National Indemnity Company Claims After a Truck Crash

National Indemnity Company is an Omaha, Nebraska insurer owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 1967, and it writes commercial auto, trucking and general liability coverage (National Indemnity). If a truck it insures hit you, report the claim on its 24/7 claims line, 800-356-5750 (National Indemnity claims). Beverly Law does not work for or with National Indemnity.

Who is National Indemnity Company?

The company says it started in 1940 in a two-room Omaha office, where two brothers wrote liability insurance on taxis, and that Berkshire Hathaway bought it in 1967. It calls itself Berkshire Hathaway’s oldest insurance company. Its product pages list business auto, trucks and truckers, passenger transport, fleets, motor truck cargo, garages and general liability.

The Missouri Department of Insurance lists the company under NAIC number 20087 at 1314 Douglas Street in Omaha (Missouri DOI). Its states-of-operation page shows it licensed in California, Texas and Washington, along with sister companies such as National Liability & Fire Insurance Company (states of operation). The policy may be written by one of those affiliates, so check the exact company name on the police report or exchange form.

How do I report a claim to National Indemnity?

National Indemnity lists three ways to report: its claims line at 800-356-5750, which it says is open 24/7; an online form emailed to claims@nationalindemnity.com; or the same form sent by fax to the number on its claims page. It asks that each document or email include the policy number and claim number.

Have these ready when you call:

• The truck company’s name and USDOT number, which you can find on SAFER.
• The police report number and the agency that wrote it.
• The date, time and location of the crash.
• Names of witnesses and the medical providers who treated you.

When you get a claim number, write it down along with the adjuster’s name and direct line. If the report names no insurer, the federal Licensing and Insurance search shows the coverage an interstate for-hire carrier has filed.

What will the adjuster ask me?

An adjuster for the trucking company’s insurer is paid to protect that company. Early calls often ask for a recorded statement, a broad medical release and a description of how you were driving. You do not have to agree to a recording to open a claim. Give the basic facts, keep your answers short, and offer to send anything else in writing.

A blanket medical authorization lets the insurer read records unrelated to the crash. If you sign one, limit it to the injured body parts and a reasonable time before the collision. Keep copies of every letter and email.

How much insurance does a commercial truck carry?

For most interstate for-hire trucks hauling general freight with a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more, federal rules set a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage; oil and many hazardous loads require $1 million or $5 million (49 CFR 387.9). Those are floors. A carrier may also hold an excess or umbrella policy with the same or another company. Ask in writing what policies apply and their limits.

What truck records should be preserved?

Federal rules require carriers to keep an accident register for three years (49 CFR 390.15). Records of duty status and supporting documents only have to be kept for six months (49 CFR 395.8). A written request sent soon after the crash, asking the carrier and National Indemnity to save driver logs, engine and ELD data, camera footage, dispatch records and the driver’s qualification file, makes it harder for that evidence to disappear.

What claim rules apply in California, Texas and Washington?

California’s fair claims regulations cover claimants as well as policyholders (10 CCR 2695.2). An insurer generally has 15 calendar days to acknowledge a notice of claim and to respond to your letters (10 CCR 2695.5), and 40 calendar days after proof of claim to accept or deny it, with written updates every 30 days if it needs more time (10 CCR 2695.7). Washington generally requires an insurer to acknowledge a claim within 10 business days (WAC 284-30-360). The Texas Department of Insurance tells drivers to ask for a denial reason in detail and in writing, and says it can help with complaints against insurance companies (TDI). Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou.

What to do now

1. Get medical care and keep every bill and record.
2. Find the exact insurer name on the police report or exchange form.
3. Report the claim at 800-356-5750 and note the claim number.
4. Decline a recorded statement until you know your options.
5. Ask in writing for all policy limits that apply.
6. Send a letter asking that logs, ELD data and video be preserved.
7. Speak with a lawyer before signing a release or accepting a check.

Talk to us about a National Indemnity claim

Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 for a free case review in English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. See more guides on truck insurance claims.

Common questions

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Important: This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Laws change and every case is different; talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: 2026-11-12.