Insurance Requirements on Big Commercial Trucks

If you were hurt in an accident with a commercial truck, you're likely dealing with serious medical expenses right now.

Accidents with commercial trucks can be catastrophic, leaving victims with critical injuries and extensive damage to vehicles. In cases like this, it's important to know the insurance requirements on big commercial vehicles in Texas so that you understand what these vehicles are insured for and how you can pursue a claim for your injuries.

Injured in an accident with a commercial truck?

Help is only a phone call away. Call Shaw at 866-316-6472 for 24/7 assistance.

Commercial motor carriers must meet the financial responsibility requirements that apply to their operations. The required amounts depend on factors such as vehicle weight, cargo, and whether the transportation involves interstate or intrastate commerce.

Commercial liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage for which the insured is legally responsible, subject to the policy's terms and applicable law. These requirements are separate from personal injury protection, commonly called PIP.

PIP provides benefits to covered individuals regardless of who caused the accident. Under Texas law, automobile liability policies must provide PIP unless a named insured rejects it in writing. The required coverage amount is $2,500 per person, although higher limits may be purchased. PIP is not a substitute for a trucking company's liability coverage. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 1952

Subject to coverage limits and eligibility requirements, PIP benefits can help pay for:

• Reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the accident.
• Hospital, surgical, rehabilitation, and nursing services.
• A portion of lost income resulting from the accident.
• Essential household services for an eligible injured person who was not earning income when the accident occurred.
• Funeral expenses.

Federal financial responsibility requirements apply to specified motor carrier operations. They do not apply identically to every vehicle that crosses a state line. Texas also sets requirements for qualifying intrastate carriers.

A carrier must meet the requirements applicable to its operations. Some companies carry more insurance than the legal minimum because of contractual requirements or business decisions.

For nonhazardous, for-hire property carriers subject to federal operating-authority insurance requirements, the minimum bodily injury and property damage liability coverage is:

• $300,000 for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating below 10,001 pounds.
• $750,000 for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.

Certain hazardous-material operations require $1 million or $5 million. The applicable amount depends on the cargo and operation. FMCSA Insurance Filing Requirements

For general private or for-hire carriers operating within Texas, the listed minimum is $500,000 when the vehicle's gross weight, registered weight, or gross-weight rating exceeds 26,000 pounds, unless a different category requires greater coverage.

Texas lists a $300,000 minimum for household goods carriers below 26,000 pounds under the specified weight measures. This is not a blanket minimum for every commercial truck below that weight.

Texas lists a $1 million minimum for specified oil, petroleum products, and hazardous-material operations. Certain higher-risk hazardous-material operations require $5 million, depending on the material, quantity, and manner of transportation.

Not every hazardous-material load requires $5 million in coverage. The precise classification matters when determining the applicable minimum. TxDMV Insurance Requirements

Minimum financial responsibility requirements help protect the public when commercial truck accidents cause injuries and property damage.

However, minimum coverage does not always cover the full losses associated with a catastrophic accident. Multiple injured people may also have claims against the same available coverage.

When damages exceed the available liability coverage, an attorney can investigate additional policies and other potentially responsible parties. Additional recovery depends on the circumstances of the case, the available insurance, and other sources of payment.

You don't have to fight for the compensation you deserve on your own.

Minimum insurance requirements may not cover the costs of your accident--we're prepared for that. Our team of semi-truck/18-wheeler accident attorneys has represented victims like you for over 34 years, and we have the know-how and resources to take your case to court if we have to.

If you were hurt in an accident with a large commercial truck, you could be entitled to compensation for losses such as:

• Ambulance costs.
• ER treatment.
• Medical bills and surgeries.
• Disfigurement.
• Treatment and care for a traumatic brain injury.
• Treatment and care for a spinal cord injury.
• Physical impairment.
• Pain and suffering.
• Lost income and loss of earning capacity.

When a crash causes a death, eligible family members or the estate may also have claims for wrongful death or survival damages, as applicable, and funeral or burial expenses.

Help is only a phone call away for victims of commercial truck accidents in Texas. Call Shaw today at 866-316-6472 for a free case evaluation with one of our semi-truck/18-wheeler accident attorneys.