Driving after taking certain types of medication that have a narcotic effect, such as prescription painkillers or cough syrup, can cause your insurance claim to be rejected if you happen to be in an accident whilst under the influence of these remedies.
This is one of the reasons these medicines are sold with a warning on the bottle that says something along the lines of “avoid operating heavy machinery after consumption.” This cautionary message isn’t about forklifts or TLBs, but rather, the car in your garage.
“Most insurance policies have a clause that excludes cover if you’re in an accident and found to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance having a narcotic effect,” said King Price client experience partner, Wynand van Vuuren.
“This also applies if you’re under the influence of medication used contrary to a medical practitioner or manufacturer’s instructions.”
Be the responsible one
The mere fact that an insured motorist consumed medicine before hitting the road isn’t enough to automatically disqualify their insurance claim, but it’s essential to understand that the onus is on them to ensure they don’t take any substances that may impair their driving ability.
If the unfortunate does happen and it was found that the driver was under the influence of medication, in the case of King Price, the insurer will consult with a qualified medical practitioner to determine whether the medication’s effect contributed to the accident.
“If the medication affected the client’s ability to respond or caused reckless driving, the claim may be impacted,” said Van Vuuren.
“However, if the accident was caused by external factors unrelated to your state of sobriety, such as being stationary at an intersection when another car collided with the back of your car, then this will be taken into account.”
In short, there must be a clear link between the driver’s state of sobriety, the medication’s effect, and the circumstances around the accident for any medicine consumed to have an effect on their insurance claim.
If no such link is found, the claim can not be rejected on the basis of the fact that the individual consumed medicine before driving.
Keyword: Driving on pain killers or cough syrup – What it does to your insurance