Insurance Requirements for California Commercial Trucks

Commercial vehicles are crucial to our economy. These automobiles ensure that things are carried throughout the nation. Read on to learn about their insurance.

KW: California commercial truck insurance requirements.

Large commercial vehicles are crucial to the health of our economy. These automobiles make sure that things are carried throughout the nation and inside this state. Larger truck accidents, however, can cause serious casualties and severe property damage. Because of this, commercial vehicles are required to carry additional insurance coverage beyond what is needed of ordinary drivers.

California’s Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements

California has consistently stood up for its residents’ protection. For this reason, the state imposes stringent insurance requirements for operators and drivers of commercial trucks. Depending on the type of freight being transported, California commercial truck insurance requirements are:

Depending on the cargo, any commercial truck driver who travels entirely inside the state of California in a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 gross vehicle weight (GVW) is required to carry an intrastate identification number in addition to liability insurance.

  • Oil transportation liability insurance of $1,000,000
  • $5,000,000 in liability insurance for moving dangerous goods
  • liability insurance for general freight transportation of $750,000
  • $300,000 in liability protection for moving home items
  • $20,000 per vehicle, plus $20,000 per disaster for cargo insurance

If A Truck Crosses State Lines, What Happens?

In actuality, the majority of commercial vehicles operating in the state of California also travel between states. In these situations, both the driver and the trucking company are also required to adhere to the FMCSA’s insurance regulations, at the very least if they wish to keep their operating authorization number (MC number).

According to the kind of freight being transported, the FMCSA additionally establishes standards for property damage and bodily injury insurance similar to those made by the state of California:

  • Vehicles under 10,000 pounds: $300,000 (carrying non-hazardous freight)
  • for automobiles weighing more than 10,000 pounds, $750,000 to $5,000,000 (the amounts depend on the type of freight)
  • $5,000 per truck for moving home items
  • $10,000 per incident for the transportation of household items

Are Crash Victims Entitled to Compensation?

Any collision involving a large commercial vehicle has the potential to leave victims with serious injuries as well as property damage. This is especially true in California for those riding in conventional passenger cars. The aforementioned insurance minimums are intended to aid in reimbursing accident victims who have suffered injuries or property damage in the case that a truck driver’s or a trucking company’s carelessness was to blame for the collision.

However, it frequently happens that these insurance minimums do not offer sufficient compensation, especially if the injuries are severe. Any truck accident victim is highly advised to deal with a knowledgeable Irvine truck accident lawyer who can handle every facet of the investigation. A lawyer will take swift action and launch a thorough inquiry into the situation. 

This will entail assembling any proof required to establish culpability and managing any discussions with the relevant insurance companies and legal teams. The ultimate objective is for truck accident victims to obtain compensation for their immediate medical expenditures, any subsequent medical care, lost wages, property damage costs, as well as agony and suffering losses.