Federal Minimum Insurance Requirements
FMCSA mandates minimum liability insurance for motor carriers:
General Freight: $750,000 minimum
Hazardous Materials: $1,000,000 minimum
Highly Hazardous Materials: $5,000,000 minimum
Passenger Carriers: $1,500,000 - $5,000,000 depending on vehicle capacity
Many trucking companies carry policies exceeding minimums, often $1-5 million. Large companies may self-insure up to significant amounts.
These higher limits mean more potential recovery for victims but also more aggressive defense by insurance companies protecting substantial sums.
General Freight: $750,000 minimum
Hazardous Materials: $1,000,000 minimum
Highly Hazardous Materials: $5,000,000 minimum
Passenger Carriers: $1,500,000 - $5,000,000 depending on vehicle capacity
Many trucking companies carry policies exceeding minimums, often $1-5 million. Large companies may self-insure up to significant amounts.
These higher limits mean more potential recovery for victims but also more aggressive defense by insurance companies protecting substantial sums.
Multiple Insurance Policies May Apply
Truck accidents often involve multiple applicable policies:
Motor Carrier Policy: The trucking company's primary liability coverage
Owner-Operator Policy: If driver owns the truck, their policy may also apply
Umbrella/Excess Policies: Additional coverage above primary limits
Cargo Insurance: May cover injuries caused by cargo-related failures
General Liability: Company's business liability policy
Additionally, if a third party (maintenance company, cargo loader) contributed to the accident, their insurance may be available.
Your own policies may provide coverage:
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
• Medical Payments (MedPay)
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Motor Carrier Policy: The trucking company's primary liability coverage
Owner-Operator Policy: If driver owns the truck, their policy may also apply
Umbrella/Excess Policies: Additional coverage above primary limits
Cargo Insurance: May cover injuries caused by cargo-related failures
General Liability: Company's business liability policy
Additionally, if a third party (maintenance company, cargo loader) contributed to the accident, their insurance may be available.
Your own policies may provide coverage:
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
• Medical Payments (MedPay)
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies use various tactics to minimize payouts:
Quick Settlement Offers: Pressuring victims to accept lowball offers before understanding injury extent
Recorded Statements: Seeking statements that can be used to deny or reduce claims
Surveillance: Monitoring victims to dispute claimed injuries
Delay Tactics: Prolonging claims hoping victims will accept less out of financial pressure
Liability Disputes: Arguing the victim was partially or fully at fault
Damage Disputes: Challenging medical treatment as unnecessary or unrelated
Experienced attorneys know these tactics and protect clients from insurance company manipulation.
Quick Settlement Offers: Pressuring victims to accept lowball offers before understanding injury extent
Recorded Statements: Seeking statements that can be used to deny or reduce claims
Surveillance: Monitoring victims to dispute claimed injuries
Delay Tactics: Prolonging claims hoping victims will accept less out of financial pressure
Liability Disputes: Arguing the victim was partially or fully at fault
Damage Disputes: Challenging medical treatment as unnecessary or unrelated
Experienced attorneys know these tactics and protect clients from insurance company manipulation.
Maximizing Your Insurance Recovery
Strategies for maximum insurance recovery include:
Identify All Policies: Thorough investigation reveals all available coverage
Preserve Evidence: Document everything to prove liability and damages
Patient Negotiation: Don't accept early lowball offers
Build Strong Case: Prepare for trial to leverage better settlements
Multiple Defendants: Pursuing all liable parties and their insurers
Stacking Policies: In some situations, multiple policies can combine
Bad Faith Claims: If insurers unreasonably deny valid claims, additional damages may be available
Our attorneys have recovered over $850 million for truck accident victims and know how to navigate complex insurance situations.
Identify All Policies: Thorough investigation reveals all available coverage
Preserve Evidence: Document everything to prove liability and damages
Patient Negotiation: Don't accept early lowball offers
Build Strong Case: Prepare for trial to leverage better settlements
Multiple Defendants: Pursuing all liable parties and their insurers
Stacking Policies: In some situations, multiple policies can combine
Bad Faith Claims: If insurers unreasonably deny valid claims, additional damages may be available
Our attorneys have recovered over $850 million for truck accident victims and know how to navigate complex insurance situations.