Drunk driving is a dangerous choice. Almost everyone in Tennessee is aware that it is illegal to drive after having too much to drink. Between driver education standards and public awareness campaigns, information about the hazards of drunk driving is widely available.
Unfortunately, many people still make the choice to drive after drinking. In some cases, they may believe that they have a high alcohol tolerance or that they have learned how to drive under the influence with years of practice. Other times, they may assume that they can get home safely without police officers pulling them over.
However, an arrest isn’t the real issue with drunk driving. The biggest concern is the possibility of causing a crash. Drunk motorists kill people and put them in the hospital every day. How can the people involved in a crash caused by a drunk driver cover the costs generated by this kind of preventable wreck?
Insurance can help
Some people mistakenly believe that if a drunk driver is at fault for a crash, then insurance coverage isn’t available. They may believe this because certain types of insurance have clauses eliminating coverage after illegal activities. Life insurance typically doesn’t pay out if someone dies during the commission of a crime, for example. If that were true of car insurance, many people with major losses would have no form of recourse. Car insurance generally covers property damage and bodily injury losses even when the driver has the policy committed a flagrant violation of the law.
Lawsuits may also be necessary
Someone who makes irresponsible choices about when and how they drive might also make irresponsible choices about insurance. They might let their policy lapse or may have the lowest amount of coverage legally allowed. It is sometimes possible to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the motorist who caused a drunk driving collision. In fact, a business might have some liability for the incident as well. Tennessee has dram shop laws. If servers or bar staff at a business provided alcohol to a minor or someone already visibly intoxicated, then the business may have a degree of liability for the crash that the patron caused after leaving.
Holding a drunk driver and other parties that contributed to a crash responsible can help to ensure that injury victims can cover the expenses of a recent alcohol-related wreck. Drunk drivers should have to take responsibility for the mistakes that they make which cause harm to others.