Georgia limits ability to sue insurance firms after truck crashes

Robert Besser
21 Mar 2024, 20:42 GMT+10

Under a bill set to receive final approval, the Georgia legislature limited the ability of people to sue insurance companies directly after trucking crashes
This week, the House voted 172-0 to pass Senate Bill 426, sending it to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature or veto
Someone can only sue an insurance company directly if the trucking company involved has gone bankrupt or the plaintiff cannot locate the company or driver

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Under a bill set to receive final approval, the Georgia legislature has limited the ability of people to sue insurance companies directly after trucking crashes.

This week, the House voted 172-0 to pass Senate Bill 426, sending it to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature or veto.

Someone can only sue an insurance company directly if the trucking company involved has gone bankrupt or the plaintiff cannot locate the company or driver.

Supporters say the bill will ensure lower insurance rates for truckers, as current rates inhibit trucking companies from doing business.

"It was a balancing act between business groups and lawyers. Several Democrats also spoke to praise the bill. Rep. Teddy Reese, a Columbus Democrat, called it a great compromise that lawyers like myself are happy with and can work with," House Majority Whip James Burchett, a Waycross Republican, said.

Kemp said it should be harder to file lawsuits and win big legal judgments, noting that Georgia's high insurance rates are among the harms caused by such lawsuits.

Truckers and owners of commercial properties and apartments have also been asked for more significant limits, stressing that they are getting unfairly sued when third parties do wrong on their properties.

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