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Accidents in cars are already scary and stressful, but when alcohol is involved, things get even worse. People who have been in car accidents caused by drunk drivers often want to know if their insurance will pay for the repairs. This is the short answer: it varies. If you are drunk and cause an accident, your insurance may or may not pay the damages. This depends on a number of factors, such as the type of insurance you have, the state where you live, and the specifics of the accident.This blog post will talk about Does Car Insurance Cover Drunk Driving Accidents? how accidents caused by alcohol affect insurance, and the possible legal and financial effects of driving while drunk. To keep yourself, your guests, and other people on the road safe, you need to know about your car insurance policy and the risks of drinking and driving.
Before talking about insurance, it’s important to talk about what it means to drive while drunk. Drunk driving, also called DUI or DWI, is when someone drives a car while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit. The legal limit for BAC is 0.08% most of the time, but it can be lower for business drivers or people who are not old enough to drink.
It’s important to remember that driving while drunk isn’t just about booze. It can also mean that the driver is impaired by drugs, whether they are pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs that make it unsafe for them to drive.
If you get into an accident while drunk or high, things get much more difficult, both legally and financially. What about car insurance? Does it cover the costs? Let us look at the details.
Most of the time, car insurance is meant to cover crashes no matter who was at fault. But crashes involving drunk drivers are especially hard to handle. There are different kinds of car insurance, and each one has its own rules and limits when it comes to liability for drunk driving. Here is a list of the most important types of coverage:
One type of car insurance that most people have is liability insurance, which is often needed by law. It pays for the harm or damage you cause to other people in an event where you were at fault. Usually, liability insurance has two parts:
Yes, if you’re drunk and cause an accident, your liability insurance may pay for the damage you do to other people or their property. But there are a few things you should know:
DUI/DWI Exclusions: Many insurance plans don’t cover accidents that were caused by drivers who were drunk or high. Your insurance company might not pay for other people’s damages if they find out that you were drunk at the time of the accident. This is especially true if it’s put into your policy.
Laws in Each State: Liability covering rules may be different in each state. In some places, if you are found guilty of DUI, your insurance company might raise your rates or not cover you at all.
Collision insurance is an extra that you can choose to have. If you get into an accident, it helps pay to fix your car, no matter who was at fault. If you have collision coverage and get into an accident with a drunk driver, this policy might help pay to fix your car.
But here are some things to remember:
DUI Exclusions: Just like liability insurance, collision insurance may have rules that don’t cover crashes that were caused by drunk driving. If the insurance company finds out that you were drunk while driving, they might not pay for the damage to your car.
Costs Will Go Up: If your insurance company decides to pay for your drunk driving accident, your costs will probably go up. This is because insurance companies see drunk drivers as a high-risk group of people, and a DUI can show a trend of acting in a dangerous way.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that isn’t caused by an accident, like damage from theft, crime, fire, or natural disasters. If you are drunk and cause an accident, this type of coverage would not apply unless there is an outside cause, like a tree falling on your car while you are drunk. Most of the time, complete coverage doesn’t pay for damage you caused by being careless or breaking the law, like a DUI accident.
Uninsured or uninsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is meant to protect you if the driver who caused the accident doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for the damage they caused. If you get hit by a drunk driver who doesn’t have enough insurance, your UM/UIM coverage might pay for your injuries or the damage to your property.
The most important thing to remember is that UM/UIM coverage doesn’t usually cover events that you cause. In other words, if you’re the drunk driver, your own insurance might not cover any injuries you get or damage to your car.
No matter who was at blame, MedPay or PIP coverage can help pay for your and your passengers’ medical bills after an accident. If someone is hurt because they were drunk, this can really help, because hospital bills can add up fast.
MedPay and PIP, on the other hand, will only pay for medical bills that are directly connected to the accident. In connection with the DUI, they do not pay for damage to property or legal bills.
Even if your car insurance covers the crash, getting a DUI conviction can still cost you money in the long run. Let’s look at some things that might change your insurance policy and rates:
If your insurance covers an accident caused by drunk driving, your rates will almost certainly go up. Insurance companies charge more for drivers who have been accused of DUI because they are seen as more likely to cause an accident. Premiums could go up a lot, and it could happen over a number of years.
If you are found guilty of DUI, your insurance company may even refuse to renew your policy. That means you’ll need to get new insurance, and since you have a DUI record, your rates are likely to be higher.
If you are found guilty of DUI in many states, you may have to file an SR-22 form with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). That you have the minimum amount of insurance coverage is shown on this form. High-risk drivers are often needed to have it. SR-22 insurance usually costs more than regular insurance because it is made for drivers who have a past of being careless.
Many times, if you are found driving while drunk, you could lose your licence for a short time or for good. Even though this won’t have an effect on your car insurance, you won’t be able to drive properly. If you keep driving after your licence has been taken away, you could face more legal problems, including having to go to jail.
A DUI conviction can mean more than just problems with your insurance business. It can also mean criminal charges, fines, and even jail time. You could also be sued by the people who were hurt in the accident for damages like medical bills, pain and suffering, and missed wages, depending on the state and the seriousness of the crime. If these things happen, your car insurance might not cover all the damage, leaving you responsible.
You can’t always avoid the effects of a drunk driving accident, but here are some things you can do to protect yourself and your money:
The best way to escape a DUI accident is to not drive during the night. If you’ve been drinking or using drugs, you should always find a sober driver, take the bus, or use a ride-sharing app like Lyft or Uber.
Read your car insurance policy often to know what it covers and what it doesn’t. If you have questions about how your insurance will cover a DUI, talk to your agent.
If you already have collision or comprehensive coverage, you might want to think about adding uninsured driver coverage to protect yourself in case someone else and you get into an accident while they are drunk or not having enough insurance.
If you were in an accident with someone who was driving drunk, you should talk to a criminal defence lawyer. They can help you understand your rights under the law, get through the court system, and look out for your best interests.
Most of the time, car insurance doesn’t cover all the costs or legal issues that come up after a drunk driving crash. Liability and collision coverage may apply, but accidents caused by DUI are often not covered, and your premiums will probably go up after you get a DUI sentence. A DUI conviction can have major legal and financial effects, such as fines, license suspension, and jail time. It can also affect your insurance.
The best way to escape these issues is to never drive while high on drugs or alcohol. If you were hurt in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should talk to a lawyer and an insurance agent to find out what your rights and options are. You can keep yourself and other people on the road safe by knowing what will happen and taking the right steps.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is general in nature and should not be construed as legal or insurance advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances.