DUI Convictions Impact Car Insurance – Now Is the Time to Contact a Palm Beach Defense Lawyer
You may have already thought about the criminal fines, prison time, and criminal record that you may face if you’re convicted of drunk driving in Florida. However, the criminal penalties aren’t the only consequences that could impact your life. Even if you keep your license, your car insurance may be canceled, or the rates may become prohibitively expensive. An experienced Palm Beach DUI defense lawyer can explain everything to you and fight to protect your rights after a drunk driving arrest.
How a DUI Conviction May Affect Your Car Insurance
Insurance companies view drivers with DUI convictions as high-risk, leading to increased rates or even policy cancellations. Here's what you can expect:
- Rate hikes. A DUI conviction often triggers a significant increase in car insurance premiums. Rates may double or even triple, depending on your insurer and the specifics of your case. Your increased rates can continue for years after your conviction.
- Policy cancellations. Some insurers may choose to cancel your policy because of a DUI conviction, and securing coverage from other providers may be challenging.
Florida Insurance Certifications
If you are convicted of drunk driving in Florida, you may be required to file special insurance certifications with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. These insurance certifications include:
- SR-22 insurance certification. An SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility proves you carry the state-mandated minimum liability insurance. If the court requires you to file an SR-22 insurance certification (also known as a certificate of financial responsibility or an SR-22 bond), you will need to prove that you have a valid insurance policy for at least $10,000 for an injury or death of one person per accident and $10,000 in property damage coverage per accident.
- FR-44 insurance certification. Florida courts often require people convicted of DUI to file FR-44 insurance certification, also known as DUI insurance. An FR-44 certification means you have more than the minimum liability insurance required for most Florida drivers. If the court requires you to file an FR-44, you need insurance coverage that includes at least $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.
The financial burden of increased car insurance premiums can be substantial, often amounting to thousands of dollars over time. However, the impact on your car insurance is just one of the many consequences of a DUI conviction in Palm Beach.
Beyond Insurance: Other Consequences of a Palm Beach DUI Conviction
While the effect on your car insurance is significant, you may also face the following consequences after a DUI conviction:
- Fines and fees
- License suspension
- Required use of an ignition interlock device
- Criminal record
- Potential jail time
- Mandatory DUI education programs
- Employment problems
For all of these reasons, it’s essential to mount a strong defense if you’re charged with drunk driving.
Let Our Plam Beach Defense Lawyers Help You Protect Your Future
It’s critical to have an experienced defense lawyer represent you if you’ve been charged with drunk driving. The DUI defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert David Malove can investigate the case against you, explore your potential defenses, negotiate with prosecutors, and represent you in court.
We understand the stakes involved in a DUI case and fight hard for all our clients. While past results do not guarantee an outcome in your case, we invite you to read our DUI defense case results to learn how we’ve helped other clients and our DUI client reviews to learn what our clients think about us. Here’s what a few of our clients had to say:
- “He totally kicked the government’s butt in court. They caved and gave us the deal. Wow! What a lawyer!” -J.H.
- “Mr. Malove is an exceptional advocate for his client. He has a very real presence in the courtroom. I watch how judges and other lawyers treat him and he treats all. I have worked with many lawyers and he is the one I would call if I had my own personal issue. It still amazes me how he tries to help his client on so many levels. In addition to legal matters he has shown me that he gets his client in a better situation than when he met the client. I really never review lawyers but Mr. Malove is one I would and he deserves many accolades. My respect for him has been earned many times. I work as a healthcare clinician and have always heard the same as above from my colleagues.” -Jif, Drug Treatment Program Coordinator
From challenging the validity of field sobriety tests to negotiating plea bargains, our team is dedicated to providing the aggressive defense you need.