News: New Texas House bill could shield trucking companies from liability
AUSTIN, TX – A new bill being considered in the Texas House of Representatives would shield trucking companies from liability in nearly all traffic collisions that result in injury or death, according to reporting by KXAN.
Texas House Bill 19 would fundamentally reshape liability laws regarding commercial trucking operations in the state. If passed, House Bill 19 would force plaintiffs to prove that a trucking company has acted in a “grossly negligent” way in order to include them in a lawsuit. In all other cases, only the truck driver directly involved in a crash could be named as a defendant. This could significantly limit both the scope of lawsuits and the dollar amounts of any resulting verdicts or settlements.
The bill was introduced to the Texas House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence on Tuesday, and received public comment but no committee debate.
“If there’s any part of the bill that would hinder a Texan’s ability to seek those damages, then the bill won’t move,” said Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), the committee’s chair and the author of the bill.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, Loewy Law Firm would like to hear from you. We believe that everyone responsible for that collision—from the individual truck driver to their employer—should be held accountable for their negligence. Contact us today to speak with an experienced Austin truck accident lawyer about your case, at absolutely no cost to you.