Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

If you’ve been in a car crash and the other driver was impaired, you’ll want to know about your options. Does the condition of the other motorist affect your position in any way?

You may ask: “Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?” The good news is that you will usually be covered once you learn how to file a car insurance claim.

Accidents can be traumatic anyway, and you may be particularly worried in this case. We understand your concern and will provide you with some answers to the question below.

Does car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

In any accident where the other party was under the influence, you could file an insurance claim to help pay for the damages. The process will depend on where you live and whether you are in a no-fault state. It will also depend on whether you were at fault for the collision or whether the intoxicated driver was to blame.

Does car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol if you live in a no-fault state?

Several states have no-fault rules. Your insurance company may pay for certain losses, regardless of who was at fault. You will need to go through the hassle of proving that the other driver was to blame. Here is more background on no-fault auto insurance.

Does car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol if you were to blame for the accident?

Even though the other driver may have been intoxicated, they may not have been directly responsible for the crash. So, if you were liable for the accident, you can’t automatically seek compensation from the other motorist just because they were impaired.

However, you can turn to your own insurance company to help with repairs, if you have collision insurance in place. Turn to one of the best collision coverage car insurance companies for more information.

What if the person driving under the influence was uninsured?

You could turn to your own insurance company if you are covered by one of the best uninsured motorist coverage car insurance companies. Otherwise, you may have to sue the other driver in court in a civil case to try and recover your losses.

Read more:

• Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured?
• Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a DUI or other criminal activity?

Will their insurance pay out, even though they were impaired?

While driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal, it doesn’t mean their insurance company will not pay out. So, if you live in an at-fault state, you can turn to their insurance company to help repair damage to your car or cover any related medical bills.

How do you prove the other driver was at fault?

The other motorist is not automatically responsible simply because they were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You’ll need to provide additional evidence to show that they were negligent.

If a court decides that the other motorist was impaired, using evidence from police reports or a DUI arrest record, this should be sufficient to prove that they were negligent. If you want to know more about at fault accidents, read an expert guide on full coverage car insurance.

What should I do to prove the case?

Typically, you’ll need to gather evidence to help with your case, including:

• Videos or photos from the crash scene.
• Witness statement.
• Police reports or records of an arrest.
• Evidence of damage or medical records.

Once you have that in place you can submit it to your insurance assessor.

Case Study: The Implications of Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by Drivers Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

Case Study 1: No Coverage for Intoxicated Drivers

John owns a car insurance policy that provides comprehensive coverage for his vehicle. One night, while parked on the street, John’s car was struck by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol.

The intoxicated driver lost control of their vehicle and collided with John’s car, causing significant damage. John immediately contacted his insurance company to file a claim, hoping that his policy would cover the repairs.

Despite being an innocent party, John’s insurance company denied his claim, stating that the intoxicated driver’s actions voided any coverage he would have otherwise received. John was left with the financial burden of repairing his car.

Case Study 2: Limited Coverage for Intoxicated Drivers

Sarah holds a car insurance policy that includes liability coverage and collision coverage. One evening, Sarah’s parked car was hit by a driver who was driving under the influence of drugs. The impaired driver swerved onto the sidewalk and crashed into Sarah’s parked vehicle, causing substantial damage.

Concerned about the repair costs, Sarah promptly contacted her insurance provider to inquire about coverage. After reviewing Sarah’s policy, the insurance company informed her that her liability coverage would not extend to accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

However, her collision coverage would cover the damages to her car, subject to the deductible specified in her policy. While Sarah was relieved that her insurance would pay for the repairs, she still had to pay the deductible amount out of pocket before her coverage would apply.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage to my car if I hit a parked car?

Case Study 3: Enhanced Coverage for Intoxicated Drivers

Michael purchased a comprehensive car insurance policy that offered enhanced coverage options. One night, Michael’s car was rear-ended by a driver who was later found to be driving under the influence of drugs. The accident resulted in significant damage to Michael’s vehicle, and he immediately contacted his insurance company to initiate a claim.

To Michael’s surprise, his comprehensive insurance policy included coverage for accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The insurance company promptly arranged for an inspection of Michael’s car and covered the entire cost of repairs.

Michael was relieved to have the financial burden taken care of by his insurance, as he would have faced substantial expenses without the coverage provided by his policy.

Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by a Driver Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol: The Bottom Line

If you live in an at-fault state, the other party’s insurance company should pay for damage to your vehicle. If you live in a no-fault state, you’ll turn to your own insurance company to help with repairs.

The other driver’s insurance company will cover the case, even though their client was intoxicated. If the other driver has no insurance, you will need uninsured or underinsured motorist cover to get compensation or would need to sue the motorist directly.