Insurance covers DUI accidents in many cases, but having a skilled lawyer evaluate the relevant policies can ensure you know your full legal rights and options. Our Minnesota drunk driving accident lawyers are standing by to explain the factors that can impact your insurance coverage after a DUI collision. Contact us online or call (651) 437-3148 to schedule your free consultation.
- Under Minnesota’s no-fault insurance system, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance may cover damages like medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault after a DUI.
- If you were less at fault than the other driver, you may also pursue compensation through an auto liability claim or personal injury lawsuit.
- Importantly, however, many insurance policies in Minnesota exclude coverage for accidents caused by certain activities, such as driving under the influence (DUI).
- The experienced personal injury attorneys at Sieben Polk P.A. can help you understand how insurance will cover your DUI accident.
Will Insurance Pay for a DWI Accident?
Minnesota law allows insurance companies to exclude coverage for liability related to “intentional conduct, criminal conduct that intentionally causes an injury, and other exclusions permitted by law.” However, Insurance policies and adjusters may try to use this language to deny coverage for accidents caused by drunk driving.
However, if exclusions do not apply, your mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) insurance might cover some damages from DUI accidents in Minnesota. Under the state’s no-fault insurance system, PIP allows you to receive compensation for damages up to the policy limits, even if you were at fault.
You may pursue further compensation for damages not covered by PIP through an auto liability claim or personal injury lawsuit if you were less at fault than the defendant. Though drunk drivers are often primarily at fault for accidents and may struggle to pursue a liability claim against other involved drivers, our legal team can ensure you know your full legal rights and options.
What Costs Does Insurance Cover in a Minnesota Drunk Driver Accident?
Your routes toward compensation depend largely on whether you were intoxicated and whether that contributed to the accident. Our attorneys can help you understand the legal contours of your case.
Costs Covered if You Are the At-Fault Driver
Assuming no exclusions apply, you must first turn to no-fault PIP coverage after an accident. In Minnesota, mandatory PIP covers $20,000 in medical expenses and $20,000 in non-medical expenses, including:
- Hospital visits, surgeries, and medication.
- Lost wages for the time you could not work due to the accident.
- Replacement services, such as childcare or household maintenance.
- Funeral expenses if the insured person dies in the accident.
Collision coverage may also cover damage to your vehicle. Health insurance may be another source of compensation for healthcare costs.
Costs Covered if You Are Not at Fault
Once you exhaust available PIP coverage, you may be able to pursue compensation through a fault-based auto liability claim or personal injury lawsuit. All drivers in Minnesota must carry at least the following levels of auto liability coverage:
- $30,000 for injuries to one person.
- $60,000 for injuries to two or more people.
- $10,000 for property damage.
You can pursue compensation for economic losses like medical expenses, lost wages, replacement services, and funeral expenses. You can also seek compensation for non-economic damages not covered by PIP, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Because Minnesota is a comparative fault state, you can only recover fault-based compensation if you are less at fault than the defendant. Further, your compensation will be reduced proportionately to your degree of fault.
If You've Been Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident, Our Minnesota Lawyers Can Help
After a Minnesota drunk driving accident, various types of insurance may cover your damages. When you reach out to our skilled car accident lawyers, we’ll assess your drunk driving case and help you understand your options.
We have the skills and expertise to handle even the most complex accidents and combative defendants. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your claim. Contact us online or call (651) 437-3148 for a free consultation.
