Does Federal Law Require Trucks To Carry Insurance?

Michael Waks

9 years ago

If you travel the freeways and roads in Southern California, you are familiar with semi-trucks. These large trucks are a common site on roads across America as they transport goods and freight from one place to another. The trucking industry makes it possible for all of us to enjoy products from around the world.

Unfortunately, due to their size and weight, trucks can be dangerous. Recognizing this, the trucking industry is heavily regulated by federal law.

Insurance Regulations for the Trucking Industry

Both individual states and the federal government have specific laws governing large truck operations within their jurisdiction. The insurance coverage the Federal Government requires large trucks to carry is spelled out in Title 49 Section 387 of the United States Code.

Federal law mandates trucks carrying freight to have liability insurance between $750,000 – $5,000,000, depending on the weight of the truck and what is being transported. Vehicles weighing under 10,001 pounds, and carrying non-hazardous materials, are required to carry a minimum of $300,000 of liability insurance. When a truck carries hazardous materials, the insurance requirements are greater.

These liability insurance regulations are meant to protect victims of truck accidents from truckers and trucking companies that cannot afford to compensate truck accident victims out of their own pockets. The required liability insurance exists to pay for bodily injury and property damages suffered by accident victims. Because of the importance of this coverage, and because the minimums have not been raised in 30 years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering raising the liability insurance limits.

Higher insurance limits are urgently needed. Trucking companies that have the minimum $750,000 in coverage, simply will not have enough money to compensate seriously injured accident victims or the families of people who have been killed.

Damages in a Trucking Accident Case

Because of the size and weight of a truck, any truck accident is likely to result in severe injuries and property damage. This means there will likely be much higher damages in a truck accident case than in an auto accident lawsuit.

Although the damage trucks can cause is immense, who is responsible for truck crash injuries is not always obvious. If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost someone in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering.

Contact an Experienced Long Beach Personal Injury Attorney to Assist You with Your Claim

“Your Injuries are Personal to Me”

My law practice exclusively represents personal injury victims and does so with a deep understanding of their suffering and an absolute commitment to their recovery. I take your injuries personally, and that is why I directly handle all aspects of every case to ensure that you receive maximum compensation.

Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks at 888-394-1174 or use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation. You are under no obligation and you will never pay any money unless you recover damages for your injuries. I offer bilingual services as part of my comprehensive approach to legal representation and I am available 24/7 to talk to you about your case.

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Michael Waks

Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.