self defense insurance coverage

[BP Hunter]

I was reading this article on the financial expenses after a shooting occurence. George Zimmerman, the fellow who shot the teenager in Florida is now broke from legal expenses. NRA provides Self Defense COverage for its members. TX residents have the TX SHield. I am thinking seriously of purchasing insurance protection.

Have any of you considered these insurances? What have you chosen?

 

[rgwalt]

I have looked at TX Law Shield. It provides some nice benefits for $11 a month. The benefits go beyond legal representation in case of a shooting. They also cover carrying in a prohibited place, negligent discharge, etc. If I had their policy, I would call them if I had any firearm related legal issue whatsoever.

Alternatively, if you can find a local defense attorney that represents people on gun related issues, and keep his/her contact information with you, that would be a way to go. The vast majority of us will never be involved in a gun-related legal issue, shooting or otherwise, so self-insuring is a good solution if you keep some savings on hand. I have a $1 million "umbrella" liability policy for me and my wife. It kicks in where our auto & home owner's liability limits leave off, and covers us up to $1 million. Not sure if it includes firearm related liability or not... I should look into that. If so, I think that sort of policy (at $180/year for a couple) is a much better value as it provides a broad range of coverage. What it doesn't get you is immediate access to an attorney if you have a non-liablity related incident (like getting caught with a gun at the post office).

Another, final item for consideration... If these sorts of companies and policies become more prevalent, at what point will the industry become big enough to make a policy a requirement for having a CHL... or worse, gun ownership?

 

[blarby]

Your liability umbrella generally covers you for any actions for which you have civil liability- not criminal.

This will be extremely dependent on your policy language but the general policy provision is for civil defense- not criminal.

An example would be this : They would defend you from a lawsuit from someone falling on your sidewalk. They would pay a civil settlement for you from pushing someone down on your sidewalk, but not the legal costs of defending you from the criminal charges of assault- just from the guys lawyer suing you for pain and suffering, medical bills, and anything else he can come up with in a tort.

In most cases, there is a burden of defense costs- "right of defense"- on your carrier for civil matters in which they would be subject to paying a claim. Much like their requirement to defend you legally in an auto accident civil claim when they cover the auto.

Here's the hitch on that one.... they are looking to cut their costs in any way possible...between legal fees AND settlement amount. They may do the math and opt to settle a civil matter, regardless of you liking it or not.

Putting a retainer down an attorney is a great first step- but a use of force incident is likely to use that retainer in the first hour of services on such a case- depending on your retainer amount, and what your lawyer charges. Thats not really coverage, per se. Putting down a retainer isn't likely to absolve you of the tremendous costs of such a litigation...it just says you have a lawyer on file.

If there were something like the Texas shield here in Oregon- I would buy that protection before I bought toilet paper each month. Even if you never use it, the cost advantages to that protection are astounding.

I'm not sure of any carriers here that offer " Crimina Defense Counsel protection insurance". When you find one, please post that information.

I have a strong suspicion that the realities of adverse selection on that one would make the coverage prohibitively expensive- but I have been wrong before.

Just some things to consider.

IANAL, but I am an insurance guy- FWTW.

 

[Bubbles]

Interesting, from their web site:

Is this insurance?
Absolutely not. We are a legal services company dedicated to preserving all of our 2nd Amendment Rights.

You're not buying insurance, you're paying a monthly retainer to a law firm. In return the firm will provide services for a very specific area of law.