Why truck driver crashes can involve more than one insurance policy

A truck crash usually involves several separate companies, and each one can carry its own insurance policy. Which insurer pays depends on who the driver was working for at the time and how the blame gets divided.

Federal leasing rules at 49 CFR 376.12 require a trucking company that leases a truck from an owner-operator to take exclusive possession and control of that vehicle and to assume complete responsibility for its operation. For anyone injured in truck driver crashes, the regulations have direct consequences. The Driver behind the wheel can own his truck outright, and the company that dispatched him still answers for the crash through its own liability coverage.

That’s why truck accidents often involve multiple insurance companies. This has significant implications for the injury settlement and insurance claim.

How Can Several Companies Share Responsibility

Consider a loaded tractor-trailer on the highway and every organisation and individual involved. All of these can share responsibility in the event of a crash:

• The motor carrier runs the vehicle under it’s legal operating authority and must therefore hold the primary commercial insurance policy.

• An owner-operator might hold the title to the vehicle and have separate coverage for accidents occurring when it isn’t operating commercially.

• A leasing company might own the trailer and insure it independently.

• A freight broker might have arranged for liability coverage for the load.

• A maintenance contractor might have last inspected key safety systems like the brakes and have liability coverage

Someone dealing with truck accident injuries in the aftermath of a crash will need to make contact with these companies and individuals as they likely have key documentation and commercial insurance that can aid your case.

How Does Employment Status Decide Which Policy Applies

driver’s personal auto policy almost always excludes commercial driving, which is why carriers require their owner-operators to carry non-trucking liability coverage for the hours they aren’t driving under the direction of dispatch. So, in truck driver crashes, a lot depends on whether or not the driver was on the job at the moment of impact.

The following information is therefore important:

• Electronic logging device data
• dispatch paperwork
• Employment records

Handling A Claim That Involves More Than One Insurer

Carriers send investigators within hours of most truck driver crashes, while people with serious truck accident injuries are still in a hospital bed. Before you settle an insurance claim from a semi-truck accident in Arizona, Phoenix commercial truck lawyers can find every policy involved and value your injury settlement against the full coverage available.

Given the complexity of these cases, it’s important to have legal representation

Truck Driver Crashes: The First Few Weeks Decide the Outcome

The value of a claim after a truck driver crashes depends on how many policies apply and how the blame gets divided. Both questions are settled in the first few weeks, while records still exist and insurers are working out their exposure. Acting early keeps the full amount of coverage available.

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