LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Jose Sanz,

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Garret Graves (R-LA-6), and Mike Bost (R-IL-12) reintroduced the Highway Accident Fairness Act of 2023 to improve the safety of truckers and civilians on U.S. highways. The bipartisan legislation also protects trucking companies from the financial burdens of defending against or settling fraudulent insurance claims resulting from staged collisions.

Currently, truckers are often the target of staged collisions which puts both civilian and truckers in serious danger. The trucking companies and local law enforcement are then subject to significant financial burdens from the emergency response and litigation fallout. This bill closes these loopholes and ensures that highways remain safe economic and civilian transit corridors.

“Highways are a significant component of our economic supply chain. Every single day, goods flow across states to get food on shelves and products in homes. We must commit ourselves to keeping these transit corridors open and safe all year round,” said Congressman Cuellar. “That is why we must pass this important legislation protecting our truckers from staged collisions that cause dangers for civilians on the road and economic problems for trucking companies provided an essential service. Thank you to Congressman Graves and Congressman Bost for their bipartisan support.”

“Louisiana drivers pay some of the highest insurance rates in America. This is unacceptable and the solutions don’t require rocket science,” said Congressman Graves. “Our bill will prevent criminal rings who are intentionally causing accidents from driving up costs for the rest of us by cracking down on fraudulent claims, increasing safety on the roads, and lowering insurance rates for everyone. Thanks to Rep. Cuellar, the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, and other groups for partnering with us on this legislation.”

“The Highway Accident Fairness Act of 2023 will help stop fraudulent, staged automobile accidents in their tracks. I’m proud to join Reps. Cuellar and Graves in reintroducing this legislation to hold individuals accountable for risking the safety of other commuters and the livelihoods of the hardworking truckers and motorists they target with their costly schemes,” said Congressman Bost.

More specifically, the Highway Accident Fairness Act of 2023 will:

Assure fair and prompt recoveries for highway accident victims with legitimate claims
Provide for Federal court consideration of interstate cases of national importance under diversity jurisdiction
Maintain stability in the movement of interstate commerce and protect the public from the safety hazard of staged collisions
Protect motor carriers and insurers from the financial burdens of defending against, settling or being found liable for fraudulent claims that result from staged collisions
Protect law enforcement agencies from expending resources dealing with the aftermath of staged collisions

The bill is also endorsed by the American Trucking Associations, the Texas Trucking Association, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the National Tank Truck Carriers, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We thank Representatives Cuellar, Graves and Bost for introducing this common-sense bill to curb rampant lawsuit abuse against the trucking industry. Staged accidents, third-party litigation funding, and disproportionate nuclear verdicts are perverting civil litigation into a game of Jackpot Justice, jeopardizing highway safety and adding more costs and strain to our nation’s supply chain. This legislation would help restore balance and fairness to the system and ensure justice – not profiteering and windfalls – drives accident litigation,” said Chris Spear, CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

“Staging an accident with a commercial motor vehicle sounds insane, but it’s a very real problem and one that is unfortunately made more and more appealing by the hefty multi-million-dollar payouts promised by unscrupulous trial attorneys. The reintroduction of the Highway Accident and Fairness Act by Rep. Henry Cuellar is not only necessary to disincentivize these staged accidents, but also a necessity to protect the general motoring public. We tip our Texas hats to Rep. Cuellar, a champion for all, for continuing to push for legislation that makes staged accidents a federal crime. Real crimes deserve real punishments and that’s what this legislation achieves,” said John D. Esparza, President & CEO of the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA).

“The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, made up of 286 organizations across the U.S., strongly supports passage of the Highway Accident Fairness Act. We salute Reps. Cuellar, Graves, and Bost for understanding the importance of this issue and its impact on American consumers, insurers and businesses. Staged automobile accidents are often tied to organized crime rings. They inflict not only monetary damage, including causing higher insurance premiums for all Americans, but also too often involve serious injury and even death to innocent drivers. In recent years our nation has seen a dramatic resurgence of these fraudulent accidents. This bill will change that direction and deserves the full support of our nation’s leaders and all of us as citizens,” said Matthew J. Smith, Esq., Executive Director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

“NTTC stands for justice for all motorists including commercial vehicles. Heightened insurance rates driven by unjust and extreme verdicts are increasing costs, and ultimately, forcing companies out of business. NTTC believes that the Highway Accident Fairness Act of 2023 helps reduce frequency of lawsuit abuse cases taking a toll on our industry, thus lowering supply chain costs to benefit all Americans,” said Ryan Streblow, President & CEO of the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).

“The U.S. Chamber applauds Representatives Henry Cuellar, Garret Graves, and Mike Bost for re-introducing the bipartisan Highway Accident Fairness Act of 2023, which will improve highway safety by cracking down on fraudulent claims targeting truck drivers, law enforcement officials, and the public. This legislation will help stop nefarious actors from endangering the safety of the traveling public, and we urge Congress to act on this important legislation,” said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.