If you’ve been following the progress of Senate Bill 207 through the Senate and House, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that this bill has not yet passed. Currently it’s in the State House for review. The bad news is that the House seems to be okay with the bill as it stands.
What this means for Texas drivers is that the State Legislature is looking at passing yet another bill that benefits insurance companies at the expense of accident victims. House Bill 19 has already been approved. And if this one passes too, it simply adds insult to injury.
The combination of these two pieces of legislature protect commercial vehicle companies and their insurance by reducing their liability for accidents caused by company vehicles. Instead, the burden of medical costs and other expenses falls on accident victims and taxpayers.
On top of placing the burden on those who don’t deserve it, this bill could also create more hazardous driving conditions for Texas drivers. Trucking companies will have less incentive to make sure their drivers are following safety rules. Or they may even neglect any costly but necessary vehicle maintenance issues.
If our standards are more lenient than other states, this proposed bill could attract even more unsafe truck drivers and trucking companies to Texas.
Texas is already the most dangerous state for large truck crashes and has held this unfortunate title from 2016 to 2020, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Not only does it rank highest, the number of fatalities in trucking accidents has increased by 105% since 2009. In 2019, Texas had more than 39,000 commercial vehicle crashes and 613 deaths.
Since this bill has not yet passed, there is still time to speak up. Recovering the damages from an accident with an 18-wheeler or company vehicle is complicated enough without new bills that favor these companies. To fight back against Senate Bill 207, contact your senator and let him or her know how you feel.
You can also sign a petition that opposes the bill. The petition can be found at www.KeepTexasSafe.com
DeSouza Law Firm is a leading personal injury firm representing accident victims throughout Texas.
If you’ve been injured by a car, truck, 18-wheeler, company vehicle, or in the oilfield, call DeSouza Injury Lawyers today at 361-799-2222 or visit the firm online at https://jfdlawfirm.com/