection family law

Legal protection family law

Legal protection in family law is not provided by most insurers. The reason: These are very cost-intensive disputes, in which processes are particularly common.

Legal protection family law

Whether it is a matter of maintenance disputes, the denial of visiting rights previously granted or a divorce procedure in which both former spouses cannot agree: the costs of such proceedings are also very high because the disputes are based on experience drag very long. The result: In most cases, the insurers do not assume any legal fees or other costs that are incurred, for example, for the court or for the commissioning of experts.

However, there are exceptions to the rule, and thus some legal expenses insurers that offer a compromise. They offer legal advice that must be provided by an internal lawyer. The costs for this are capped and usually amount to a maximum of 500 Swiss francs per case and per year. When concluding a contract for legal expenses insurance, you should therefore ensure that at least such advice is included. After such a dispute, further disputes can often be avoided or dealt with differently with the necessary prior knowledge.

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