Arkansas Senate Narrowly Passes Bad Bill Limiting What Injury Victims Can Receive in Damages

On Thursday the Arkansas Senate narrowly passed H.B. 1204, a measure limiting what people can receive in damages when they are injured through no fault of their own.

Right now, when innocent people are injured because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, they can go to court to make the guilty party pay for their injuries.

The person or business who caused the injury cannot use the injured person’s insurance to reduce the damages they owe.

Courts can review evidence and award appropriate damages based on the facts of the case.

This ensures injured people get fair compensation for harm that others do to them.

H.B. 1204 would limit what innocent people can recover in damages when someone injures them through no fault of their own.

Under H.B. 1204, the wrongdoer could use the victim’s insurance to reduce what they have to pay. In other words, the wrongdoer would get a discount at the expense of the victim.

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1204 last week. On Thursday it received 18 votes in the Arkansas Senate — which is the minimum a bill requires in order to pass.

H.B. 1204 now goes to Governor Sanders to be signed into law.

Below is a breakdown of how each senator voted on H.B. 1204.