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Failure to submit a breathalyzer's impact on car insurance rates?

I was in a car accident due to a deer in the road I went off the road and hit a pole. Police came and the first thing they do is give me a sobriety? They arrested me and I passed the sobriety but did not want to take breathalizer cause I could not breathe due to cracked ribs.

Aug 17, 2018 Bangor, ME

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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 9+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

This can be tricky to answer. In Maine, they have a law called Implied Consent. Basically, if you refuse to submit to a sobriety test, you can have your license immediately suspended. This suspension can last up to six years. Furthermore, because this is considered an administrative suspension, no court action is necessary. If the arresting officer testifies regarding your driving, you can have an OUI (operating under the influence) conviction without any other proof. Because of this, it is advised in Maine you should take a breathalyzer because of how strict the state is.

In terms of insurance advice, you can read more about how DUIs impact insurance rates in Maine. My best recommendation is to speak to an attorney. An insurance agent is not going to be much help.

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