Understanding Trucking Liability Insurance

Truckers must protect their vehicles, cargo and commercial interests. To protect your own interests, however, you must consider the fact that sometimes, your mistakes might harm others. As a result, you might be responsible for third-party losses, and it will be up to you to pay for them. The critical component of your trucking insurance that will help you in these cases is your liability insurance. 

Trucking insurance usually offers not only vehicle liability coverage, but also more expansive benefits that will apply to specific liabilities present through your operations. The better tailored your coverage, the better you will be able to receive in case of accidents. 

Trucking Liability Insurance  
Because truckers are motor vehicle operators, they must comply with mandatory insurance laws as instituted by both their own state and federal interstate trucking laws. The authorities usually require several types of benefits, notably liability insurance. 

Trucking insurance is not designed to insure the policyholder for their own damage or injuries. Instead, it covers harm done to other parties when the trucker is at fault for harm that they sustain. For example, if you collide with another vehicle while on dispatch, your liability insurance will help the other driver cover their vehicle repairs or receive treatment for their injuries.  

Primary Trucking Liability Coverage  
Under your primary trucking insurance policy, you will receive two types of liability insurance:  

• Property damage coverage: If you hit another vehicle or object, the sheer size of your truck might destroy it. This coverage can help you pay for the damage.   

• Bodily injury coverage: If you cause accidents, third parties, like other drivers, might get hurt. This coverage can pay medical bills, lost income, and potentially death benefits. 

Mandatory insurance laws will vary, however, based on numerous factors. Therefore, you will often need more extensive benefits than just these basic coverage options.  

Getting Expanded Liability Coverage 
Because your liability insurance needs will often vary considerably, it helps to discuss additional benefits with your agent, which will each help you cover unique third-party losses. 

Often, you will find that your trucking insurance automatically includes these additional coverage options. Still, it helps to double check with your agent that these benefits are part of your plan. They will help you understand all the ins and outs of specialized benefits and guide you through the process of choosing the right coverage.