Any motor vehicle collision can potentially inspire property damage expenses and injury-related costs. Drivers generally need to carry liability insurance to reduce their financial exposure. When motorists are at fault for collisions, their liability coverage can reimburse other people for their losses. When crashes are particularly severe, people affected by the collision may realize that they cannot fully rely on insurance to cover their costs.
If a semi-truck causes a crash involving a smaller passenger vehicle, can the people in the smaller vehicle rely on insurance to cover their losses?
Insurance rules are different for semi-trucks
The standard policy requirements in Illinois are not necessarily enough to cover the costs of major collisions. Drivers need to purchase at least $20,000 in property damage liability coverage and $25,000 in personal injury coverage. The bodily injury requirement is $50,000 in cases where two or more people sustain injuries.
Given the devastation that a semi-truck collision could cause, standard insurance policies are woefully inadequate. Thankfully, semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are subject to federal insurance regulations rather than state requirements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage. In cases involving catastrophic injuries or fatalities, even that could prove insufficient. However, the larger policy available after a semi-truck collision does help address the various costs generated by a collision. If the policy is inadequate, a personal injury lawsuit might be necessary.
Reviewing the cost of a crash with a skilled legal team can help those affected evaluate their options. Those impacted by semi-truck collisions may need support as they navigate complex insurance claims or the civil courts, and that’s okay.