Partner at Charbonnet Law Firm LLC
Practice Areas: Car Accident, Slip-and-Fall, Work-related Injury
Truck accidents often lead to high medical bills, vehicle damage, and long recovery periods. When these costs begin to add up, many people wonder whether commercial truck insurance is enough to cover the full settlement. If you need guidance understanding how insurance applies in these situations, speaking with a New Orleans truck accident attorney can help you review your options and learn how coverage may apply to your case.
Understanding how federal and state insurance rules work can help readers make sense of why coverage sometimes falls short and why multiple insurance policies may come into play. This guide explains commercial truck insurance requirements, FMCSA rules, policy limits, Louisiana’s No Pay No Play law, and how insurance companies evaluate losses after serious collisions.
Commercial trucks need more insurance than passenger vehicles because they carry heavier loads, often travel long distances, and can cause extensive damage in a crash. Insurance requirements also vary depending on cargo type, vehicle weight, and whether the truck operates inside one state or across multiple states.
Most commercial trucks carry:
These policies are designed to cover injuries, property damage, or freight losses. However, many readers are surprised to learn that these limits are often lower than the actual cost of a serious accident.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets nationwide minimum insurance requirements for interstate trucks. The rules depend on vehicle size and what the truck is transporting.
Under 49 CFR 387.9, interstate motor carriers must carry liability coverage between 300,000 and 5,000,000 depending on vehicle type and cargo classification.
Primary trucking liability is required for nearly all commercial carriers. It covers injuries and property damage to others.
Typical limits include:
This coverage protects the truck itself.
Medical payments coverage helps with immediate medical expenses. Many policies offer between 1,000 and 5,000 per injured person.
Cargo insurance protects the freight being shipped. While not federally required, many companies demand it because of the wide range of risks. Coverage may range from 100,000 to 1,000,000 depending on shipment value.
Another detail many people do not know is the MCS-90 endorsement, which is proof of financial responsibility for motor carriers. It does not add coverage but ensures the carrier can pay certain judgments if required under federal law.
A major reason commercial insurance is often not enough is the high cost of truck accidents. Large trucks can cause extensive injuries, long-term disabilities, and major property damage.
Losses typically fall into two categories:
According to the National Safety Council, the average economic and non-economic cost of a fatal large truck crash exceeds 11 million per individual.
|
Severity of Injury |
Average Cost per Person |
| Fatal injury | 11,449,000 |
| Disabling injury | 1,252,000 |
| Evident (non-permanent) injury | 345,000 |
| Possible injury | 160,000 |
| Property damage only | 52,700 |
Most commercial trucks carry 750,000 in liability coverage. As the table shows, a disabling injury can cost more than one million, leaving a large gap between insurance coverage and total loss.
Insurance companies do not pay beyond the policy limit. If a truck accident causes damages greater than the available coverage, additional responsible parties may need to be identified.
This is common in the trucking industry because many companies outsource parts of their operations.
A detailed investigation may reveal multiple insurance policies that apply to the same accident. This is often how injury victims recover full compensation when a single policy is not enough.
Louisiana has unique insurance rules that affect who can file a claim. Louisiana Revised Statute 32:866 limits the ability of uninsured motorists to recover certain damages after a crash, even when they were not at fault.
If a driver does not carry this minimum coverage, they may be unable to recover certain damages after a crash.
Understanding these rules helps readers know when they may be eligible to pursue a claim.
Insurance companies follow a structured approach to determine how much of a claim they are willing to pay.
Adjusters look at:
Commercial truck policies sometimes include exclusions related to cargo type, driver qualifications, or maintenance records. These exclusions may affect the final payout.
When questions arise about insurance limits, multiple liable parties, or how federal and Louisiana rules affect a claim, speaking with a New Orleans personal injury attorney can help you better understand your options and the next steps based on your situation.
Vehicle weight, cargo type, and whether the truck travels interstate determine required liability coverage under FMCSA rules.
Severe injuries, long hospital stays, and property damage often exceed standard commercial liability limits.
Hazardous materials require higher minimum coverage because of the increased risks and federal safety rules.
Yes. Trucking companies, maintenance providers, manufacturers, and freight loaders may all share responsibility.
Investigators may identify additional insurance policies from other responsible parties to cover remaining losses.
Commercial truck insurance requirements are built to address the risks of heavy vehicles and hazardous cargo, but even the highest minimums sometimes fall short of covering the full cost of a serious crash. Understanding FMCSA rules, Louisiana’s No Pay No Play statute, and how policy limits work helps readers see why multiple insurance policies may be involved in a single claim.
Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC has experience examining truck accident cases, identifying all potential sources of coverage, and helping injured individuals understand their options. If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck accident, you can request a free consultation to learn more about your situation.
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.
