§37-9-18. Certificates for common carriers and permits for contract carriers - Surety bonds, insurance policies, etc., required.

No certificate or permit shall be issued to an air carrier or shall remain in force unless such carrier complies with such reasonable rules and regulations as the commission shall prescribe covering the filing and approval of surety bonds, policies of insurance, qualifications as a self-insurer or other securities or agreements in such reasonable amount as the commission may require, conditioned to pay, within the amount of such surety bonds, policies of insurance, qualifications as a self-insurer or other securities or agreements, any final judgment recovered against such air carrier for a bodily injury or the death of any person resulting from the negligent operation, maintenance or use of aircraft under such certificate or permit, or for loss or damage to property of others. The commission may, in its discretion and under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe, require any such air carrier to file a surety bond, policies of insurance, qualifications as a self-insurer or other securities or agreements, in a reasonable sum to be determined by the commission, to be conditioned upon such carrier making compensation to shippers or consignees for all property belonging to shippers or consignees and coming into the possession of such carrier in connection with its transportation service. Any carrier which may be required by law to compensate a shipper or consignee for any loss, damage or default for which a connecting carrier is legally responsible shall be subrogated to the rights of such shipper or consignee under any such bond, policies of insurance or other securities or agreements, to the extent of the sum so paid. Nothing in this chapter shall relieve a certificate or permit holder from any liability for negligence, whether or not it has complied with the requirements of this section.

(Acts 1945, No. 269, p. 414, §15.)