Does Insurance Cover Drunk Driving?

1. Liability Coverage

Liability insurance covers damages you cause to others, including property damage and bodily injury. This coverage applies even if you were intoxicated, but there are caveats:

• Legal Obligations: Your insurer may still be required to pay claims to third parties, such as other drivers, pedestrians, or property owners.
• Policy Exclusions: Some policies explicitly exclude coverage for illegal activities, including drunk driving. If this exclusion applies, your insurer could deny claims or sue you to recover payments they made on your behalf.

2. Collision Coverage

Collision insurance covers damage to your own vehicle, regardless of fault. However:

• Denied Claims: If you were driving under the influence (DUI), your insurer may deny your collision claim due to a policy violation.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: In such cases, you’ll be responsible for covering repairs or replacing your vehicle.

3. Comprehensive Coverage

• Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision-related incidents, such as theft, fire, or vandalism. Drunk driving typically does not affect comprehensive coverage unless your actions directly caused the incident (e.g., setting your car on fire while intoxicated).

4. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

• If you are injured by a drunk driver who lacks sufficient insurance, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply. This type of coverage protects you as the victim of someone else’s negligence.

5. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments Coverage

PIP or MedPay may cover your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault. However:

• Insurers may refuse to pay if you were intoxicated and caused the accident.
• Some states have no-fault insurance systems, which may limit your ability to sue for additional damages.

6. Commercial Insurance

For those operating commercial vehicles, drunk driving often results in immediate denial of claims and could invalidate your commercial policy entirely. Employers may also face liability if the driver was acting within the scope of employment.