$0.
That’s the precise amount I was offered by my own insurance company after I was seriously injured in 2018. The wreck wasn’t my fault, I was hit from behind by two cars. I was left in excruciating pain for years. I had to have right shoulder surgery, epidural injections for herniated discs in my neck, MRI’s, and countless physical therapy sessions. I had just suffered the tragic loss of my partner and was learning to navigate life as a solo parent. It was one of the most challenging periods of my life; physically and emotionally. 7 years later, I still suffer from chronic neck pain caused by the herniated discs. No amount of money could ever make up for having to live in pain, but it does make access to care more accessible.
My medical bills were already in excess of $82,391.00 when my insurance refused to offer me anything. I paid every premium to my insurance carrier for 15 years without a single claim, believing that if I ever did need them, they’d be there loyally as I had to them. They weren’t. The only power I had against the multi billon dollar company was through the court. They fought me for almost 2 years before settling just weeks before trial.
S.B. 68 closes the courtroom doors for regular people like me. It takes away the only bargaining power left to fight insurance companies. The justification? To prevent insurance premiums from continuing to skyrocket. The problem is that S.B. 68 doesn’t solve that issue at all.
This week, I visited the Capitol with my attorney who represented me during my wreck in 2018 to speak with legislators about the consequences of this tort reform legislation. We met with anyone willing to hear us out. I shared my story and she explained the impact of the bill on Georgians. What we realized was this: we are all coming to the table to fix the system... But the insurance companies refuse to join.
We can all agree that the system can be improved. However, many of our legislators are being pressured to vote irrespective of whether the words on the paper will accomplish what the bill seeks to achieve. That isn’t fair - not to the legislators, nor us Georgians. Lawmakers should not be bullied into voting into law a bill they do not agree with.
We Georgians must stand up against these threats and support our legislators in their pursuits of better legislation for all Georgians. I may not be a millionaire with the ability to hire lobbyists at will, or have the connections and influence like the insurance companies. I am just like most of you. But, in numbers there is influence. This is why we must stand together against political intimidation and fight against laws that make our voices less powerful. Let’s work together to build a better Georgia, where multi billion dollar companies don’t get their cake and get to eat it too. We work too hard to deserve to be at the mercy of big insurance companies.
Please call, email, or visit your representatives and senators and ask them to vote NO to S.B. 68.
