Trucking accidents happen everyday. In 2012 alone, there were 333,000 large truck accidents. Of these, 104,000 people were injured and 3,921 people were killed. Most people don’t know that trucking companies are only required to carrier $750,000 in liability insurance. Although $750,000 seems significant, often it is not enough to cover a serious crash where a person is severely injured or killed.
The required minimum limits for liability insurance for the trucking industry haven’t been increased in over 30 years. That may soon change. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has proposed increasing the liability limits for truckers as interstate carriers.
The trucking industry is split in opinion on whether the change in liability limits is good or bad. Many of the larger carriers already have considerably more insurance than the minimum limits and are in agreement with the proposal. Meanwhile, many smaller trucking companies are upset and claim that only one percent of all trucking accidents need more than $750,000 of coverage. The smaller companies fear that requiring over $1 million in coverage would make insurance premiums skyrocket.
While this new plan might have some small impact on these companies, it would also protect the interest of every other driver on the road. Obviously, crashes with large semis can cause catastrophic damage. If you were in a serious accident with a truck and their insurance did not cover your medical bills and other costs, then you are the one who has to bear the brunt of their inadequate insurance coverage.
Heft, Jayleen. “Commercial Truckers Object to Proposed Increase in Mandatory Insurance Minimum.” Property Casualty 360. 10 May 2015. Web. 14 July 2015. <http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2015/03/10/commercial-truckers-object-to-proposed-increase-in>.
