Optimal coverage thanks to legal protection insurance

You have the option of choosing a lawyer. But this is subject to conditions – primarily for the benefit of the insured: Before an insured person consults a lawyer, they must first contact Orion. Orion determines whether the case is covered. A decision is then made as to whether the case should be handled internally or whether an external lawyer should be called in. If an external lawyer is called in, e.g. for legal proceedings, Orion will evaluate: Is the chosen expert familiar with the practice areas needed for the case, is he or she familiar with the cantonal laws of the place of jurisdiction, and does he or she speak the language of the proceedings? If these conditions are met, the chosen lawyer is entrusted with the case. In this way, we ensure that our policyholders receive the best possible legal representation.

This is not always easy to understand. Unfortunately, however, there are situations in which intervention is not possible or sensible, for example, if an objection deadline has been missed or because witnesses or evidence are missing. A lawyer engaged directly by the customer would also advise against moving forward with litigation. In such cases, the costs are very likely to be much higher than what can realistically be achieved. 

If an insured person does not agree with Orion's decision, they have the right to have it reviewed neutrally through arbitration. In addition, the insured person has the right to pursue a case using their own resources at any time. If Orion's assessment of the result proves to be incorrect and, contrary to expectations, the result turns out to be better than predicted, Orion will cover the costs after the event.

Personal legal protection insurance offers legal assistance and covers the costs that may arise in the event of legal disputes that originate in your personal life. This includes legal fees, court costs and procedural costs as well as costs for expert opinions and reports. It helps insured persons assert their legal interests or defend themselves against claims.

Personal legal protection insurance generally covers the following areas of law:

• Tort law
• Criminal defense
• Property law
• Insurance law
• Employment law
• Patient care law
• Other contract law
• Part-time self-employment activity
• Copyright law
• Internet legal protection
• Legal protection insurance for tenants
• Legal protection insurance for real estate and condominium owners
• Special legal advice insurance for insured persons 60 PLUS
• Legal advice insurance

Yes, certain cases are not covered. The most important ones are:

• Defense against non-contractual claims for damages by third parties. This falls under liability insurance;
• If someone intentionally acts unlawfully or is suspected of doing so; 
• If the case is related to catastrophes or force majeure, such as war, riots, strikes or lockouts, nuclear damage caused by nuclear energy, radioactive radiation, chemical accidents and genetically modified food, plants and animals;
• If the insured person participated in figs or brawls.

Personal legal protection insurance offers broad coverage for most important areas of law. In the standard coverage, the sum insured is CHF 600,000; for cases with a place of jurisdiction outside Europe, the sum insured is CHF 150,000. 

Premium coverage offers higher sums insured and also includes employment law issues for members of Executive Management and Board of Directors.

Important additional modules are available at an extra charge. Owners of additional plots of land or properties in Switzerland can insure themselves against conflicts in this context, and Orion also offers legal protection for landlords.

No, with Orion Rechtsschutz there is no deductible; the insured losses are paid without deduction.

Yes, the lawyer's fees are covered in full in accordance with the applicable sums insured.

After clarification with Orion, insured persons have a free choice of lawyer, if a representative must be appointed with regard to court or administrative proceedings.

Yes, Orion also covers the costs of mediation in order to reach an amicable agreement between the parties instead of going to court.

The insurance is also valid – with exceptions – abroad.

Claims are reported online: at Report a legal matter.

Yes, Orion will also cover the costs of a lost case in accordance with the applicable sums insured.

Yes, we offer our policyholders the option of resolving conflicts out of court through mediation. This service is free of charge for insured persons within the scope of the insured legal areas and is intended to find an amicable solution that is advantageous for both parties. Even the other party's costs are covered, provided they agree to mediation.

The contract term can vary. Legal protection insurance typically has a term of one to three years. Most contracts are automatically extended for a further year if they are not terminated in good time. The specific terms can be found in the insurance contract.

Orion legal protection insurance protects you and your family. The value proposition to you:

• Experienced and specialized lawyers will take on your case.
• Orion fully covers court and legal fees, costs for expert opinions and reports, legal costs of the other party if you lose in court, travel and translation costs, as well as advances on bail to avoid pre-trial detention.
• With regard to court proceedings, you have a free choice of lawyer subject to certain conditions.
• Orion pays the lawyer up to CHF 2,000 for the first hearing in criminal proceedings.
• Legal protection in contract and property law:
• Orion provides support in contractual disputes relating to contracts, such as purchase contracts, simple work orders or contracts for work and services for movables. This also includes contracts that you conclude via the Internet.
• Orion protects you in the event of disputes arising in connection with ownership, possession or other rights in rem to movables and animals.

Orion protects you in employment law disputes regardless of whether you are the employee or employ a cleaner or childcare worker, for example. Experienced employment law experts are on hand to assist you in such cases.

• Orion protects you in your role as a tenant in the event of legal conflicts relating to the tenancy, such as disputes about rental property defects, utility and ancillary charges or notices of termination.
• With the landlord's legal protection supplement, you are also insured as a landlord in disputes with tenants or leaseholders arising from rental or lease agreements.

• Orion offers you insurance coverage for civil law disputes relating to impairment of views, maintenance and property line clearance of trees and hedges or immissions (e.g. noise, smoke, fumes, shadows).
• The insurance also covers building permit disputes concerning construction projects affecting directly adjacent neighbors.
• Disputes in connection with a formal expropriation are also insured.
• Orion also represents you in disputes with insurance companies.
• Conflicts arising from active and passive easements, land charges, property line disputes and the enforcement of non-contractual claims for compensation for property damage affecting the insured property are also covered
• Disputes arising from work contracts with tradesmen regarding construction defects are also covered.

Once a year, in addition to the "Orionline" telephone legal information service, advice in one of the following areas is included (exhaustive list):

• a personal law matters;
• b family law matters;
• c data protection;
• d association law regarding membership fees;
• e inheritance law;
• f disputes under public law with school authorities regarding placement in a kindergarten, enrollment in elementary school and the allocation of university admissions;
• g objections to an insured person's building projects for personal use;

Orion supports you through all judicial proceedings in social insurance disputes with Swiss public insurance companies such as AHV/IV or SUVA, pension funds and health insurance companies as well as in disputes arising from insurance contracts with private insurance institutions.

If you as a patient take legal action against doctors, hospitals and other medical institutions, Orion will protect your rights.

Orion will protect your rights if you are accused of recklessly violating the law and criminal or administrative proceedings are brought against you as a result.

Orion protects you if you have legal problems in connection with online activities, e.g. cyberbullying, credit card misuse or hacking.

• Orion covers legal fees, court fees and procedural costs, costs for expert opinions and reports and pays the other party's legal costs if you lose in court.
• Orion also pays the necessary translation and travel costs for foreign court proceedings.
• Orion also bears the costs of mediation.

Premium coverage also covers employment law issues for members of Executive Management and Board of Directors, as well as higher sums insured.

You can insure additional properties and real estate in Switzerland or take out legal protection for landlords.