Relating to damages owed by a person at fault in crashes and collisions involving commercial motor vehicles

This bill relates to damages owed by a person at fault in crashes and collisions involving commercial motor vehicles. The bill requires a person at fault in a crash or collision involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to arrange for and pay the costs associated with the provision of a suitable replacement CMV to be delivered to the owner or operator of the damaged CMV without unnecessary delay. The suitable replacement CMV must be provided by the person at fault until the required repairs to the damaged CMV are completed or the damaged CMV is placed back into service by the owner or operator, whichever occurs first. A person who fails to arrange and provide a suitable replacement CMV must reimburse the owner or operator of the damaged CMV for the costs incurred by the owner or operator to obtain a suitable replacement CMV, including but not limited to rental charges, to use until the required repairs to the damaged CMV are completed or the damaged CMV is placed back into service by the owner or operator, whichever occurs first. The bill requires a person who is at fault and causes damage to a CMV in a crash or collision to compensate the owner or operator of the damaged CMV for each day the owner or operator is unable to operate the CMV, or a suitable replacement CMV provided by the person at fault, as a result of the crash or collision. The compensation must equal the mean average net revenue the owner or operator received for each day the CMV was in service based on the previous in-service days. Under current law, any damages for fault resulting in injury to property must be diminished in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the claimant. Such comparative fault considerations do not apply to the bill.