If you live in Texas or follow the news about truck safety and lawsuits, you may have heard about the HB 19 bill. It might not sound very easy on the outside. But relax – you do not have to become a lawyer to understand what it means and how it impacts you.

HB 19 is a law that changes the way lawsuits are handled when someone is hurt in an accident involving a commercial truck or vehicle. Before this bill, people could sue the trucking company directly in many cases. But now, things work differently. The law is meant to reduce specific legal claims, especially when the truck company believes the accident involved a type of recklessness rather than negligence. For example, the driver may have done something very wrong, but not because the company told them to do so.

What Is HB 19?

HB 19 is a 2021 bill that became law in Texas. The bill seeks to change how litigation works when someone sues a trucking company after a crash. In the past, lawyers could quickly take trucking companies to court and bring up company policies and safety procedures from the start. And now that process has changed.

Under HB 19, if you’re in an accident with a commercial truck and decide to sue, there are two steps in the legal process:

• First Step – The court will look only at the truck driver. Was it the driver’s fault? Did they cause the crash? The jury will only examine the driver’s actions in the first part.
• Second step – Only if the court finds the driver was at fault can the case proceed to the next step. That’s when the trucking company’s behavior, safety training, hiring practices, and records come into play.

Why Did This Law Happen?

Supporters of the HB 19 bill say it prevents businesses from being sued unfairly. Trucking companies said they were targeted even when the driver made a mistake alone. They said that some lawyers also used company documents to confuse juries or make cases look worse. HB 19 was created to fix that.

On the other hand, critics point out that the law makes it more challenging for victims of injuries to receive justice. If somebody is severely hurt in a crash with a truck, it will take longer and more legal steps before they can demonstrate that the company had a role.

What Does That Mean for You?

Whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, or passenger, this law could affect your rights after a Texas truck accident. How: Using a smartphone app.

If you crash into a commercial truck, you must show that the driver was negligent before anything can be said about the company.

This might make the case take longer and be more expensive regarding legal fees.

If you think they are essential, you might not immediately see or use the trucking company’s safety records or training documents.

This law applies only to commercial vehicle lawsuits in Texas, such as delivery trucks, big rigs, or any other commercial vehicle. Individuals should understand their rights and the procedure in an accident like this.

It has a large trucking industry. Trucks deliver food, medicine, clothing, and many things we use every day. But safety is important too. Everybody deserves to feel safe on the road.

Final Thoughts

HB 19 has changed how truck accident cases work in Texas. Whether you agree with the bill or not, knowing how it works helps you stay informed and prepared. A personal injury attorney can guide you through the new process and help you understand your rights.