Car insurance will provide coverage if you fall asleep at the wheel, but there might be severe consequences if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Also, falling asleep and causing an accident might increase your auto insurance rates drastically. Then collision and liability insurance will cover any damage in case you fall asleep.
You should avoid driving in the first place if you are tired. But there are many other situations where you can fall asleep and end up damaging your vehicle. In comparison, auto insurance covers falling asleep in a vehicle depending on the circumstances surrounding accidents. For instance, the severity of damages to your car or other vehicle and, most importantly, insurance companies would like to know the reason you fell asleep at the wheel.
However, it is worth mentioning that auto insurance might not always provide coverage for damages that occurred to your vehicle. Still, if you have liability insurance, it will cover the damages on other vehicles when you are at fault in an accident.
Type of Insurance That Covers Falling Asleep at the Wheel
You will need liability coverage to cover the damage on other vehicles in case of an at-fault accident. Every minimum insurance policy includes specific liability insurance. On the other hand, you can’t cover damages on your vehicle unless you have collision coverage.
Collision insurance offered by auto insurance companies is an additional policy covering damages to the vehicle due to collision. It can include hitting a pole, tree, or another car.
The Reason for Falling Asleep at the Wheel
Whether auto insurance will cover the damages greatly depend on the reason behind falling asleep at the wheel. For instance, if the reason for falling asleep is that you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance will not pay for the damage. If you fall asleep due to the influence of drugs, you will be in legal trouble along with the increase in your insurance rates, especially if it caused an accident.
But if you fall asleep due to tiredness from work or having trouble sleeping, discuss it with your insurance agent, who might help cover damages.
What if I Have Narcolepsy Disorder?
People suffer from narcolepsy disorder which causes a person to fall asleep in certain conditions. If a person has narcolepsy disorder, the insurance rates you have to pay will be higher.
Also, it is crucial to make sure your insurance company knows about your narcolepsy disorder or any other similar conditions. If you don’t inform your insurance agent about it and cause an accident, they might not cover the damages.
If you know that driving for a long period might cause you to fall asleep, you must avoid excessive driving. It will be hard to find affordable auto insurance if you fall asleep at the wheel.
The Consequences of Falling Asleep at the Wheel
Perhaps the most dangerous consequence of falling asleep at the wheel is either injuring yourself or someone else. Other consequences include paying thousands of dollars in case your insurance won’t cover the damages. Moreover, it is crucial to know that your driving license won’t get suspended unless the influence of drugs didn’t cause it.
Falling asleep at the wheel and causing an accident will increase your future insurance rates. But the insurance company will provide coverage even if you fall asleep at the wheel.
How to Avoid Falling Asleep at the Wheel
First, you should avoid driving if you feel drowsy. If you want to get around you might use many options such as taxi or public transport. In case drowsiness suddenly hits you, pull over your car and get some rest. You might also drink a cup of coffee or an energy drink that will help you stay awake. If you are driving for a longer period, make sure to take someone with you to take over driving duties in case you feel drowsiness.
