Missouri Truck Accident Insurance Claim Attorney

Truck Accident Insurance Issues

After a truck collision, figuring out which insurance companies are involved and who is responsible for compensating whom can be even more complex and overwhelming than trying to recover from the injuries the accident caused or even trying to figure out what happened in the first place. Often, there are many parties involved in an average tractor-trailer’s daily hauling, which means there may be many different insurers involved too – any or all of whom may be responsible for some part of compensating those injured in the crash.

Truck Drivers

The driver of a commercial large truck might own the truck, lease the truck, or merely drive the truck on behalf of an employer. Drivers who run their own trucking businesses, known as “owner-operators,” usually own or lease their trucks and sometimes the trailers they use to haul cargo as well. These drivers are required to meet all the insurance requirements and regulations imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the state or states in which they haul cargo.

Drivers who are employed by a trucking company, however, generally do not carry their own insurance for commercial driving, though they must have the proper licenses and endorsements and they may have insurance that covers them when driving for personal reasons. Instead, the company that employs the driver will have insurance that covers the vehicle in case of accidents.

Trucking Companies

Companies that hire drivers as full-fledged employees will almost always have the FMCSA-required and state-required insurance coverages for the tractor trailer. However, a company that leases a tractor and/or trailer to a driver may also have separate insurance to cover the leased equipment.

Even a company that hires an independent owner-operator to use his or her own equipment to haul the company’s load may have insurance. This insurance is typically meant to protect the cargo, not those who are injured in an accident, but it may come into play if the cargo causes injury – for instance, if a piece of steel falls off a flatbed, or if a truck hauling hazardous materials springs a leak.

Injured Motorists and Pedestrians

An injured motorist or pedestrian might also have insurance that covers some or all of the costs of the crash, depending on where the accident took place and what types of insurance the person or the person’s family have purchased. This insurance typically covers costs like medical bills and legal costs if the injured driver is sued or counter-sued by someone else involved in the accident. Sometimes, a driver will have coverage to repair or replace his or her own damaged vehicle. However, this insurance does not pay for the costs of being injured by someone else’s negligence, such as compensation for the pain and suffering that follows an unexpected injury or death of a loved one. It’s important to seek compensation from any negligent parties after a crash, instead of relying solely on one’s own insurance policy.

Ensuring Full Compensation in Missouri

Dealing with insurance companies after a serious big rig crash is not an easy task. Most people don’t expect an insurance company to deny their claim, offer a lower amount than is deserved, or even delay a claim on purpose. Unfortunately, these things do happen. If you’ve been injured in a crash, take the first step in protecting your own legal rights: call Page Law today. Our St. Louis truck accident attorneys has years of experience navigating complicated insurance issues on behalf of our clients. We will fight for the compensation you need, so that you can focus on healing. Call us today for a free consultation.