Will my car insurance cover a DUI accident?

Will my car insurance cover a DUI accident?

Answer:

We're assuming you're asking about first-party coverage -- in other words, will your own car insurance policy cover an accident you caused when you were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

A typical liability auto insurance policy covers car accidents caused by negligent or reckless conduct, but intentional conduct is almost always excluded from car insurance coverage. So the answer here could come down to the specific language of your policy, the kind of coverage you're asking the insurance carrier to provide, and how much of a fight the company wants to put up.

If you caused a drunk-driving accident, and other people were seriously injured, don't be surprised if your insurance company tries to argue that your decision to drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel amounts to intentional conduct, which is excluded from coverage. Of course, your argument (or your attorney's) would be that while you may have made the intentional decision to drink and drive, you certainly didn't intend to cause a car accident. So at most, your conduct was reckless, not intentional.

Your car insurance carrier probably can't deny a claim you make under your collision coverage. Let's say you were convicted of DUI in connection with an accident where you drove into a tree, and you make a claim to get your car fixed. In that situation, the carrier would probably have a difficult time denying coverage.

Besides getting coverage for a DUI accident, you also need to worry about your insurance company trying to cancel your policy in the wake of the accident. At a minimum, you can expect to see a significant increase in your car insurance premiums. Learn more about DUI Accidents and Car Insurance Coverage.