New Texas Legislation in 2021
Today is September 1, 2021, which means hundreds of new laws passed by the 87th Texas Legislature are now effective. Here is a summary of some new laws that affect personal injury law and the Rio Grande Valley:
HB 19 - This bill amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to provide new procedures for litigation involving commercial vehicle collisions. In particular, HB 19 limits lawsuits against defendant-employers based on an employee’s negligence and restricts evidence of a defendant-employer’s failure to comply with regulatory standards at trial. The bill also requires a two-part trial when a claimant seeks exemplary damages.
SB 6 - This bill amends the Texas Medical Liability Act and the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to provide liability protection for health care workers, certain businesses that manufactured and distributed products related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and individuals and businesses that continued operating during the pandemic. This bill has been effective since June 14, 2021.
SB 1602 - Most automobile insurance policies require the insured to cooperate in the investigation, settlement, or defense of an accident or claim. Unfortunately, there has never been any incentive for the insured to cooperate with this requirement. This bill aims to create an incentive by requiring the non-renewal of automobile policies when the insured fails or refuses to cooperate with a claim. The bill affects policies issued on or after January 1, 2022.
HB 2064 - This bill amends the Property Code to create a third method for determining the maximum amount of a hospital lien. This bill has been effective since June 16, 2021.
HB 1578 - This bill expands the list of organizations from whom a claimant may recover attorney’s fees under Chapter 38 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
HB 3774 - This bill creates a 484th Judicial District Court in Cameron County and a 476th Judicial District Court in Hidalgo County. The 484th District Court will have preference over juvenile matters under the Juvenile Justice Code in Cameron County.
SJR 47 - This proposed constitutional amendment would amend the Texas Constitution to increase the qualifications needed for an attorney to run to become a judge. Texas voters must approve this proposed amendment during the November 2, 2021 election to become effective.
If a negligent driver has injured you or a loved one, you have enough things to worry about. Do not let dealing with the insurance company be one of them. We deal with the insurance company so you can focus on getting your life back to normal. You have one chance to do this; make the right choice by choosing the right attorney. Call us at (956) 291-7870 or email us at contact@rdjlawyer.com for a free consultation and case evaluation.