A woman was just awarded $14,000,000 by a Bucks County, PA jury for injuries she sustained from an accident in 2007, and rightly so. The plaintiff was run over by a Pennsbury school bus, which resulted in the amputation of her left leg above the knee, a crushed pelvis, and other fractures—she was only 17 when the accident occurred. Although she rightfully deserves to be compensated, a decades-old law will only allow her to receive $500,000 of the damages.
According to a PA state law that was formed back in the 1980s states that the legal liability of all governments, including school districts, is limited to a cap of $500,000. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that this case could be used to test the validity of the 30-year-old law.
The verdict sheet said that the plaintiff was awarded $338,580.49 for past medical bills, $2,597,682.90 for future medical costs, and $11,100,000 in other damages. The jury was unanimous in their decision on how much the woman was to receive, but that seems futile since this law prevents it.
The attorney plans on challenging the cap to test the legality and constitutionality of the law. In court, the defense did not detest the fact that the woman should be compensated for her injuries, but they argued that sympathy could get in the way of what a reasonable amount of damages would be.
The Gazette reported that in the defense’s opening statements they said, “We agree, Ashley deserves reasonable compensation for her injuries. … But one of the things and one of the reasons why you’re all here is because you promised that you would be able to put aside the sympathy at the end of the day, at the end of the trial, and make a decision on the damages that were reasonable and necessary.”
For anyone who has been involved in an accident that left them injured they know the effect this has on their life. It goes way beyond physical pain; there are also economic impacts as well as emotional strife and change in the way you conduct your life. If you have been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation. Speak to a skilled Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer today to get the money you need and are rightfully owed.
