Drunk driving can have serious impacts on the lives of those involved and can leave lasting effects on insurance premiums. While there is no set standard, your auto insurance policy can be affected by a multitude of unwanted possibilities.
In Ontario, punishment for impaired driving can be quite extensive.
- First offense – you will be given a minimum fine of $1,000 with a 1-year license suspension
- Second offense – you will be sentenced to jail for a minimum of 30 days and your license will be suspended for a minimum of 3 years
- Third offense – you will be sentenced to a minimum of 120 days in jail and will be given a lifetime driving suspension if the previous offenses fall within a 10 year period, with possibility for a reduction to a 10-year suspension
- Four or more offenses – if offenses are within a 10 year period you will be given a lifetime suspension with no possibility of reinstatement
If you are hit by an insured drunk driver, their insurance policy will cover all damages up to policy limits. If you operate your vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if you allow an intoxicated person to operate your vehicle, your insurance company will not cover any damages and reserves the right to void your policy.
In Ontario, all auto insurance policies must include liability coverage, accident benefits, and loss or damage coverage. This ensures that those affected by an impaired driving accident are covered so long as they are not at fault. It is important to speak with your broker about your policy and go over the wording in detail so that you are fully aware of what is covered and what is not.
Contact us if you would like to review your policy in-depth to ensure that you have adequate coverage or to learn more about the impacts of drunk driving on insurance policies.