On Monday, an Iowan spoke out against a bill at the Statehouse that would limit how much money certain crash victims can receive.The bill would impact lawsuits filed by Iowans who are significantly injured or killed in crashes involving trucks or other large vehicles.If passed, the highest amount those victims could receive for their pain and suffering is $2 million.The Senate passed the bill last week, with some lawmakers arguing the plan is necessary to recruit and keep truck drivers in our state. But one Iowan who was crushed between two semi-trucks wants lawmakers to know what his daily pain and suffering is like and argues the bill would take justice away from victims.In December 2019, Bryan Law was traveling for work on highway 59 just south of Harlan, in western Iowa. Police reports show Law stopped for construction, but the driver behind him did not.”I was stopped behind a semi and the semi behind me never hit his brakes,” Law said.Law was smashed between two semi-trucks and airlifted to a nearby hospital. He spent a week in a coma before waking up.”Staples in the back of the head. Got my forehead pretty good. My nose pretty good,” Law said. “My spine was broken in six places. Thoracic number 11 was crushed… My shoulder was crushed as well.”Law experiences daily pain. He says he has lost the active life he loved, because of someone else’s decision while driving.”It took me 20 years to talk my wife into shooting archery and hunting, and we got for years of it and I’m never gonna sit in the tree stand with her again. We’ll never ride on RAGBRAI again. We’re never gonna ski down Breckenridge again,” Law said.Law worries about the bill that would limit awards for pain and suffering.”You’re allowing for lack of accountability and lack of protection for the people. And laws are supposed to be made for the people, not the trucking industry,” Law said.Although economic damages would not be impacted, the highest amount that certain crash victims like Law could receive for their pain and suffering would be $2 million. Law is now speaking out, hoping to change minds at the Statehouse before it’s too late.”You can’t put a number to certain things,” Law said. “Pain and suffering is one of them.”
On Monday, an Iowan spoke out against a bill at the Statehouse that would limit how much money certain crash victims can receive.
The bill would impact lawsuits filed by Iowans who are significantly injured or killed in crashes involving trucks or other large vehicles.
If passed, the highest amount those victims could receive for their pain and suffering is $2 million.
The Senate passed the bill last week, with some lawmakers arguing the plan is necessary to recruit and keep truck drivers in our state.
But one Iowan who was crushed between two semi-trucks wants lawmakers to know what his daily pain and suffering is like and argues the bill would take justice away from victims.
In December 2019, Bryan Law was traveling for work on highway 59 just south of Harlan, in western Iowa.
Police reports show Law stopped for construction, but the driver behind him did not.
“I was stopped behind a semi and the semi behind me never hit his brakes,” Law said.
Law was smashed between two semi-trucks and airlifted to a nearby hospital. He spent a week in a coma before waking up.
“Staples in the back of the head. Got my forehead pretty good. My nose pretty good,” Law said. “My spine was broken in six places. Thoracic number 11 was crushed… My shoulder was crushed as well.”
Law experiences daily pain. He says he has lost the active life he loved, because of someone else’s decision while driving.
“It took me 20 years to talk my wife into shooting archery and hunting, and we got for years of it and I’m never gonna sit in the tree stand with her again. We’ll never ride on RAGBRAI again. We’re never gonna ski down Breckenridge again,” Law said.
Law worries about the bill that would limit awards for pain and suffering.
“You’re allowing for lack of accountability and lack of protection for the people. And laws are supposed to be made for the people, not the trucking industry,” Law said.
Although economic damages would not be impacted, the highest amount that certain crash victims like Law could receive for their pain and suffering would be $2 million.
Law is now speaking out, hoping to change minds at the Statehouse before it’s too late.
“You can’t put a number to certain things,” Law said. “Pain and suffering is one of them.”
