Prepaid legal defense contracts worth while?

A

anothergunisjammed

Inactive
I saw a website that says that for so much a month, you can get prepaid legal defense up to a million dollars in case you end up shooting someone in self defense, its says it covers attorney fees, and days of missed work also. Are these contracts legit? anyone use them?
 
I would note these contracts are made for lawyers by lawyers. Read the fine print. Does it pay the costs of the paralegals the do the paperwork? Does it pay the filing fees? They alone can cost a pretty penny. There are other costs but I'm not a lawyer. You would need to consult a lawyer to find out what all the costs would be. How about expert testimony? Someone like Ayoob are very expensive.
 
I think you might be better off with a umbrella liability policy I ve been meaning to talk to my insurance agent to see exactly what it would and would not cover.
 
Mine allegedly covers everything not covered by other existing policies, homeowner's, auto, etc., up to a million, cost is $212 a year. One requirement for an umbrella is adequate coverage under other policies, you can't just get the umbrella.

It covers legal fees for liability claims, but not for criminal acts, so I'm not certain what happens if a self-defense event turned into a criminal charge.
 
I've never bought or used prepaid legal defense contracts but I would, as with any contract, be very careful of the fine print. It seems though if you go on trial for a self-defense shooting, that no one will know if you are guilty or innocent until the end of the trial (and possibly appeals), so, at the very least, you will probably have to supply the money until the conclusion of all legal proceedings and be very lucky to recoup all of it in the end even if innocent.
 
I'm familiar with some insurance coverages. As prior poster states, Umbrella is an extension of underlying coverage, such as the Personal Liability coverage portion of a Homeowners policy.

But the caveat concerning me is, "expected or intended injury" in the Exclusions.

Must be some trial attorneys on the forum who could weigh in. I'm thinking it would be very easy for your personal liability insurance company to deny coverage for any otherwise legally justified shooting. And all criminal acts are excluded if it isn't completely clear.

Insurance is for unexpected, unintended or unforeseen events. Hard to argue brandishing a weapon, or shooting in self defense is unintended.

Don't think policies have a carve back for defending yourself or others from bodily harm, but I could be wrong.


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I think a self-defense policy is a bit like earthquake insurance. You need a seismic policy because your homeowner's or umbrella policy doesn't cover that event.
 
Liability policies have nothing to do with you getting arrested and charged with a crime, or your legal costs. That's why these policies exist. Many innocent people are left financially devastated after being wrongfully charged. Liability insurance doesn't even become a factor until after your criminal trial is over, and you get sued.

Your liability policies are for when you get sued in a civil court. The insurance companies will represent their interests in NOT having to pay.

If you EVER use a gun for self defense, you are going to want a criminal defense lawyer, in most cases, even before you even make a detailed police statement, and there is a very high probability that you will be arrested. Do you have enough money to retain an attorney and post bail at hand?
 
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About ten years ago an old friend became a pre-paid legal salesman for one of the leading "firms", and he tried to recruit me to join him. After about two minutes of online research I concluded that he was trying to bring me into a pyramid scheme. He lasted about six months in that job, and we didn't speak for several years. Wouldn't trust them.
 
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