Yea, it isn't so bad, particularly if she was very very injured which it sounds like she was. Jury awards are often downright loopy but a commission like this is likely to do a wiser thing in awarding money.
Jurors have a sense that an injured party has somehow won Lotto - its a problem we need to fix.
This woman's predicament, on a third reading, seems right for the med bills and the lost wage. When I read, "Pain and Suffering" the first thought is, "ambulance chasing lawyers".
Has our culture been reduced to that, that the first thought is litigation and court awards? Will they sue the estate of Mohammed Atah for compensation?
I'm glad the 9-11 Fund exists. But as little as $500? When did THAT happen?