AOR Covers You Even if You Are Charged With a Crime
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to defend yourself, it is essential to understand that you may face criminal charges, especially in politically sensitive or high-profile cases. Prosecutors often assume the worst and tend to file charges before thoroughly investigating the situation. Even if you were the one attacked, the legal system might still perceive you as the aggressor.
A significant issue is that many self-defense programs supported by traditional insurance companies include a “criminal acts” exclusion. This means that they reserve the right to withdraw their support once charges are filed against you in specific circumstances.
At The Attorneys On Retainer (AOR), we operate differently.
What is a Criminal Acts Exclusion?
A criminal acts exclusion is a clause commonly found in many self-defense insurance programs. Generally, these clauses state that if you are under investigation or formally charged with committing a “criminal act,” your coverage may be suspended or denied altogether.
On paper, this may seem reasonable. However, in real-world self-defense situations, it can be detrimental. This is because nearly every act of self-defense begins with a criminal charge, such as murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, or weapon violations. If your self-defense insurance program includes a criminal acts exclusion, it is likely to fail you when you need it most.
Why AOR Does Not Have a Criminal Acts Exclusion
At The Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm (AFF), our experienced attorneys are well-versed in the dynamics of self-defense cases. Often, prosecutors rush to charge individuals before thoroughly investigating the situation. That is why our AOR Program does not exclude members just because they are charged with a crime.
If you can claim self-defense in good faith, we will represent you regardless of the allegations made by prosecutors. We believe that our members deserve exceptional legal defense from the outset, rather than conditional support based on a prosecutor’s or insurance adjuster’s interpretation of an incident.
Realistic Self-Defense Scenarios That Can Still Lead to Criminal Charges
When most people think of self-defense, they envision a straightforward situation in which the facts clearly support the use of force and the legal system quickly acknowledges it was justified. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
It is important to recognize that even the most reasonable use of force can lead to criminal charges. Whether due to misunderstandings, high-pressure decisions, or an overly aggressive prosecutor, many self-defense cases begin with an arrest and formal charges.
The following examples illustrate how easily someone can find themselves on the wrong side of the law, even when they genuinely believed they were lawfully protecting themselves or others. These incidents demonstrate how self-defense programs supported by traditional insurance may leave you without support, while AOR will not.
Example 1: Lethal Force – Home Invasion
You are suddenly awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of glass breaking. Grabbing a firearm, you shoot at a figure entering through your window. The intruder is killed, but it turns out he was unarmed. The prosecutor questions whether deadly force was necessary in this situation, and as a result, you are charged with manslaughter.
Example 2: Non-Lethal Force – Pepper Spray in a Bar
While leaving a crowded bar, a man grabs your arm forcefully during an argument. To defend yourself from what you believed to be an imminent threat, you used pepper spray. Later, the police reported that the incident was simply a verbal dispute that you unnecessarily escalated. As a result, you were charged with assault.
Example 3: Mistaken Belief – Parking Lot Encounter
In a dark parking lot, someone quickly approaches you while reaching into their pocket. Assuming they are about to rob you, you draw your firearm but do not fire. It turns out the person is unarmed and simply asking for directions. As a result, you are charged with brandishing a weapon.
Example 4: Domestic Dispute – Protecting Yourself at Home
During a heated argument with your partner, they hit you. In response, you hit back to defend yourself. When the police arrive, your partner claims that you were the aggressor. As a result, you are arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, even though you were acting in reasonable self-defense.
Example 5: Defending a Stranger – Street Altercation
You witness someone being attacked on the street and decide to intervene, using physical force to stop the assault. However, when the police arrive, the person who was being attacked claims that you escalated the situation unnecessarily. As a result, you are charged with aggravated assault.
The legal system is complex, and even well-meaning people seeking to protect themselves or others can face serious charges. Unfortunately, many self-defense programs backed by traditional insurance pull back at this point, relying on their criminal acts exclusion.
How Often Does Self-Defense Lead to Criminal Charges?
Many people assume that clear cases of self-defense rarely result in prosecution, but the reality is more concerning. Studies and reports consistently show that individuals who lawfully defend themselves often face investigation and charges.
For example, a self-defense program supported by traditional insurance indicates that approximately 30 to 35 members per month encounter criminal charges following a self-defense incident. (Maremont & Hobbs, 2025). These statistics indicate that being charged is not uncommon and often happens before all the facts are established. This is why AOR provides immediate legal support, without waiting for a prosecutor or insurance company to determine whether your actions were justified.
The AOR Advantage
At AOR, we take a different approach. If you claim self-defense reasonably and in good faith, we will represent you, regardless of the charge, the incident, or where it occurred. There are no loopholes or fine print – just legal protection from experienced attorneys who stand by your side when it matters most.
The key difference between AOR and self-defense programs supported through traditional insurance lies in their structure. Most of these programs are governed by nationwide insurance regulations based on public policy, which often require exclusions for criminal acts.
In contrast, AOR is supported by the only law firm in the nation that focuses exclusively on self-defense cases, AFF. We are not backed by traditional insurance, so we are not constrained by those rules. We have established our own Risk Retention Group (RRG), which provides us the freedom to create a program centered on legal integrity rather than insurance compliance.
At AOR, our only concern is whether your case meets the three criteria we have established. If you answer yes to all three, we will represent you.
- You are charged (or are reasonably concerned about being charged) with a crime (felony or misdemeanor).
- You can reasonably and in good faith assert that you acted in self-defense or defense of others.
- The charges arise out of conduct that occurred entirely after you became a member of AOR.
Conclusion
The moments following an incident involving self-defense can significantly impact your life. Law enforcement may consider you a suspect rather than a victim, and prosecutors could file charges before all the facts are known. It is important to note that many self-defense programs backed by traditional insurance come with numerous exclusions – carefully crafted to limit their liability instead of protecting you.
At AOR, we do things differently. If you assert that you acted in self-defense and meet our three criteria, we will represent you.
Read our full “We Cover You Even If…” series to see how far that commitment goes.
At AOR, we stand by you when you are facing criminal charges. We prioritize following proper legal procedures and uphold the presumption of innocence. Most importantly, we fight for your freedom as if it were our own. Join AOR today because you deserve complete legal protection when it matters most.
Citations
Maremont, M., & Hobbs, T.D., Did You Shoot Somebody in Self-Defense? There’s an Insurance Policy for That, The Wall Street Journal (May 11, 2025), https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/self-defense-insurance-policy-379336cb (last visited on October 30, 2025).
