Car insurance may cover damages in a DUI accident, but many policies won’t pay if the driver is breaking the law, such as driving under the influence. However, if you have collision coverage, your policy can help pay for your car’s damage, even if the drunk driver’s insurance doesn’t. If the driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, your policy may still help with the costs.
If you or a loved one were involved in a drunk driving accident, a Minnetonka, MN drunk driving accident attorney will protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.
When a car is totaled, it means it’s damaged so badly that it’s not worth fixing. But how do insurance companies decide this? Insurance companies use a simple math problem to figure it out. They look at two things:
If the cost to fix the car is more than a certain percentage of what the car is worth (usually around 70-80%), they call it totaled. For example, if your car was worth $10,000 before the accident, and it would cost $8,000 to fix it, the insurer might decide it’s totaled.
When a car is totaled, instead of paying to fix it, the insurance company usually just pays you what the car was worth before the accident.
Liability is about who’s responsible for the accident. Minnesota uses a no-fault system, meaning:
For car damage, it still matters who caused the accident. If someone else caused the accident, their insurance should pay for your car damage. This is exactly where things get tricky with DUI accidents.
When someone drives drunk and causes an accident, it changes how insurance works. Here’s what you need to know:
Insurers are often reluctant to pay for accidents caused by drunk driving. They might try to pay less than they should. That’s why it’s important to talk to a lawyer who knows about these kinds of cases.
If your car is totaled in a DUI accident, whether insurance will pay depends on a few things:
Keep in mind that insurers often try to pay as little as possible. They might say your car is worth less than you think. This is another reason why talking to a lawyer can be helpful.
Dealing with a drunk driving case on your own can be complicated, take longer than it should, and often get less or no compensation at all after the accident. Our drunk driving accident lawyers from Schmidt & Salita Law Firm will help you understand your rights and handle the insurance companies to get what you deserve.
We will gather evidence, calculate your losses, and represent you in court if needed. Let us manage the legal side while you focus on recovering. Call us at 952-473-4530, or contact us online for a case evaluation today.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Dean M. Salita, with more than 30 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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