Representatives Tran, García Lead Bill to Strengthen Protections for Truck Crash Victims

Washington, DC- U.S. Representatives Derek Tran (CA-45) and Chuy García (IL-04) introduced legislation to protect American families from debt in the aftermath of devastating truck crashes. The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act will strengthen insurance requirements for interstate motor carriers, reducing the financial burden on truck crash victims facing lifelong injuries or the loss of a loved one.

The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act will:

• Increase the minimum insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5,000,000 to properly account for inflation and the current cost of medical care.
• Index the new minimum insurance requirement to inflation to ensure that financial protection for crash victims keeps pace with the rising cost of health care and other expenses.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

"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 Outdated minimum insurance requirements leave workers and their families buried by medical bills and without a steady income.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.

"It is unacceptable that outdated minimum insurance requirements continue to leave victims without the support they need to cover medical care and losses.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.

The $750,000 minimum insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers was first set in 1980. The cost of medical care has risen dramatically since then, along with the increase in the weight and size of trucks that have led to more frequent and fatal truck 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.

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.

A former consumer rights lawyer, Representative Tran is a champion of expanding protections and lowering costs for American consumers. He recently introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) to expand access to free, professional legal hotlines to protect seniors from financial scams. Representative Tran has also urged action by the Department of Transportation to ensure that airline passengers are not held financially responsible for disruptions or delays caused by a carrier.