Railroads are a crucial component of commerce in the United States as a whole and Texas in particular. There are more miles of railroad in Texas than in any other state and railroad companies in Texas are estimated to transport more than 8.8 million carloads of freight each year. Without railroads, the transportation of vital cargo would grind to a halt.

Unfortunately, despite the vital role they play in our modern society, railroad companies often become the scapegoat after a train accident or derailment. If your railroad company is facing litigation, it is important to take swift action to defend yourself, your company, and your workers.

Presenting a Strong Defense Against Accusations of Negligence

When a railroad accident happens, the injured party may file a lawsuit against the railroad company for various reasons such as improper maintenance of its equipment or failure to properly train its employees.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), just over a third of employers increased remote work opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 60 percent plan to keep those opportunities in place.  With so many employers and employees alike benefiting from the flexibility of working remotely, it is likely that this trend will continue well into the future. 

However, there are a few employment law concerns that businesses should keep in mind when managing remote workers. If your company currently has remote or hybrid workers or plan to implement remote work in soon, make sure to understand your legal rights and responsibilities as an employer. 

Employment Law Considerations for Employers for Remote Workers

As remote work becomes increasingly popular, employers must ensure that they are meeting all local, state, and federal employment laws.

When you operate any business, there will inevitably be some point at which you are going to need to sign a contract that will be inherent to protecting your legal rights and also ensuring another party fulfills their obligations.

Business and commercial law contracts can help minimize risks and can be critical to ensuring the long-term health of a company. People need to keep in mind certain aspects of contracts to be confident that they are taking all of the steps necessary to formulate the contract that will be most beneficial to them. A legally enforceable contract must have an offer, an acceptance, mutual consideration, legal parties, and a legal purpose.

Make Sure You Are Dealing With The Right Person

When you are negotiating the terms of a contract with a lower-level employee who has to get approval for every decision, you may be wasting your time. Ask to speak to a person who can be in charge of making decisions themselves so you can be confident that you are working toward finalizing an agreement. An owner is probably the best bet for a small business, but larger businesses may have chief operating officers.

As any small business owner can tell you, getting a business up and running is no easy feat. Even when a business is humming along smoothly, unexpected disputes resulting in litigation can crop up at any time. Small business owners must constantly be on their toes, ready to respond to surprises with agility so that legal disputes have a minimal effect on a company’s growth and productivity. Here are some common legal disputes that Texas small business owners may face that a great business law attorney can help with. 

Common Types of Business Disputes

The nature of certain businesses will expose them to a greater likelihood of facing disputes than others; for example, a construction business is much more likely to face litigation for an injured employee than a business selling records. Knowing your field is essential for understanding the kind of risks you undertake as a business owner and any potential liabilities you may face in the future. Common types of disputes small business face include, but are not limited to: 

• Intellectual property disputes 

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