April 02, 2021 | IIAT Government Affairs
The Keep Texas Trucking Coalition (KTTC) has released its latest video, highlighting the devastating impact abusive lawsuits have on Texas small businesses. The video features Sarah Sagredo-Hammond, whose family-owned electrical, plumbing and HVAC business in the Rio Grande Valley is feeling the strain of Texas’ excessive litigation environment for commercial vehicles. The committee substitute for House Bill 19 was voted out of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee last week, and is awaiting a vote by the full Texas House of Representatives. The bill ensures a Texan who is injured by the negligence of a commercial vehicle
operator can be fully compensated for the injury he or she suffered, while also ensuring cases are tried consistently and uniformly across the state and that juries have the relevant information required to make a fair decision. According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, motor vehicle litigation has increased 118 percent in Texas since 2008, while other types of personal injury litigation have decreased. In 2019, a lawsuit followed every 10 accidents, up from one in 17 accidents in 2008. This has caused the price of insurance to skyrocket, whether or not a company has had an accident or even owns a vehicle.
IIAT’S KEY ISSUES FOR THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION During this unprecedented legislative session, IIAT is focused on the following initiatives important to independent agents and their clients: SB 6 by Sen. Hancock & HB 3659 by- Rep. Leach Pandemic Liability Protection Act Establishing protections for businesses from frivolous lawsuits stemming from COVID-19 claims SB 17 by Taylor & HB 19 by Rep. Leach Protect Texas Trucking Enacting reforms to protect against inflated commercial auto litigation being pushed by trial lawyers SB 1602 by Sen. Taylor Failure to Cooperate Ending the ability to avoid payment of claims by refusing to cooperate with your insurer
Legislative Update
Legislative Initiative Addresses Abusive Lawsuits Against Owners and Operators of Commercial Vehicles
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