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How commercial truck crash settlements have changed over the past decade, including the rise of 'nuclear verdicts'
FMCSA says fatal and severe injury claims can exceed the minimum, as 265 verdicts topped $1 million from 2012 to 2019.
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's 2026 report to Congress reveals the $750,000 insurance floor remains unchanged since Jan. 1, 1985, despite failing to cover costs for severe or catastrophic losses.
- Medical inflation rose at an average annual rate of 4.21% between 1985 and 2024, meaning FMCSA calculated the original minimum would equal approximately $3.7 million in today's dollars.
- Research identified a 235% increase in verdicts exceeding $1 million between 2005–2011 and 2012–2019, while so-called "nuclear verdict" awards commonly exceed $10 million, reshaping settlement negotiations.
- According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, most civil cases resolve through confidential settlements rather than public trials, obscuring the true scope of claim costs.
- While catastrophic crashes remain relatively uncommon, FMCSA lacks comprehensive claims data to determine how often losses exceed policy limits, leaving future insurance adequacy uncertain.
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How commercial truck crash settlements have changed over the past decade, including the rise of 'nuclear verdicts'
THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys reports commercial truck crash settlements have surged in costs, driven by rising "nuclear verdicts" exceeding $10 million amid increasing crash severity.
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution92% Center
Bias Distribution
- 92% of the sources are Center
92% Center
C 92%
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