Question about CCW Safe self defense "insurance"

[lrrifleman]

I am on the verge of purchasing CCW insurance, and I am trying to research what is out there. I had been focused on Second Call Defense, because of it's affiliation with the NRA, and the fact that that insurance not only covered financial judgments against you, if you are found liable, but they would cover psychological counseling for my children (most likely if a self defense shooting were to occur, there's a good chance that my children would be present since I am a custodial dad).

However, I have found that any incurred expenses would be reimbursed, not provided up front, according to information I have read here. In looking at coverage from a comparison chart on this forum, it appears as though CCW Safe provides the criminal defense without out of pocket expenses incurred by the client.

My questions are directed towards people who have made their choices.
1. Does Second Call Defense require their client to pay for their criminal and civil defenses up front, then reimburse those expenses?
2. Does CCW Safe actually provide criminal defense without the client paying for their defense up front?
3. Does CCW Safe provide legal support in civil liability cases, after the criminal case is resolved?
4. With CCW Safe, in the event a client is found inoccent of criminal charges, but found liable in civil litigation because of a defensive shooting, do they cover any civil judgment?

Being a single, disabled, custodial parent, I have to make the poignant decisions for not only my children's and my physical safety, but also for our financial future. At this point, I am anxious to hear about first hand experience as opposed to business advertising.

Thank you in advance for your constructive assistance!

 

[alwslate]

Ok you asked for opinions and I will give mine and if you don't like it
please don't take offense, just ignore it. I can relate to some extent
as I am 70 with some real health issues. Being in this phase of my
life is new territory for me, as with everybody, and in general I have
learned that seniors are basically looked at as an easily tapped source
of income for many providers of various "needs". To be brief here I
think that "self defense insurance" belongs near the top of the list of
legal scams that have been thought up by those hungry to tap into
a financial resource.

 

[Ranger17]

OP, there are other companies out there as well (USCCA is an example), so unless you've already done so perhaps some comparisons on what each covers / does not cover (and how they handle the financial end) may help in your decision.
I don't have coverage thru one of those organizations, not saying it isn't something to consider I'm just not at that point yet.

 

[Pointblank2U]

Real insurance is not a scam. I can tell you from dealing with USCCA personally that they are not an ethical company. If you decide to sign on with them you will be getting "upsell" notices for new super premium or lifetime memberships all the time. I went with Second Call Defense. In this day and age it doesn't matter if you are right or wrong you are going to get sued. There are just too many lawyers trying to drum up business.

 

[coachray]

self defense insurance

Glad someone has asked this question, because I too am considering insurance. Would like more info from Badge130 on why USCCA is not reputable before I do any more research

 

[lrrifleman]

I found the attached chart in one of the threads either here or on the 1911 Forum. I was leaning towards the Second Call Defense, until looking at the chart. It then sparked my curiosity, since it looked too neat.

 

[Kanewpadle]

If I were to buy this type of insurance, I would go here simply because of the reputation of the people involved. All are recognized as experts. Home

 

[Jessie]

In my research, I found that there is insurance and there is legal coverage.
Not the same. The insurance I found was the reimburse type. Some of the legal representation ones were also.
CCWSafe is up front representation with no out of pocket expense. If you were legal to carry and they deem it a legit self defense, you're covered.
There is that caveat of determination by their board of lawyers as to being legitimate. Supposedly everything is covered/ supplied and comes to where you are at. I have their plan but no experience with the execution of it yet.
Others are pay out of your pocket and if you prevail in court, its reimbursed to you. They weren't for me.
I'm sure there's some scams running out there and you have to research them.
It could be a waste of money but the alternative of being bankrupted and trying to get represented from a jail cell is not attractive to me.
As always ....Buyer Beware!

 

[mooosie]

I have Armed Citizens Legal Defense Fund. It provides up front money for attorney and money for your defense. It was I think 120.00 to join and costs 80 a year to keep, they never try to sell me anything else! I get regular emails from them telling me how the organization is doing as far as money they have and number of new members. It is supported by several gun writers and names you have heard. What is the best I don't know since I have never used any of these company's. But in this day and age when suers are every where I think it is common sense to have something.

 

[gwpercle]

Read all the fine print , seek interpretations for all statements not perfectly clear. Insurance companies always leave themselves a way out , they like your money and are loath to part with it.
I paid home owners insurance for 35 years , never made any claims, my house was damaged by hurricane Issac . Not flood damage but a falling tree. It did $4000.00 worth of damage . My claim was denied because the fine print had a special deductible clause for "Named Hurricanes ". $5000.00 deductible ! They slipped that one by me !
I never missed a payment in 35 years and yet they weaseled out and paid me nothing...the good hands people take care of themselves.
So read and understand that fine print and legal speak.

My opinion....insurance is a suckers bet and the deck is stacked hard in the insurance companies favor .
Gary

 

[lrrifleman]

...the good hands people take care of themselves.
So read and understand that fine print and legal speak.

My opinion....insurance is a suckers bet and the deck is stacked hard in the insurance companies favor .
Gary

Sadly, I have been the victim of the good hands people. One of their insured crossed the line, hit me head on, nearly killed me. I died twice on the medivac. Because their policy holder had a stroke at some time after the accident, they tried to deny my claim by stating that the accident was the result of an act of God.

 

[k22fan]

Can anyone provide even one case where one of these insurance companies has paid a claim?

 

[gwpercle]

Sadly, I have been the victim of the good hands people. One of their insured crossed the line, hit me head on, nearly killed me. I died twice on the medivac. Because their policy holder had a stroke at some time after the accident, they tried to deny my claim by stating that the accident was the result of an act of God.

I sincerely hope you nailed them good. The government requires you to carry insurance, it doesn't require them to pay a claim , that isn't right.
That type called no fault car insurance sounds good , (it's not available here ) but I guess they find ways to weasel out of that too .
Gary

 

[gwpercle]

Can anyone provide even one case where one of these insurance companies has paid a claim?

First hand , not I heard, from some one on the net type of thing but a first hand factual account.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Can anyone provide even one case where one of these insurance companies has paid a claim?

I'd be more interested to hear from someone who has made a claim . . .

 

[alwslate]

Every time that these kinds of discussions come up they seem like the
"what ifs" carried to absurdity. Given the fact that the vast majority of
law abiding gun owners will never be involved in a SD shooting in their
life time and if they are and it's justified SD no charges will be filed.
If you shoot someone and it's not SD how is your insurance going to
protect you from the criminal charges from that? The odds against
being in a justified SD scenario and being charged somehow and your
insurance actually having to exonerate you would seem to add up to
somewhat greater than winning the Powerball jackpot. Money spent
on lottery tickets would seem to be a better investment than SD
insurance to me.

 

[mooosie]

What I have is not insurance and I did not buy it from an insurance company. It is simply a fund that pays your legal fees up to a given amount for a self defense shooting.

 

[Bat Guano]

I joined CCW Safe about 6 months ago. Just glanced at my file and it claims that if I have an incident they will have an attorney on the phone to me in minimum time, and if necessary, on the next plane to my location. Coverage extends to use of force incidents of civil, criminal, or administrative nature anywhere my possession of a firearm is legal. I also have bail bond coverage through them.

They have a website that purports to answer all your questions. Prior to signing up I had a long discussion with one of their people and concluded that it was worth the $140 per year.

I used to teach the NRA personal protection course. We had three different DAs in to talk to the class, and the upshot from all of them was that if you have an incident you WILL be incurring legal jeopardy and expenses, even you are a Good Guy. One in particular impressed me with his account of a crippled defendant who was involved in a transparently righteous defensive incident in a rural area--and, in his words, "hometowned"--convicted in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. Scary stuff.

I was involved in a number of lawsuits in my career; in each case the US Attorney's office (grudgingly, I thought) determined that I was acting within the scope of my duties and represented me. None of those cases ever went anywhere--but it is not a pleasant experience.

I got to looking at the CCW Safe outfit after scouting out my local options and being unimpressed. (I doubt I could afford Gerry Spence.)

I hope I never need to find out how good the coverage is in practice the way things are going.

Never say never.

 

[jaaeatax]

I am on the verge of purchasing CCW insurance, and I am trying to research what is out there. I had been focused on Second Call Defense, because of it's affiliation with the NRA, and the fact that that insurance not only covered financial judgments against you, if you are found liable, but they would cover psychological counseling for my children (most likely if a self defense shooting were to occur, there's a good chance that my children would be present since I am a custodial dad).

However, I have found that any incurred expenses would be reimbursed, not provided up front, according to information I have read here. In looking at coverage from a comparison chart on this forum, it appears as though CCW Safe provides the criminal defense without out of pocket expenses incurred by the client.

My questions are directed towards people who have made their choices.
1. Does Second Call Defense require their client to pay for their criminal and civil defenses up front, then reimburse those expenses?
2. Does CCW Safe actually provide criminal defense without the client paying for their defense up front?
3. Does CCW Safe provide legal support in civil liability cases, after the criminal case is resolved?
4. With CCW Safe, in the event a client is found inoccent of criminal charges, but found liable in civil litigation because of a defensive shooting, do they cover any civil judgment?

Being a single, disabled, custodial parent, I have to make the poignant decisions for not only my children's and my physical safety, but also for our financial future. At this point, I am anxious to hear about first hand experience as opposed to business advertising.

Thank you in advance for your constructive assistance!

I have CCW and they will represent you and provide bail up front and represent you in a civil proceeding. The judgement is your in the civil action.

 

[jaaeatax]

Real insurance is not a scam. I can tell you from dealing with USCCA personally that they are not an ethical company. If you decide to sign on with them you will be getting "upsell" notices for new super premium or lifetime memberships all the time. I went with Second Call Defense. In this day and age it doesn't matter if you are right or wrong you are going to get sued. There are just too many lawyers trying to drum up business.

I agree USCCA is not the one I'd pick.. You pay everything up front... Not my choice.