Ohio Truck Accident Help
A Division of Ohio Truck Accident
July 16, 2025
Truck insurance minimums are the lowest amount of liability coverage that federal law requires commercial trucking companies to carry to legally operate across state lines.
Insurance regulations are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and are intended to ensure that when a truck causes an accident, there is at least a baseline level of financial coverage available for victims.
Here’s how it works: if a trucking company’s driver is at fault for a crash, the insurance policy pays for the harm they caused, up to the amount of coverage they carry.
That means if a truck seriously injures someone and the damages total $1.5 million, but the truck’s insurance only covers $750,000, the victim may receive less than they need.
The rise of gig economy truckers like those in the Amazon Flex program further complicates this issue. Because they are classified as independent contractors, they may not be subject to FMCSA insurance minimums, and their coverage might only meet state-level auto insurance requirements. That could be as low as $25,000 to $50,000 in Ohio.
Truck accident victims in Ohio face staggering medical bills, long-term recovery, and financial hardship. Yet federal trucking insurance minimums haven’t significantly changed in decades, leaving many injured parties without the full compensation they deserve.
The changing landscape of delivery drivers also raises new legal questions that weren’t important in the past. As gig economy truckers like those in Amazon Flex blur the line between personal and commercial use. It has increasingly become unclear which insurance policies apply, and whether current minimum coverage laws are enough to protect crash victims.
As pressure mounts on lawmakers and regulators to raise limits and address issues raised by gig truckers, change may finally be on the horizon.
The FMCSA currently requires motor carriers to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance for general freight. That threshold was set in 1980, and it hasn’t been adjusted for inflation or rising healthcare costs since.
Today, truck insurance minimums would need to exceed $5 million to offer equivalent coverage. Meanwhile, gig truckers like those in the Amazon Flex program could carry as little as $25,000 in insurance.
Ohioans involved in commercial vehicle accidents frequently suffer catastrophic injuries, including paralysis, spinal trauma, and PTSD, with costs far exceeding current policy limits. Victims may face:
The dramatic rise of Amazon truck accident claims has highlighted systemic insurance gaps. Unlike traditional freight haulers, Amazon often contracts with third-party delivery services. These companies may operate with minimal coverage while placing drivers under intense pressure to meet deadlines, increasing crash risks.
Gig economy drivers, whether delivering Amazon packages, groceries, or rides have significantly contributed to rising accident rates in recent years. Studies find that food and parcel delivery riders in the gig economy are more likely to damage their vehicles and report injuries compared to traditionally employed drivers.
Contributing factors include constant smartphone use for navigation and employer-imposed time pressures that encourage reckless behaviors such as speeding and running red lights. Furthermore, many gig drivers are undertrained and less experienced than traditionally employed professional drivers.
One of the most contested insurance issues in gig driving lawsuits involves defining who’s liable when a crash occurs: the driver, the subcontractor, or a major corporation like Amazon? Multi-party liability leads to legal complexity because carriers often attempt to stall settlements and obscure fault when multiple parties are involved.
Raising the federal insurance minimum could help eliminate some of these issues, ensuring there’s enough coverage regardless of who’s named in the lawsuit.
Raising the federal insurance minimum would directly benefit victims of trucking accidents in Ohio. While higher minimums would help victims with serious injuries in traditional trucking accidents, gig truckers could also be affected by changes to insurance regulations. With higher mandated coverage:
Not surprisingly, some trucking associations oppose the move, arguing that higher premiums could hurt small carriers. However, safety advocates maintain that the current system sacrifices fairness for affordability, especially in semi-truck and tractor-trailer accidents.
In a landscape where one in five trucks may be underinsured for the damage they cause, raising truck insurance minimums isn’t just a policy change — it’s a matter of justice. As legislative momentum builds, Ohio residents injured in truck crashes may soon have greater protection and better access to fair compensation.
If higher federal minimums were extended to apply more broadly to gig-based delivery operations, it would reduce the frequency of coverage disputes, ensure more adequate compensation for victims, and pressure companies like Amazon to take greater responsibility for the risks associated with their sprawling delivery networks.
Federal truck insurance minimums are the lowest liability coverage amounts required by the FMCSA for commercial carriers operating across state lines. The current minimum in Ohio is $750,000 for general freight—a figure set in 1980.
When adjusted for inflation and the rising cost of medical care, today’s truck crashes often generate damages far exceeding the $750,000 minimum. Many experts argue that minimums should be at least $5 million to reflect real-world accident costs and protect victims from inadequate compensation.
Amazon uses a network of third-party delivery service partners and independent contractors, many of whom are not required to carry federal minimum coverage. In some cases, these gig drivers operate with only state-mandated personal auto policies, potentially as low as $25,000 in Ohio.
In addition to Amazon Flex, other major companies that rely on gig economy delivery drivers include FedEx Ground subcontractors, UPS SurePost, Walmart Spark, Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. Like Amazon’s network, many of these drivers are classified as independent contractors and may not carry sufficient commercial insurance.
If your losses exceed the at-fault party’s coverage limits, you may be left with unpaid medical bills, lost wages, and no compensation for pain and suffering. That’s why raising minimums and identifying all potentially liable parties is critical to securing full recovery.
An experienced truck accident attorney can identify all potentially liable parties beyond the gig driver, such as subcontractors, contracting companies, or even the parent corporation. Your lawyer can also explore umbrella policies, challenge contractor misclassification, and file direct claims where corporate control is evident, helping you pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to despite low initial coverage.
Yes. Increasing the required coverage would reduce settlement delays, minimize legal disputes over liability, and ensure that injured victims in Ohio and beyond can access compensation that truly reflects their losses, especially in catastrophic cases involving paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, or long-term disability.
If you’ve been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, whether involving an Amazon truck or another carrier, don’t wait. The experienced and highly skilled truck accident lawyers at Ohio Truck Accident Help are here to ensure that you receive the full compensation that you deserve.