Does car insurance cover falling asleep at the wheel?
Does car insurance cover falling asleep at the wheel? Usually it does. But your insurance company may not want to pay if you caused an accident after driving while asleep. It’s more likely they’ll pay damages if an accident was someone else’s fault. One of the repercussions of falling asleep at the wheel is it can raise your auto insurance by up to 82%.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: Jan 10, 2023
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UPDATED: Jan 10, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- If you are in an accident after you fell asleep at the wheel but it’s not your fault, it’s more likely an insurer will pay for your damages
- After an incident involving falling asleep, you will be considered a high-risk driver, and your rates could go up by 82%
- You should tell your insurance company if you have conditions like sleep apnea that make falling asleep more likely
Does car insurance cover falling asleep at the wheel? Your car insurance can cover you if you are in an accident, but it depends on why you fell asleep while driving.
Although some people may have conditions that cause them to fall asleep behind the wheel, others may do so simply because they are tired. Driving while drowsy is actually very common, and 50% of drivers admit to doing it.
It’s best to be completely sure you have sufficient coverage in the event of a car accident to protect both yourself and anyone else involved.
Enter your zip code into our free tool above to compare rates on insurance now.
Collision Coverage and Liability Car Insurance
A claim for damaging your own vehicle in a collision caused by falling asleep at the wheel would fall under collision coverage.
In most cases, once you have this, your insurance will cover falling asleep at the wheel. However, if you have only the minimum liability insurance the damage to your car will not be covered.
If you are injured, your insurance company may also cover your treatment if you have medical payments coverage.
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Can you get a ticket for falling asleep at the wheel?
Yes, you can get a ticket for falling asleep at the wheel. While there is no particular law or part of the vehicle code that covers falling asleep at the wheel, that doesn’t mean a sleepy driver can get away with it.
In New Jersey in particular, there is a law against drowsy driving, called Maggie’s Law. In other states, most drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel face charges of reckless driving. The second offence they can be charged with is vehicular manslaughter if anyone is killed.
If you are caught, you can be charged with reckless driving. If this happens, your insurance company may not cover you. This is because it’s seen as a preventable accident that could have been avoided by acting responsibly.
Getting Into an Accident After Falling Asleep at the Wheel
There are a couple of common scenarios that happen after you fall asleep at the wheel.
Damage to Property
If you’ve crashed into private property, you may have to pay for the damage. That’s where your insurance coverage comes in. Liability coverage will cover damage to someone else’s property.
All auto policies are required to have property damage liability, including comprehensive coverage.
Someone was injured or died
There is a possibility that the driver who fell asleep can be charged with reckless driving for an injury, or vehicular manslaughter for a death. Reckless driving is usually a misdemeanor criminal offense.
Your car insurance will not have you avoid going to jail if you are found guilty.
If the conviction for reckless driving goes on your record, your car insurance premiums will go up.
Avoiding Serious Issues
If you want to avoid the repercussions of falling asleep at the wheel, there are things you can do to avoid it.
Preventing distracted driving and drowsy driving is better than possibly causing an accident. Some of the things you can do include
- Calling a rideshare or taxi service if you feel drowsy
- Avoid medication that has “drowsiness” as a side effect
- Pull off the road and park in a safe location
Drowsy drivers show the same symptoms as drunk drivers, which can lead to accidents. If you fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, having the best possible insurance is vital.
These types of crashes are often devastating and the financial burdens they cause increases the damages felt by all families involved. It is important you know how to get compensated in situations like these.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Insurance and falling asleep behind the wheel
Although we have discussed insurance and falling asleep at the wheel thoroughly in this post, there may still be a few questions that come up.
Here are a selection of the most frequently asked questions about the consequences of falling asleep at the wheel or insurance related to falling asleep at the wheel.
#1 – How can I be sure my insurance covers me when I fall asleep at the wheel?
The best way is by being truthful with your insurance company about the circumstances of any incident while you were asleep. This includes disclosing any medical conditions.
#2– Will my insurance cover me if I fall asleep at the wheel due to a medical condition?
The best thing to do is to get checked and diagnosed so you can get treatment for your problem. Being open with your insurance company is in your best interest.
Before hitting the road, be sure to get enough hours of sleep to be an alert driver. Lack of sleep is a problem drivers should always try to avoid.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.