If you have an accident while drunk driving , does it invalidate your car insurance?

Question

Well thanks for the excellent answers and thanks for the torrents of abuse .
The reason i was asking was that my car was hit by a drunk driver last night and i wanted to know whether his insurance was valid .

Answer 1

UK based answer -

You will be able to claim against the third party's insurer. The fact that he/she may be in breach of his/her policy conditions will not affect you. Exclusions of indemnity to damage caused as a result of being under the influence of Drink or Drugs would only affect the other person's rights to claim for damage to their vehicle. This exclusion is usually applied after having been convicted for the same offence previously.

If you are comprehensively insured, let your own Insurer deal with your claim. If you know the identity of the TP insurer, contact them, they will provide you with a replacement vehicle whilst your own car in inspected/repaired.

Answer 2

Gee Lot's of people did jump on your question quite aggressively I might add. But drunk driving is a serous thing.

Anyway to your question, his Insurance should still cover damages up to that persons limits unless for some strange reason there was some type of exclusion in that persons policy. I've been in Insurance here in Texas since 1992 and have only seen one policy where something like that was not covered (these are very rare) now with no fault states and a few other states I can't say for sure, but with regards to Texas I can. Go ahead and make your claim against his insurance.

On a personal note, If for some reason his insurance is not any good, or if they do try and invalidate the claim, then you will have no choice but to file on your own insurance if you have the proper coverages, ie uninsured/underinsured, collision. But then turn it all over to an attorney.

If it makes everyone feel better, the driver of the car that hit your auto will more than likely be non--renewed by his current carrier or pushed up into rate bracket that will make the payments on a high end luxury car look like lunch money! Well they should too we all know that one should not drive under the influence, it's like discharging a weapon in a public place, it will only be a matter of time till someone gets hurt or worse.

Well good luck to you. You did not say if anyone was hurt. I hope not. But do take care.

Answer 3

Usually only as regards your loss-ie no pay out on your car or your injuries as you invalidated the insurance company's liability to you by driving while intoxicated.

Any third parties that are injured or have sustained damage to property due to your irresponsibility should still get paid through your policy, providing you were fully comprehensive, but you will probably have to fight for it.

Answer 4

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RE :If you have an accident while drunk driving , does it invalidate your car insurance?
Update: Well thanks for the excellent answers and thanks for the torrents of abuse .
The reason i was asking was that my car was hit by a drunk driver last night and i wanted to know whether his insurance was valid .
Follow 22 answers

Answer 5

basically if you have been caught drink driving ur f*cked because though your insurence will pay out this time u will lose your licence for anywhere up to a year where u will have to take your test again and on passing getting a new insurence that you have to tell that u have been band from driving which will bump your insurence up at least tripple to what u were paying

Answer 6

It would depend on the terms of your contract with the insurance company, check your policy, if you are still unsure contact your insurance agent, for sure the price of your insurance will go up.

Answer 7

No, it would not. yet once you're charged with drink using and located to blame, you likely be banned from using besides. yet once you're back on the line back, you may anticipate to pay reble the top rate you paid formerly. In asserting which you will discover it complicated to get coverage with a drinkcontinual offence on your licence. coverage firms could evaluate you achievable and have the acceptable suited to refuse to grant you coverage. that's on your licence for 10 years.

Answer 8

His insurance would be valid, he would be ticketed for drunk driving and will likely lose his license, however, he is still responsible for your injuries,damages etc.

Answer 9

They are likely to reduce your claim for your own injury or damage but the 3rd party if there is one will be paid in full. Then at your next renewal the premium will rocket to a point where you probably will not be able to afford it.

Answer 10

your insurance will pay the other luckless sod, but they wont pay you, and they will cancel your insurance and hike the policy prices thru the roof.

youll get the full price policy plus the DD premium, which is on average 75% and they will wipe your no claims bonus...