Commercial truck insurance is a legal requirement when driving a truck in California. It is impossible to operate a vehicle without it, and it is highly protective for companies, drivers, and other road users in case a road accident takes place. So, what type of insurance do commercial truck drivers need in this state? At Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys, we have the answers in the post below.
Trucks Weighing More Than 10,000 Pounds
For any vehicle that weighs 10,000 pounds and over, insurance policies must cover multiple bases. It all depends on what kind of cargo is being carried around and transported. For example, if the truck is taking household items like furniture or appliances, the driver’s insurance must be $300,000 as a minimum standard. This figure then goes up in line with the category of cargo. For hazardous materials, it is $5,000,000 and for things like oil, it comes back down to $1,000,000.
Californian Roads
To drive a truck on Californian roads, you must have a valid insurance policy. This is an upfront demand and one that has to be proven by the driver before they are permitted to operate a heavy vehicle. There are a variety of insurance categories to consider, and it is usually the case that a fleet has its own insurance alongside a driver’s personal policy. If an accident takes place, this will be the first place to start the investigation process. Here are some other types of insurance truckers might have.
Mechanical Break Down Insurance
This type of insurance is a safety net for if (or when) a truck breaks down outside of its warranty period. It boosts peace of mind for drivers because it provides support with repairs that would otherwise cost a lot of money upfront.
NLT Insurance
Non-trucking liability insurance policies cover the driver when they are not operating on company time. So, if for whatever reason, they drive the truck outside of their shift at work, they would still be covered because they have a personal policy.
Thoughts on Interstate Truck Driving
If a Californian trucker drives outside of the state lines, does it make a difference? Technically, it does. Their insurance policy must account for their location, and it has to be compliant with any law of any state they are driving in.
Non-Hazardous Material Coverage
If a truck weighs less than 10,000 pounds, it must carry insurance worth $300,000. If it weighs more than 10,000 pounds, this price goes up to $750,000 when a vehicle is transporting hazardous material.
Hazardous Material and Oil Cargo
For freights that carry hazardous material and oil, the rules are slightly different. They must have $5,000,000 for hazardous and $1,000,000 for oil.
Why Is Truck Insurance Important?
Trucks are major causes of accidents all around California state. They are big vehicles and can cause significant damage if they hit another vehicle, pedestrian, or road user. It is vital that the driver has coverage in place in case of a collision because the consequences are often too big to pay out of pocket. Here are some common problems that arise from truck accidents.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are the ones that change your life in some significant way. They are things like severe breaks; for example, a neck or a spine, a concussion or brain injury, loss of a limb or significant blood loss as a result of lacerations, and so on. They will require a significant amount of medical care and the victim will have a long recovery period, where they may not be able to return to the life they once knew at all. This is one of the most frequent consequences that a truck accident injury lawyer will see.
Fatalities
Truck accidents are also leading causes of fatalities on the roads. That is true of both pedestrians and other vehicle users, and it is because of how big and heavy trucks are alongside the difficulties with stopping, speeding, and maneuvering. If a fatality happens, someone may file a wrongful death lawsuit or make a significant insurance claim against the driver.
When Can You File a Truck Accident Claim?
If you are involved in an accident with a truck, you can file an insurance claim against them. Their policy has to cover any damages caused by the driver, but the process is never straightforward and it is essential to speak with an attorney first. Our team of accident injury lawyers are here to give you the right advice so that you can move on in the most appropriate way.
Discovering Liability
One of the first jobs for your vehicle accident lawyer will be to find out who the claim should be filed against. This could be anyone from the driver to the company, or both of them combined. Sometimes, the manufacturer could be held responsible if the circumstances call for it.
Collecting Evidence
Every insurance claim or truck accident lawsuit requires sufficient evidence to back it up. You can provide photos, documentation, medical reports, and details about how your life has been impacted since the crash took place. This can all be then used throughout the proceedings to support your claim. We can help you find relevant experts who will provide further input to the mix as well.
You Can Claim
There are lots of things that you can claim for including emotional distress, pain and suffering, hospital expenses, and therapy costs if necessary. Your attorney will sit down with you and work through what is relevant and what isn’t in order to produce a reasonable settlement figure for your case. It is likely that you will need this level of financial support, and important to ask for exactly what is necessary to get your life back on track.
Truck accidents can happen to anyone at any time in the state of California. There are thousands of truck drivers on the road at any given moment, and this high number is a risk factor in the number of crashes seen across the area.
Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys understand exactly what these types of cases require. Our team knows the law and will work with insurance companies to determine the best possible outcome for you.
