Everyone has influence to some degree. Maybe slightly more than the guy scavanges my bin.
I was a university lecturer about 20 years ago. I had an accident, a car drove at me on the wrong side(was overtaking) on a small Mahasarakham road. I broke some bones in my foot, the local policeman came and tried to say it was my fault.
I made a call to my boss at the uni. He came and we saw the chief of Police at Chiang Yeun. My boss and chief came to an agreement where I'd get 1 month salary as compensation and all my hospital bills paid. The copper's son was going to the uni the next year. His insurance agreed to fix my car. it took longer than they said and I had to rent a car. insurance said they wouldn't pay. Head policeman in Khon Kaen was contacted and said he would sort it out. Had to wait a couple of months as he became a Senator. There was a military coup, kicking out Taksin, so this guy had to flee. Thought it was over until someone at my tennis club said they could help. So farang can get influence, not often by their own doing but by who they know.