Legal aid for bike crash - how?

**CookMySock** · 6th July 2009, 15:53

No, its not for me. How would one apply for legal aid to fight the pigs over a bike crash thats heading badly in the wrong direction?

ta.
Steve

**Foxzee** · 6th July 2009, 16:05

Hey there.....

I'd start by ringing the Citizens Advice Bureau in your area. Most of them have a visiting lawyer that you can chat to in the first instance for nothing to make sure that you are going down the right track. They should also have a list of Lawyers that offer legal aid (as not all do). You could also ring the local District Court and obtain the information, plus Lawyer contact details and forms etc.....Good Luck

**RT527** · 6th July 2009, 16:16

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

No, its not for me. How would one apply for legal aid to fight the pigs over a bike crash thats heading badly in the wrong direction?

ta.
Steve

What the heck has a bunch of pork trotters got to do with it.... unless you meant the police ....

**YellowDog** · 6th July 2009, 16:21

Will the insurance policy not cover this?

**p.dath** · 6th July 2009, 17:30

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

No, its not for me. How would one apply for legal aid to fight the pigs over a bike crash thats heading badly in the wrong direction?

ta.
Steve

There are some mis-conceptions about legal aide, so let me clarify some of those first.

LA is a *loan*. They'll only give you the loan if they think you can't afford to defend yourself - and then will make you pay it back. They take it out of your wages, or whatever is required.

Note that if you win your case you can apply for costs, and usually get 1/3 of what it cost you, so you will still have 2/3 of the loan to pay back.

So basically, don't apply for it unless you have no other option.

**Madness** · 6th July 2009, 17:33

Originally Posted by p.dath

There are some mis-conceptions about legal aide, so let me clarify some of those first.

LA is a *loan*. They'll only give you the loan if they think you can't afford to defend yourself - and then will make you pay it back. They take it out of your wages, or whatever is required.

Note that if you win your case you can apply for costs, and usually get 1/3 of what it cost you, so you will still have 2/3 of the loan to pay back.

So basically, don't apply for it unless you have no other option.

Can you kindly provide a link to verify this, because quite frankly it sounds like a croc of shit to me.

**tigertim20** · 6th July 2009, 17:37

Originally Posted by Madness

Can you kindly provide a link to verify this, because quite frankly it sounds like a croc of shit to me.

He is actually correct. You will be required to pay it back even if it is at $5 a week etc. In SOME cases you dont have to pay it back, but often you do. Circumstances where you DONT have to pay it back are often limited to those off work on acc, those on a benefit (or student allowances etc)

DB, might be more helpful to give you the info if you can give some specifics about what happened re the accident, and what is happening now? those circumstances may well limit whether or not you can get legal aid in this particular case

**p.dath** · 6th July 2009, 17:39

Originally Posted by Madness

Can you kindly provide a link to verify this, because quite frankly it sounds like a croc of shit to me.

That's why I thought I'd clarify how it works, as people seem to think it is some kind of hand out.

**Madness** · 6th July 2009, 17:49

http://www.lsa.govt.nz/legal-aid/what-is-legal-aid.php

Originally Posted by Some Gubbermint Twat

Legal aid is the government programme which pays a lawyer’s fees if you cannot afford a lawyer to represent you. If you are granted legal aid, payment is made directly to an approved legal aid lawyer. You may be required to pay back some or all of it.

So, you may have to pay it back. That's a bit different from "Legal Aid is a Loan", innit?.

**rosie631** · 6th July 2009, 18:10

I have recently had legal aid. As soon as court case was settled I received a letter from them, giving me the amount I owed and saying they would contact me further to arrange payment. I think drip feed is ok but they do expect repayment.
I have had legal aid in the past too and when I sold a house they pinged the bill out of the proceeds i.e. they had a caveat.

**jono035** · 6th July 2009, 19:09

Originally Posted by Madness

http://www.lsa.govt.nz/legal-aid/what-is-legal-aid.php

So, you may have to pay it back. That's a bit different from "Legal Aid is a Loan", innit?.

Which basically sounded to me like 'only have to pay if the lawyer asks for it' which also sounds to me a lot like 'you're screwed'.

I'd guess that assuming you're going to have to pay and then being pleasantly surprised would be preferable to the alternatives...

**p.dath** · 6th July 2009, 19:26

http://www.howtolaw.co.nz/html/ml038.asp

Cautionary notes

* You must have a lawyer to be able to apply for civil Legal Aid. Your lawyer will help you with the form. There is also a section of the application form (dealing with your case) that they must fill in.
* It’s important to remember that civil Legal Aid is generally given as a loan, rather than as a grant. You may have to provide your house or some other major item of property as security for the loan.

**p.dath** · 6th July 2009, 19:29

http://www.lawaccess.govt.nz/Lrm_v2....77&ChapterId=0

LEGAL AID

The legal aid scheme provides legal help to people who can’t afford to hire a lawyer. It usually works like a loan – people granted legal aid are usually required to repay some or all of it.

**p.dath** · 6th July 2009, 19:30

http://www.consumer.org.nz/reports/lawyers/legal-aid

Legal aid

If you can't afford a lawyer, you can apply to the Legal Services Agency for legal aid, which is usually treated as a loan to pay all or part of your legal fees. You'll be eligible only if you have a low income and no valuable assets (excluding your own home).