When you work in the trucking world, wrecks happen. And they can happen to anyone, no matter how experienced the driver. No trucker wants to experience a crash, but it’s important to be prepared with the right insurance coverages. We’ll take a look at how insurance can come into play by looking at a news story about a box truck.
What happened?
Earlier this week, a box truck was headed to an entrance ramp for I-275 (according to police) when it and another car got into a wreck. The box truck flipped onto its side. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries. The truck driver was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries, while the other driver was hurt but did not need to be hospitalized. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
What questions do we have about the wreck?
There are a few questions that pop into our minds when we see news stories like this. Of course, first and foremost we’re concerned for the drivers involved. But we also can’t help but wonder about the specifics of the scenario to understand how the insurance might work. These are some questions we have about this particular incident.
- Who was at fault?
The news article didn’t exactly explain who was at fault – plus, the investigation is still ongoing. However, determining fault for the wreck can be a big part of the insurance side of things following an accident. We don’t really know what exactly happened other than these two vehicles collided and the box truck ended up rolling over.
- Was the box truck hauling a load at the time of the wreck?
If the box truck was hauling a load at the time of the wreck, what responsibility would the trucking business have for the loss of the cargo? What was the box truck hauling? Cargo can be expensive.
- Who was the box truck hauling for?
Was there any sort of workers’ comp insurance for the driver of the box truck? Workers comp is intended to help employees of a business if they get hurt on the job by helping cover their medical bills and providing a portion of their lost wages.
- How long until the box truck business can operate normally again?
When a trucking business is down a vehicle, it can take a while for them to get back on their feet. How long would it be until the business can get back to operating normally? Will they be able to get a rental vehicle?
What coverages could be helpful for box truck businesses?
There are a few truck insurance coverages that could help a box truck business if they’re in a situation like this. We don’t know who’s at fault for the accident, so we’re just going to describe a few important coverages that box truck businesses should consider to protect themselves if they experience a wreck.
Auto liability.
Auto liability can help a trucker cover their legal obligation to the other driver if they’re at fault in an accident. It can also help cover the trucker’s legal expenses if there’s a lawsuit.
Bodily injury liability: This can help cover the other driver’s medical expenses and pain and suffering if a truck driver is at fault in a wreck.
Property damage liability: This can help cover the costs of repairing or replacing the other driver’s car if a truck driver is at fault in a wreck.
Physical damage.
Physical damage is the coverage that can help a box truck business get their vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible if it’s damaged.
Collision coverage: This is the coverage that can help a trucking business repair or replace their vehicle following a wreck or collision.
Comprehensive coverage: This coverage can help a trucking business repair or replace their vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision. It typically covers losses like fire, theft, vandalism, animal strikes, and falling objects.
Cargo insurance.
Cargo insurance can help protect the load that a truck driver is hauling. It can cover losses like theft, fire, and collision. Like we mentioned earlier, cargo can be very valuable. It’s important for trucking businesses to make sure they have enough cargo coverage.
Workers’ comp.
We talked a little about workers’ comp above. Worker’s compensation insurance can help an employee of a business if they get hurt on the job. It can cover their medical expenses and a portion of the wages they lose while they’re unable to work. That way the employee can get the medical care they need – and get some of their wages.
Pollution coverage.
When a wreck happens, there could be environmental damage. And a trucking business could be responsible for the costs of cleaning it up. Pollution coverage can help take care of those expenses – environmental cleanup can be expensive.
We are glad to hear that no one was seriously hurt in this accident. Wrecks are scary – it’s not something a truck driver ever wants to happen.
Get started with quotes for truck insurance by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us today. We can help you get the truck insurance you need to protect your business.
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