Kathy Handcock

It happened in a flash. One moment Kathy Handcock was strong and healthy, driving safely down the highway with her niece in the back seat and her best friend beside her. In the next moment, parts of her body were shattered, her niece was seriously injured and her best friend was dead. It all happened because a distracted driver, looking at a cell phone, crossed into her lane and smashed into her car.

Kathy was in a coma for 28 days and when she woke up, her life was changed forever. She lost her best friend – someone she talked with every day and was like family. She also lost her livelihood. Until the accident, she had been a chef at a resort on the Oregon coast and was working on the side to start an organic farm to raise produce, eggs and goats for cheese.

Now, she can’t work as a chef and is unable take care of her garden, let alone an organic farm. The crash broke nine ribs, shattered her breastbone and pelvis, left hand and ankles. She has had multiple surgeries. It’s been more than a year since the accident and she can barely walk without crutches and is in constant pain.

All signs from the investigation of the scene pointed to obvious negligence of the other driver. Ultimately, the driver’s insurance company offered a settlement that allows Kathy and her husband to get by. To Kathy, that’s at least some justice.

When asked what she thinks about what the legislature should do about arbitrary caps she says, “My life got totally turned upside down one afternoon by a woman who wasn’t paying attention to what she was doing. How would you feel if it happened to your family? It could very well happen to someone you love. What is a life altering experience like this worth to you and your family? I’d gladly change places to have my life back. “