C. Damages & Insurance
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Elena Vance, J.D.
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9 min read
Cracking the Insurance Tower: Primary, Umbrella, and Excess Coverage in Trucking Wrecks
Commercial freight carriers utilize complex multi-layered insurance towers. We explain how primary $1,000,000 policies connect to excess umbrella layers and how the federal Form MCS-90 operates.
Key Legal Takeaways
- Federal law requires minimum public liability between $750,000 and $5,000,000 depending on freight classification.
- Large national motor carriers carry $10,000,000 to $100,000,000 in excess liability towers.
- Form MCS-90 guarantees payment to injured members of the public even if the insured violated policy terms.
The Structure of Commercial Liability Towers
In severe collision litigation, an attorney must identify all underlying primary and excess carriers immediately through formal Rule 194 discovery disclosures to avoid premature policy exhaustions.