{"id":1228,"date":"2024-11-05T21:35:16","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/?p=1228"},"modified":"2024-11-05T21:35:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:35:17","slug":"life-after-dui-personal-professional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/life-after-dui-personal-professional\/","title":{"rendered":"Life After a DUI: Tips for Personal and Professional Recovery\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You made a mistake. A big one. You realized that as soon as you saw the flashing lights in your rearview mirror and were pulled over to the side of the road. Among what will possibly be coming after deciding to drink and drive are a night spent in jail and lots of financial misfortune. Increased auto insurance rates<\/a> will be just one consequence among many. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owning up to your mistake and making some personal changes will help you get through what is coming. There really is life after a DUI. A conviction isn\u2019t the end of the world \u2014 even if it seems like it now. You can take concrete steps to reduce your auto insurance rates, get your full driving privileges back, and help make things normal again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigating the Aftermath of a DUI<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The legal charge might have different names in different states. It might be called driving while intoxicated (DWI) in one part of the country. Elsewhere, the charge might be operating under the influence, or OUI. Whatever it\u2019s called where you live, a DUI or its legal equivalent is trouble. Here\u2019s how to recover from a DUI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accepting Responsibility and Making Amends<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Get a lawyer. Contest the charge if you\u2019re not guilty, or your charges might be dropped or reduced without too much cost or hassle. But if you\u2019re convicted for DUI, you can spend a lot of time and money appealing \u2014 or accept responsibility and vow to do better in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means realizing that the mistake was only yours. The laws against drinking and driving aren\u2019t unfair. The cop and the judge weren\u2019t out to get you. Now, it\u2019s your responsibility to follow your court order and learn how to live within your new (and temporary) limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the Legal Implications and Moving Forward<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The penalties for DUI (or similar charges) vary depending on where you live, and whether this is your first conviction \u2014 or your sixth. In every state, the penalties get harsher if you repeat the same mistake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever you live, and regardless of how often you\u2019ve been convicted, your car insurance after a DUI<\/a> will cost more. Your ability to drive will most likely be impacted, at least initially. That might mean a total suspension of your driving privileges or permission to drive only in limited and predetermined situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t drive at all for a period of time, find out how to get around on foot, by public transportation, or by the kindness of friends and family. Can you work from home? You might also appeal for limited driving privileges so you can get to work, take the kids to and from school, go to medical appointments, or meet other critical demands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebuilding a Personal Life Post-DUI<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It might be tempting to see your DUI as a one-time thing. You rarely over-consume and never drive when you do. The night you got caught was just a weird exception. And that might be the truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or not. Your DUI recovery period is a good time to reflect on your lifestyle. Do you spend a lot of nights in bars? Is the cocktail hour the most exciting part of your day? Do you often drink alone at home? Have you had other instances when you were driving when you shouldn\u2019t have been on the road and fortunately didn\u2019t get caught? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being arrested for your DUI might actually be a lucky event if it causes you to take a harder look at your life and make certain changes. The next police stop, after all, could be after an accident with injuries or fatalities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing Healthy Lifestyle Habits to Prevent Future Incidents<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The penalties will get harsher for second, third, and additional convictions. The fines will be steeper, and you\u2019ll eventually face jail time. You\u2019ll keep paying for lawyers, and over time all insurance companies will stop offering you even expensive coverage. Or your license will be forfeited, making insurance costs a moot point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of that has to be in your future. If your drinking or drug consumption is getting out of hand, you can find help online in the form of treatment centers and support groups. Or ask your doctor for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you regularly drink, but don\u2019t think it\u2019s a serious problem, at least socialize closer to home. Is there a bar or restaurant within walking or public transit distance? Do you have non-drinking friends who can serve as designated drivers? Or can you retire your car keys for the night and do all of your drinking at home? Just remember, with overdrinking comes a loss of impulse control and good decision-making.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Strategies for Professional Recovery<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The impact of a DUI can reverberate in your place of employment, particularly if it causes you to miss significant work time. That\u2019s why your work status should be top of mind as you begin your DUI recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming Employment Stigma After a DUI Conviction<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your conviction can affect your employment picture in a couple of ways. It might get you in trouble with your current employer or make it difficult to get a new job later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t go to work because you\u2019re in jail or unable to find transportation after a license suspension, you might find yourself out of work unless you have an understanding boss. To avoid that possibility, see if your lawyer can get you limited driving privileges so you can get to work. Or figure out dependable alternative means of transportation. Can you get a ride from a co-worker who lives nearby? Take the bus? Walk or bike to your place of employment? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of the alternatives might be ideal, but it is worth it if it means keeping your job. If there are no other good options, is working from home a possibility? This will mean having an honest discussion with your employer. Convince your boss that it was a one-time error and indicate what you\u2019ve done to minimize the risk of it happening again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your DUI conviction is a first offense, it\u2019s probably a misdemeanor. If that\u2019s the case, you won\u2019t need to mention it when job-hunting in the future. But if you have multiple offenses, or your only DUI resulted in other serious charges, you\u2019ll have felonies on your record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many employers insist on a background check before hiring, so don\u2019t lie on the job application when asked if you have a felony. You\u2019ll need to get out in front of the issue in the interview. Explain the circumstances and the changes you\u2019ve made in your lifestyle to improve your situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Legal Road to Redemption<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It might seem for quite a while that it\u2019s you against the law. The fees and penalties are high, and your driving privileges are either lost or severely restricted. But there\u2019s some good news: All of this is temporary as long as you act responsibly moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Court and DMV Requirements<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although coping with a DUI conviction can be difficult, don\u2019t ignore your court order \u2014 the penalties increase for driving on a suspended license. That can mean harsher fines, a time extension of your license suspension, and sometimes even jail time. It\u2019s not worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask your lawyer or the court system if you don\u2019t understand any aspects of the court order. Your legal documents will likely include a phone number for such assistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regaining Driving Privileges Responsibly<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most states have what\u2019s known as SR-22 insurance<\/a>. This is liability car insurance coverage that the state mandates once your driving suspension has been lifted. You must file forms with your state\u2019s Department of Motor Vehicles to show proof that you\u2019ve obtained this coverage. Your auto insurance agent can provide you with this coverage and file the paperwork for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There might be further restrictions on your driving privileges. Make sure you know the details and comply with all laws and regulations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost of your SR-22 coverage will almost certainly be higher than what you used to pay. The reason why SR-22 insurance is needed<\/a> is because your DUI made you a high-risk driver \u2014 one who is likelier than the average motorist to get into an accident and be sued or file an insurance claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, your high-risk status and your insurance rates decline over time if you have no additional DUIs, moving violations, or other road-related legal issues. Eventually, you\u2019ll be charged no more than what you used to pay (or even less). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Sure You\u2019re Covered on the Road to DUI Recovery<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Acceptance Insurance, we\u2019ve helped countless policyholders deal with life after a DUI by getting them back behind the wheel legally with affordable auto insurance. Recovery often starts with SR-22 coverage, which we\u2019ll help you obtain just as we\u2019ve done for thousands of motorists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our independent auto insurance agents don\u2019t work for just one insurer. They represent the lines of numerous brand-name insurance companies. That means they can shop for the most affordable coverage regardless of your driving status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call 877-405-7102<\/a>, or get a quick online quote<\/a>. You can also find an Acceptance Insurance office near you<\/a> and discuss your situation with one of our understanding agents. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You made a mistake. A big one. You realized that as soon as you saw the flashing lights in your rearview mirror and were pulled over to the side of the road. Among what will possibly be coming after deciding to drink and drive are a night spent in jail and lots of financial misfortune. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1231,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions\/1231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acceptanceinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}