Impact of a DC DUI Conviction on Insurance
When a person is arrested for driving under the influence, the very first thing that person should do is contact an experienced DC DUI lawyer to discuss the offense and the potential impact that the DUI case might have on their criminal record, job, or insurance. An attorney will be able to discuss the possible consequences of a conviction and explore possible ways to avoid such consequences. To learn more or discuss the steps you can take to help your situation, call and schedule a consultation today.
Potential Consequences on Insurance
A person who has been charged with a DUI may not immediately have their insurance situation affected. However, insurance companies do attempt to minimize their own risk and may see an individual who has been arrested for DUI as a risky bet. Therefore, if an insurance company learns that one if its insureds has been charged with a DUI, the insurance company may increase that individual’s premiums or drop him or her from coverage altogether. Given this, it is important for a person who has been arrested for driving under the influence to begin talking with a lawyer immediately after being charged in order to discuss all possible consequences to their insurance as well as options for minimizing such consequences.
When Can Insurance Drop Someone Altogether?
Under certain policies, insurance companies have the ability to drop a customer from coverage if that customer is deemed to be an excessive risk. For example, if an individual’s license is suspended due to an accumulation of traffic violations, that person’s insurance company may deem him or her to be too much of a risk to insure. However, before the insurance company drops that person from coverage, the insurance company may increase their rates. When this happens, the rates may be so high that the insured is no longer able to afford their insurance. Ultimately, when a person is charged with driving under the influence, that charge can be seen as sufficiently serious to permit their insurance company to drop him or her from coverage.
How a Lawyer Can Help
After a person has been arrested for driving under the influence, that person should immediately start speaking with an attorney in order to better understand any potential consequences to their insurance coverage. For example, if that person’s license is not revoked and the DUI does not show up on their driving record, their insurance company may not find out about the pending DUI charge.
However, if that person’s license has been revoked, he or she may be required to obtain high risk insurance in order to reinstate their license once the revocation period has ended. Such high risk concerns can come with additional fees and may also result in an increase in standard insurance premiums. When a person is charged with driving under the influence, he or she should meet with a lawyer to discuss ways in which to prevent the DUI charge from showing up on their driving record. This will minimize potential insurance-related consequences.
What Insurance Information Should Someone Bring To Their Initial Consultation?
A person who has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence should discuss their case with an attorney prior to speaking with their insurance company. In this meeting, he or she should provide the lawyer with their insurance information and be prepared to discuss the current status of their insurance. For example, it is important for the lawyer to know if the insurance coverage is presently lapsed or if it has expired, or if the insurance company is currently investigating an accident that may have resulted from the driving under the influence arrest.