If you have a concealed carry license, you’ve probably heard
about concealed carry insurance policies. It’s a strangely overlooked but very
important consideration to make as a responsible gun owner.
Most concealed carry gun owners are
uninformed about what would happen should they ever find themselves in a
situation where they will be forced to use their handguns in self-defense.
This is no simple and straightforward matter. The importance
of having
concealed carry insurance can’t be emphasized enough.
In this guide, we’ll talk about concealed carry insurance,
how it works, how it can benefit the gun owner, and how to pick an effective
concealed carry provider.
If the question is “do I really need concealed carry
insurance and is it worth it/suitable for me?”, the short answer is yes, yes it
is.
Here’s the long answer.
What Is a Concealed Carry Insurance Policy?
Concealed carry insurance financially protects you in the
event of defending yourself, your property, or someone else by using firearms.
It’s commonly referred to as “CCW insurance,” “gun owner’s
insurance,” or “personal firearm protection insurance.”
Depending on the circumstances of the shooting incident,
there’s a good chance you’ll be involved in a civil or criminal lawsuit. The
lawsuits can last for years, and the legal fees are almost always extremely
high.
Do I Need Concealed Carry Insurance?
According to the Congressional Research Service, Americans own 300 million guns,
which is twice the number per capita in comparison to 1968.
The aftermath of a firearm discharge can be legally complex,
even if you consider that most states have shoot
first or stand
your ground laws in which discharge is often warranted.
Even if you use your hands or other non-firearm weapons like
pepper spray, insurance is something to be seriously considered, as most
self-defense insurance companies cover more than firearms.
Though we pray that we never have to use firearms, incidents
can happen. That’s why proper documentation like concealed carry insurance and
membership cards are important for you to carry in public, especially if you’re
carrying a weapon.
What Do Concealed Carry Insurance Policies Cover?
Concealed carry policies cover various firearm situations
like self-defense (with or without a weapon), use of deadly force, negligent discharge
coverage, and so on.
Other than the instances we mentioned, here’s a more
comprehensive list of what they may cover depending on the provider:
·
Bail bonds;
·
Investigation costs and witness fees;
·
Attorney fees;
·
Mistrial and appeal fees;
·
Spousal coverage at a discount rate;
·
Criminal and civil court case defense fees;
·
Property damage coverage;
·
State line coverage;
·
Per diem—the time you may end up spending in
jail (lost wages per day or “work loss coverage”).
If you are convicted, there are some insurance providers
that will cover your fees, regardless of your background or the outcome of the
case. However, cold-blood homicide cases are excluded, and some providers are
only able to cover your fees after the trial and only if you’re not convicted.
If you’re crossing state lines, there is no nationwide
concealed carry insurance coverage. The laws regarding interstate concealed
carry insurance policies vary from state to state.
That’s why you must know all the services and features a
policy may cover. Furthermore, being informed about the state laws where you
plan to travel with your concealed carry firearm is also crucial.
How to Choose a Concealed Carry Insurance Provider
Other than knowing all the pertinent interstate laws as well
as the insurance provider’s services, you need to consider the specific
situations where you would be legally protected.
Important Services Concealed Carry Policies Should Have
So, we touched on what concealed carry insurance can cover,
but what do the particular services actually mean? Let’s explain.
Picking Your Own Attorney
As we said, some insurance providers pick the attorney for
you. This is ill-advised because some policies will provide you with attorneys
chosen at random.
That means there’s a chance you might end up with an
attorney that’s not specialized in your specific case of firearm discharge or
self-defense shooting case. They are just better versed than your regular
lawyer.
It’s a very slippery slope and a complex matter, and the
fact that you need a specialized attorney that you can trust is
underemphasized.
Instead, picking an attorney in whom you can be confident is
far more important for your peace of mind and—most likely—the potential outcome
of a case.
Money up Front
Simply put, “Up front” means reimbursement in advance. Your
provider must guarantee a certain amount of coverage up front that will help
you avoid cost burdens of the legal processes.
Per Diem During Trial and Bail Bonds
Daily per diem—or “allowance every day”—is an absolutely
crucial coverage every policy should have.
In the unfortunate event that you do go to jail and start
losing your income or perhaps even your job during a trial, a service provider
should cover your per diem costs.
Additionally, a good CCW insurance plan will make sure that
you get bail bonds when confined in jail.
Attorney Fees
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but after a
self-defense shooting, there are almost always criminal investigation costs and
civil lawsuits. This is where attorneys come in, and they’re not cheap.
It’s important that a provider covers criminal and civil
defense, damages, retainers, and other attorney fees. The fees can skyrocket
really high, really fast, and it’s important to know how your policy handles
your attorney fees and policy caps.
Policy Caps
Always be sure to take a closer look at the policy’s cap and
the cost of coverage placement.
The higher the coverage cap, the more expensive is the
policy, but that’s just how it works.
It’s difficult and complex to figure out exact estimates for
a suitable legal defense, but the best you can do is thoroughly examine
providers and all of their plans so that you can consider a reasonably
affordable plan.
Conclusion
To sum up, concealed carry insurance is almost essential to
have if you believe your location is dangerous or there’s a high chance you’ll
be forced to use your firearm in self-defense and other confrontations.
One of the most popular companies with suitable CCW
insurance plans and services is U.S. Law
Shield.
Disclaimer: We
are not a legal service. This article is not to be taken as legal advice and is
strictly educational. Please seek appropriate counseling.
Original Sources: https://www.ptpgun.com/post/concealed-carry-insurance
