Business Type: Dairy Farming
Section of Cover: Company Legal Liability – Legal Pursuit Extension
Applicable Cover: Trespass, nuisance, person removal and property damage cover
Circumstance: Property damage caused by a police chase through farmland, resulting in loss of cattle.
Legal fees value: £52,808
The Scenario:
A high-speed police chase cut through the insured’s farm, causing significant property damage and distress to livestock. As a result, several high-value cattle had to be euthanised, causing financial loss to the dairy farmer.
What Happened:
The chase, involving a driver fleeing from police, led to the destruction of fences and land, with cattle injured and ultimately destroyed. The farmer, faced with high costs to reinstate the property and replace the livestock, sought legal recourse against the Police, the driver, a motor insurer, and the Motor Insurance Bureau.
The Outcome:
Rural Protect appointed expert legal representation to pursue damages on behalf of the insured. The matter progressed towards trial but was successfully settled before final hearings.
The insured did not have to contribute financially towards the case and was also compensated for the losses sustained due to the destroyed cattle (note that the value of this compensation is separate from the recovery of legal costs).
Things to Consider:
This case highlights the benefit of having cover for pursuit claims where there is a good prospect of success. Complex multi-party actions can be prohibitively expensive without support. Rural Protect ensured this farmer could access legal expertise, with no financial burden beyond their policy terms.
To understand more about Rural Protect and how it can help you and your business, call us on 01653 609090 or email enquiries@hbunderwriting.co.uk.
