With “runaway” jury verdicts in trucking accident cases on the rise in recent years, a new law may give trucking companies some relief in one major venue. Effective September 1st, Texas law will provide defendants in these cases the right to a bifurcated trial. The first trial phase will be limited to a determination of liability for compensatory damages. Next, any liability for punitive damages will be determined in the second phase of the trial. Evidence of a defendant’s failure to comply with a regulation (like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) may only be presented during the second phase with some exceptions. Several Texas jury verdicts have exceeded $100 million in recent years. The industry is hopeful and optimistic that this new law will combat the reptile theory, curb nuclear verdicts, and set an example for other jurisdictions.