Truck Accident Verdicts Average Nearly $28 Million in New Study

Plaintiffs' verdicts in commercial truck accident cases averaged $27.97 million between June 2023 and July 2026, according to a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform study. TheTrucker.com reported October 19 that the analysis reviewed 334 verdicts and settlements. The median verdict was $5.2 million, a substantial difference that shows how a small number of very large awards can raise the average.

Settlements in the study averaged $4.73 million and had a $2.15 million median. Combining verdicts and settlements produced an average of about $16.8 million and a median of $2.99 million. The Chamber also reported that trucking liability premiums rose 37.8% from 2015 through 2024, outpacing inflation, then increased another 3.9% in 2025 to a record 10.6 cents per mile.

The report is an advocacy study from an organization seeking litigation reform, not a court ruling or a neutral forecast of what any claim will cost. Its figures describe the reviewed cases and should not be applied automatically to every crash. Legitimate victims retain the right to pursue compensation, while carriers and insurers may contest liability and damages through the legal process.

For fleets, the practical response begins before a claim. Maintain vehicles, train drivers, enforce safe operating policies and preserve dash-camera, telematics, ELD and dispatch records after any incident. Drivers should call emergency services, document the scene when safe, report facts accurately and avoid speculation or private payment offers. Carriers should also review liability limits, umbrella coverage, retention levels and claim-notice deadlines with qualified insurance and legal professionals. Strong evidence and consistent safety management cannot eliminate litigation, but they can improve the quality of a carrier's response.