How Can I Get My Truck Insured If I Had An Accident?

By Author: Clausonlaw
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Owners of trucks and other commercial vehicles in North Carolina must keep them insured to legally operate them within the state. An accident could make it difficult or, at the very least, very expensive to insure your truck after an accident. This article looks at your rights and the options that may be available to you following a truck accident.

Insurance requirements under state and federal law

Trucks rated with a minimum gross weight of at least 10,000 pounds and used for transporting non-hazardous cargo in interstate commerce must carry liability insurance on the vehicle of at least $750,000 under federal law. The law in North Carolina adopts the federal insurance requirement of at least $750,000 for trucks used for commercial purposes within the state.

The primary liability insurance coverage protects you as a truck owner by paying claims made by anyone suffering personal injuries or property damage caused in a truck accident in which you were at fault. The coverage pays the fees of an attorney to defend you or the driver of your truck in the event the claim for damages goes to court.

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... fact that you do not use your truck for commercial purposes, it still must be insured to be registered and used on North Carolina roads. You must have the following insurance according to state law:

At least $30,000 minimum bodily injury or liability coverage for one person injured in an accident that you cause.
At least $60,000 in bodily injury or liability coverage for accidents in which two or more people suffer personal injuries.
Property damage coverage in the minimum amount of $25,000 to pay for property damage caused to another party's property by your vehicle.

You also must carry uninsured and underinsured coverage on your truck. These insure you in the event you suffer an injury caused by an uninsured motorist or a motorist whose bodily injury coverage is insufficient to compensate you for injuries you suffer in a crash.

Can an insurance company cancel your insurance policy?

If you are involved in a truck accident, your rights under the insurance policy in effect on your vehicle depend upon the terms of the policy. An insurance policy is a contract or agreement between you and an insurance company under which the company agrees to provide the coverage in exchange for the premiums you pay.

The right of the insurance company to cancel an insurance policy issued on your truck depends upon the terms of the policy. For example, the most common reason for the cancellation of a policy is undoubtedly the failure of an insured to pay the premium.

State law in North Carolina requires that your insurance company mail notice of the cancellation to your last known address at least 15 days ahead of the cancellation date. Notice of cancellation for reasons other than non-payment of premiums must be sent to you at least 60 days in advance of the date of cancellation.

The right to cancel your insurance for having an accident can only be done if the language of the policy allows it. Check your policy or arrange for a consultation to have an auto accident lawyer review the policy to determine if it can be canceled after an accident.

Even if it does not have the right to cancel your policy, the insurance company can refuse to renew it at the end of the policy period. State law makes it mandatory for the company to mail a notice of nonrenewal to your last known address at least 60 days before the date the policy is set to expire.

Getting insurance after a truck accident

If you were at fault for causing an accident and your insurance policy was canceled or the company refuses to renew it, you may have difficulty finding another company to issue a policy. Under a system known as the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility or assigned risk pool, insurance companies doing business in the state agree to offer policies to motorists whose driving or accident record makes it difficult for them to obtain insurance coverage.

The NCRF makes it possible to obtain insurance to keep your truck on the road, but it comes at a cost. In exchange for an insurance company agreeing to issue a policy to a motorist deemed “high risk”, the rates charged may be substantially higher than you were paying before the accident.

What to do following a truck accident?

If you have been injured in a truck accident, the fact that another party has retained a lawyer to file a claim against your insurance policy for damages does not mean the accident was your fault. Speak with a personal injury attorney at The Clauson Law Firm, PLLC. A review of the facts and circumstances of the accident may support a claim for compensation on behalf of an at-fault party.

The Clauson Law Firm is committed to serving America’s Social Security Disability claimants, and clients injured by dangerous drugs. Clauson law also represents North Carolina’s injured accident victims, by working to help secure the maximum compensation and highest benefits possible for every client.