Imagine this. You’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, or maybe you lost a loved one due to a medical mistake. You count on one thing to get justice and hold the responsible party accountable: your right to a fair trial and a jury of your peers. This right isn’t just a legal process—it’s a fundamental protection meant to ensure justice for everyone.
But right now, that right is under attack. Georgia Senate Bill SB68, which is headed for a Senate vote this Friday, is one of the most dangerous bills we’ve seen for accident victims and their families. If it passes, this bill will tip the scales of justice so far in favor of big insurance companies and negligent corporations that it’s hard to see how everyday Georgians will stand a chance. That’s why we at Lewis Law are speaking out to protect our injured neighbors and stop this harmful legislation before it’s too late.
Here’s what you need to know about SB68, what’s at stake, and why we all need to take action to stop it.
What Is SB68?
SB68 is a piece of legislation being pushed by insurance companies and business lobbyists under the guise of “tort reform.” For those unfamiliar with the term, “tort reform” refers to changes in the laws governing lawsuits for things like personal injury and wrongful death. Supporters of this bill claim it’s aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits and keeping insurance costs low.
But here’s the truth about SB68—it doesn’t lower your insurance premiums. It also doesn’t curb frivolous cases, which are already rare thanks to existing legal protections. What it does do is make it harder—much harder—for innocent accident victims in Georgia to hold wrongdoers accountable.
This is a giveaway to insurance companies, plain and simple. These companies are already enjoying record-breaking profits—$90 billion in 2023 and projected to hit $120 billion in 2024. But instead of helping injured Georgians, SB68 makes it easier for insurance companies to keep denying claims and harder for you to get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Why Is SB68 Dangerous?
Here’s what makes SB68 so concerning:
1. Stripping Your Right to a Fair Trial
At the heart of SB68 is a provision that would prevent attorneys from suggesting a dollar amount to a jury for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering. This practice, known as “anchoring,” is a critical part of how cases are argued in court. For instance, if you’re paralyzed in a car accident, your lawyer can currently ask the jury to consider compensating you a specific amount, guiding them on the value of your suffering.
Under SB68, no one would be allowed to make these arguments. Lawyers can’t recommend a number, and you’re left hoping jurors “make up” a fair amount on their own. This creates chaos, leading to wildly inconsistent verdicts that depend more on guesswork than justice.
But more than that, this takes away your voice. It’s already hard enough to stand up to powerful insurance companies with unlimited resources. SB68 muzzles injured Georgians even further, leaving their advocates with limited tools to fight.
2. Dragging Out Cases and Blocking Justice
SB68 also allows defendants—usually giant corporations and insurance companies—to hit pause on legal cases indefinitely by filing unnecessary motions. Imagine trying to move forward after a traumatic injury, only to have the legal process stalled for months, even years, just because the defendant can delay things at their convenience. This tactic punishes the victims, not the wrongdoers, forcing families into emotional and financial exhaustion until they finally give up or settle for less than they deserve.
3. Making Seatbelt Use a Weapon Against Victims
One of the most shocking parts of SB68 is a provision involving seatbelt use in car accident cases. Right now, Georgia law prevents a person’s choice to wear or not wear a seatbelt from being used against them in court. That makes sense. If someone ran a red light and hit you, the focus should be on their actions—not whether your seatbelt was buckled in precisely the right way.
SB68 changes this. It lets insurance companies use seatbelt arguments to turn the tables on victims. Worse, this language could even allow a drunk driver to avoid responsibility for killing someone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt properly. That’s not justice; it’s a handout to bad actors.
4. Punishing Responsible Citizens with Health Insurance
Under current rules, if someone injures you, they are responsible for covering your medical costs. Your insurance shouldn’t reduce the amount the wrongdoer pays—that’s called the “collateral source rule.” But SB68 changes that. It lets the person who hurt you benefit because you did the responsible thing and had health insurance.
This bill flips fairness on its head, rewarding wrongdoers while penalizing veterans, military families, retirees, and working Georgians with good insurance plans. Essentially, the better prepared you are, the less you’re entitled to when someone else’s negligence changes your life.
5. Shielding Negligent Property Owners
A lesser-discussed but equally harmful aspect of SB68 involves negligent security claims. Right now, if apartment complexes or businesses fail to provide adequate security, and you’re hurt because of that failure, you have legal recourse.
But SB68 raises the bar so high for proving these cases that property owners would get a free pass to skimp on security without fear of legal consequences. This protects absentee landlords and negligent business owners at the expense of vulnerable tenants, employees, and customers.
6. Making Your Day in Court Even Harder
SB68 throws in additional hurdles for accident victims, from limiting the recovery of litigation fees to making it harder to dismiss or refile cases when new evidence surfaces. It even allows trials to be split into multiple phases, dragging out the process and increasing costs for victims. Each of these changes benefits insurance companies, not the people they hurt.
What SB68 Means for You and Your Community
If you’ve never had to deal with a personal injury case before, you might think SB68 doesn’t affect you. But it does. This bill could make Georgia less safe for everyone.
Imagine a world where hospitals don’t feel the need to improve safety protocols because facing consequences in court is nearly impossible. Think about how dangerous roads could become if drunk drivers and distracted drivers know they won’t be held accountable. Consider the families who won’t get justice because massive corporations can steamroll over individuals in court.
This isn’t just about injured victims. It’s about protecting our shared values, ensuring our neighborhoods and communities stay safe, and holding powerful entities accountable when they harm others.
At Lewis Law, part of our mission is making the world a safer place by pursuing justice for our clients. Through personal injury cases, we’ve fought to change hospital policies, crack down on reckless drivers, and improve safety standards across industries. But SB68 threatens all of that.
What Can You Do to Stop SB68?
The good news? The fight isn’t over yet. SB68 hasn’t passed, and there’s something you can do to help stop it.
Here’s how you can take action today:
- Call or Email Your State Senator and Representative: Tell them you oppose SB68 and that you want to preserve the rights of injured Georgians. Share how this bill could hurt families if it were to become law.
- Spread the Word: Talk to your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Many people don’t realize what’s at stake with SB68. Help educate them about the bill and encourage them to speak out.
- Support Georgia Rights Alliance: Visit georgiarightsalliance.org for more information about SB68 and other ways you can get involved in the fight to protect justice for all Georgians.
- Share on Social Media: Post about SB68 on your social platforms to raise awareness. Use hashtags like #StopSB68 and #ProtectGeorgiaFamilies to build momentum and keep the conversation going.
Georgia Deserves Better
SB68 isn’t just a bad bill—it’s a direct attack on justice, safety, and fairness in our state. It undermines your rights, protects corporations at the expense of individuals, and jeopardizes the safety of our communities. Georgian families deserve better.
We at Lewis Law are sounding the alarm because this matters. It matters to us, to our clients, and to everyone who believes in standing up for what’s right. Together, we can push back and stop SB68 from becoming law.
The clock is ticking. Call your representatives before Friday and demand they oppose SB68. Justice depends on it.