Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of those decisions that there is no good excuse for. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle requires all of a person’s coordination, vision, and reflexes. These are all impaired when a person has visited a bar for several rounds of drinks. 

Do people who get DUI tickets deserve a second chance to redeem themselves? How much does society hold a grudge against someone who drives drunk? There are a lot of judgments that DUI perpetrators live with for the rest of their lives, and it’s important to discuss whether all of them are merited or not. 

Can I still get life insurance with a DUI? People who have driven drunk pose a huge red flag to insurance companies. Drunk drivers affect the people around them negatively. Their kids may not be able to live a fulfilling life if their parents are living with the stigma of being drunk drivers.  

Sometimes a person has a hard time getting a job again after getting a DUI. It indicates that people are not employable if they can’t be responsible behind the wheel. These are all matters we will touch on as we discuss the long-lasting fallout of how getting a DUI affects you. 

The Impact of a DUI on Insurance Policies

Just like customers want to protect themselves from legal harm when a crash happens, insurance companies are always trying to eliminate the most risk they can when evaluating potential customers. They will look at the driving record of every individual to see whether they have any past experiences that show they are a risk to file more claims. 

The biggest sign that a customer is not very insurable is if they have committed an act on the road that has severely put others in danger. This could range from running a red light and crashing into someone to speeding in a school zone. The latter puts children in danger, which is horrible indeed. 

Now think about how catastrophic it would be to have a drunk driving charge on your record. Driving after drinking alcohol puts yourself and everyone else on the road in grave danger. Many people who get DUIs are repeat offenders, meaning they might have substance abuse or alcohol problems. 

These are all signs to an insurance company that you are not a trustworthy customer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be forgiven eventually. This is easier with life insurance than auto insurance. 

Auto insurance companies increase your rates dramatically after a DUI, and if you are shopping for auto insurance after getting a DUI, chances are that you will be left out to dry. You prove to be too much of a risk for an insurer, and you certainly won’t be able to file a successful claim for an auto accident that occurs due to drunk driving.

Life insurance companies view you as a major threat to their business if you get a DUI because one-third of all auto fatalities occur while someone is under the influence. Someone who drives drunk is much more likely to die than someone who doesn’t.

If you apply for life insurance five years or more after a DUI, there is a good chance that the ticket or arrest will no longer affect your rates. You have proven that you are no longer someone who takes these horrible risks, and the insurance company will note this. 

But what about the social implications of getting a DUI? Can you lose friends and family? Will your boss fire you at work? Let’s discuss this a little more.

Social Impact of Getting a DUI

It’s a good thing to not pass judgment on others in life, but don’t mistake fairness and accountability. Just like an insurance company is going to deem you a threat to them after getting a DUI, friends may view you in the same manner. 

If your buddies can’t trust that you are going to get them safely from one event to another without being intoxicated, you may find yourself out of the loop during fun and games. You will need to gain back that trust you had before the DUI. How can you do this?

First, you need to make sure you avoid getting another DUI. Make sure you are always prepared to go home with someone else if there is alcohol involved. Ask one of your friends to be a designated driver, or maybe you can become one by eliminating drinking from your night out. 

Show you can have fun without getting wasted. Go to the zoo or the theme park instead of a rave. Stay at home and watch movies, inviting your friends over for some calmer fun. Remember that people who love you just want to see what’s best for each other, and drinking is never part of a healthy lifestyle. 

Can your boss fire you for getting a DUI? This is another clear yes. Just like the insurance and friends topics, getting a DUI will show an employer that you are too risky to employ. They will look to replace you with someone who has a clean record, and you will have a hard time getting another job.

How can you be forgiven for a DUI more easily?

Even a crime like drunk driving can be forgiven eventually. If you make it the number one priority in your life to prove that you have changed and become a better person because of what happened, good things can follow.

This not only means abstaining from drunk driving but becoming an advocate and an active member of the community. Talk to others who struggle with alcohol. Go to an AA meeting and tell your story. Go to a DUI class and learn from your mistakes. 

Go above and beyond to prove your changed attitude. Even though a drunk driving ticket takes minutes to be given out, you will have to repay years of your time because of it. The seriousness of drunk driving should never be overlooked, but neither should the actions of those who improve their decision-making and refrain from drunk driving.