Insurers have been urged to review their personal accident policy wording in the light of new laws on gay partnerships.
The Civil Partnership Act, which came into force last month, gives gay and lesbian partners unlimited insurable interest in each other's lives.
This means that same-sex partners are able to purchase personal accident policies for the person to whom they are in a civil partnership. Prior to the Act, such a policy could have been void for lack of insurable interest.
Law firm Davies Lavery said the Act also has an impact on the insurability option relating to personal accident policies. Michael Lunn, a solicitor at the firm, said: "It is not uncommon for the insured to increase his or her level of cover upon marriage.
"Insurers may have to consider (if they have not already done so) amending their policy wordings to include the registration of civil partnerships as a triggering event for these options in addition to marriage."
