Swiss insurance companies have been offering legal protection insurance for over 80 years now, consequently the insured are afforded equal opportunity when taking legal recourse, irrespective of their financial situation.

Disputes are generally associated with high expenses, particularly when they are settled in court. Attorneys and experts who have to be retained for safeguarding one’s rights are expensive. Court fees are also high. Legal protection insurance was created so that nobody has to dispense with asserting his rights under the law. In exchange for the payment of a relatively low premium, the legal protection insurer assumes the risks associated with the expenses and services entailed in legal proceedings. Generally speaking, three main types of legal protection insurance policies are distinguished. Below follows a discussion of the standard products. The coverage and benefits offered by the various market players can vary considerably. However, what is offered by an individual company is set forth in the policy conditions agreed upon and the General Insurance Terms.

Motor legal protection insurance generally covers the following:

• Collection of damages: Asserting compensation claims as provided for by law, either as a vehicle owner or road user
  
• Defense in criminal proceeding
  
• Insurance claims: in disputes with private or Swiss public insurance institutions
  
• Proceedings in connection with the revocation of driver’s licenses or vehicle registration
  
• Proceedings in connection with motor vehicle taxation and motor vehicle contracts: asserting or warding off claims ensuing from contracts, e.g. automotive sale contracts or repairwork

Personal or family legal protection policies generally offer protection in connection with the following:

• Collection of damages
  
• Defense in criminal proceedings: in the event of negligent violation of laws or regulations
  
• Labor law disputes
  
• Insurance claims, including social insurance claims
  
• Contracts
  
• Tenancy and rental agreements
  
• Disputes in connection with property ownership and the occupants of neighboring property

Business and professional legal protection insurance is not offered by all insurance companies. In addition, coverage is not as comprehensive as for the first two types.

The insurer provides for the following benefits and assumes the following costs in connection with insured legal disputes:

• Covering the costs of internal case handling, legal counsel and representation by the company’s own staff
  
• Attorney’s fees: free selection of attorney in part in litigation proceedings
• Expenses of expertises commissioned by the legal protection insurer, an attorney or the court
  
• Court and legal fees
  
• Assumption of the opposing party’s ordinary and extraordinary costs of the proceeding when the insured is awarded the costs.

In addition, the insurer advances the payment of bail for the insured to prevent pretrial detention.