Reps. Chuy García, Derek Tran Fight for Stronger Truck Insurance Requirements
Legislation Aims to Better Protect Truck Crash Victims and their Loved Ones
WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Derek Tran (CA-45) introduced the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act, which increases outdated insurance requirements for interstate motor carriers and protects truck crash victims and their loved ones from the financial debt caused by loss of life or lifelong injuries in a catastrophic truck crash.
The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act proposes two key changes:
Increasing the minimum insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5,000,000. This new minimum accurately accounts for inflation and the current cost of medical care and other expenses.
Indexing the new minimum insurance requirement to inflation. This critical provision ensures that financial protection for crash victims does not erode over time, keeping pace with the rising cost of health care and other expenses.
The $750,000 minimum insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers was first set in 1980. Not only has the cost of medical care risen dramatically since then, but increases in the weight and size of trucks have also escalated both the number and fatality rate of those crashes. As Congress continues to consider further road safety legislation, motor carriers should at minimum be required to carry insurance that adequately covers victims in the event of a crash.
“It is unacceptable that outdated minimum insurance requirements continue to leave victims without the support they need to cover medical care and losses. The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act would help address this by ensuring trucking companies carry adequate insurance to cover the high costs of the devastating accidents their trucks can cause,” said Congressman García.
“Before I was elected to Congress, I fought for workers standing up to big corporations in the courtroom. Outdated minimum insurance requirements leave workers and their families buried by medical bills and without a steady income. The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act ensures that the trucking industry guarantees full and fair compensation for every worker and family hurt on the job. No family should have to choose between paying their rent and getting the medical treatment they need after a devastating crash,” said Congressman Tran.
Kate Brown is a board member for the Institute for Safer Trucking (IST), a non-profit committed to helping truck crash victims and survivors throughout the country. Her son Graham was severely injured in a truck crash in 2005. The trucking company only had a $750,000 policy.
“After my son Graham was seriously injured in a truck crash, my family saw firsthand how devastating the financial aftermath can be. Even with support and resources, the medical costs were overwhelming. Reintroducing the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act is about making sure no family is left to shoulder those costs alone. It’s time our laws reflect the true impact of these crashes and ensure victims receive fair, just compensation,” said Kate Brown.
John Lannen, Principal and Co-Founder of the IST said, “The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act is a long‑overdue step toward promoting responsibility and ensuring that the true costs of truck crashes are realized. It has been 45 years since it was set, and both inflation and the weight/speed of trucks has significantly changed since then. We need a system that incents stronger oversight and drives meaningful safety improvements across the trucking industry.”
"The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act just makes sense. It is un-American to force truck crash victims to bear the consequences for unsafe motor carriers. As a crash survivor who suffered and continues to suffer from a minimally insured trucking company, I could not be more grateful to Representative García for introducing this bill,” said Anna Guardipee, Chair of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways & Truck Safety Coalition Board Member.
The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-09), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Hank Johnson (GA-04).
This legislation is endorsed by: Institute for Safer Trucking, American Association for Justice, Truck Safety Coalition, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, Parents Against Tired Truckers, Road Safe America.
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