Have you been injured in a tractor-trailer accident in California and the trucking company’s liability insurance adjuster is trying to shift blame for the accident to you so that they do not have to pay for your damages? If so, you need an experienced trucking accident attorneywho understands how liability insurance companies operate to protect your rights. Gordon R. Levinson of The Levinson Law Group (auto accident lawyer) represented the largest insurers in North America. Now he uses that knowledge and experience fighting for injured and aggrieved people against the big insurance companies.

For your free consultation, call (760) 642-5475 today. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.

Liability Insurance in Trucking Accident Cases

Semi-trucks and other large trucks are an important part of our economy. They efficiently transport goods across our country to help reduce costs for consumers. Unfortunately, due to the size of these vehicles, victims involved in a semi-truck accident suffer catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and broken bones. The physical, emotional and financial damages from trucking accidents are devastating for both the victims and their families.

The financial cost of long-term, ongoing medical and personal care can easily reach into the millions of dollars without factoring in the lost wages, physical pain and emotional suffering of the victim and his or her family. The liability insurance companies for the trucking industry try everything within their power to avoid paying large settlements in trucking accident cases. Mr. Levinson understands the tactics used by liability insurance companies and he uses that knowledge to level the playing field to help his clients get the much-needed compensation they deserve for damages.

The federal government heavily regulates the trucking industry, in part, due to the inherit risk of traumatic and catastrophic injuries sustained in tractor-trailer accidents. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is tasked with the responsibility of implementing and enforcing the rules and regulations that govern the trucking industry. This includes enforcing the requirements for minimum liability insurance.

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements for Large Trucks

Under the current regulations, trucks weighing less than 10,001 pounds are required to maintain a minimum of $300,000 in liability insurance. Trucks weighing over 10,001 pounds must carry $750,000 in liability insurance. If a truck is transporting hazardous materials, the company must carry between $1 million and $5 million in liability insurance depending on the type of hazardous material being transported. Some trucking companies choose to carry higher amounts of liability insurance due to the enormous financial cost associated with a tractor-trailer accident. However, many trucking companies only carry the minimum liability insurance coverage required by federal law.

While $750,000 may seem like a sufficient amount to cover your damages in a trucking accident, current and future medical costs and lost wages often exceed this amount. When you add in the amount allowed for your pain and suffering, disfigurement and other damages, the minimum liability insurance coverage required by federal law does not fully reimburse you for your damages. This is one reason why a thorough investigation is required in all trucking accidents.

In some cases, more than one party may be responsible for the accident. By identifying each of the liable parties, Mr. Levinson ensures that you have the best chance of recovering the highest amount of compensation possible by involving multiple liability insurance companies in your claim.