What are the Worst Bicycle Accident Cases You Have Handled?

From our clients’ perspective, and from our perspective as well, every bicycle accident case we handle, and there are lots of these cases in Southern California, is the worst one we’ve handled. Even a “minor” bicycle accident usually causes serious injuries, mostly because bicycle riders have no protection against oncoming vehicles.

These serious injuries range from soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash, to more severe injuries which are usually fatal or life-threatening, such as internal injuries or head injuries. California has one of the highest average daily hospitalization costs in the nation. So, even a night or two in a hospital bed could result in a bill that most families cannot possibly pay.

Our team of Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers make a tremendous difference in these situations. Our legal team connects injury victims with doctors, most of whom charge nothing upfront for their professional services. Then, our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers work hard to obtain the compensation that accident victims need and deserve.

Left Turn Wreck ($500,000 Settlement)

This wreck, like many other left-turn wrecks, unfolded at an intersection in Los Angeles. Our client, a bicyclist with the green light, was riding southbound on Lake Shore in Elysian Heights. A motorist was waiting to make an unprotected left turn against traffic. That tortfeasor (negligent driver) didn’t see our client and turned directly into our client’s path.

The crash caused life-threatening injuries. Multiple surgeries later, our client was healthy enough to undergo physical therapy, where she regained most of her motor skills.

Left turn wrecks are legally complex, mostly because of the last clear chance doctrine. In some cases, victims who do absolutely nothing wrong could be legally responsible for wrecks.

In this case, the insurance company argued that our client should’ve seen the tortfeasor and should’ve avoided the wreck, by stopping or veering out of the way. Our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers pointed out that such emergency maneuvers were impractical. The traffic was heavy at the time. So, if our client swerved or stopped suddenly, that maneuver would’ve likely caused another crash.

Right Turn ($300,000 Settlement)

We should pause and state that most accident settlements contain confidentiality clauses. So, as a matter of policy, we do not share details about these or any other accident settlements.

Right turn bicycle wrecks are common at busy intersections that feature large concrete or other pillars that separate designated bicycle lanes from regular traffic lanes. At the time of this wreck, these obstacles were on a stretch of Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.

Most drivers turn their heads and look to the left when they turn right. Therefore, they often don’t see pedestrians or bicyclists to their right, especially if something impedes visibility, such as concrete pillars.

In this case, a careless driver didn’t look to the right and sideswiped our client as he was riding straight across the street. Since he was riding straight, he had the right of way, and the other driver was clearly at fault.

Many side-swipe accidents aren’t too serious. But this time, the force of the impact propelled the victim off his bicycle. The resulting fall caused permanent injuries.

This case was also remarkable because it settled during trial. During opening arguments, the insurance company made excuses for the tortfeasor (she couldn’t see through the pillars) and implied our client was at fault (he should’ve looked both ways). Usually, jurors don’t buy excuses. Additionally, our team objected to the opening statement argument, and the judge admonished the insurance company lawyer in front of the jury.

Wisely, the insurance company decided to cut its losses and agreed to the settlement offer before witness testimony began.

Speed-Related ($75,000 Verdict)

Although this case, which originated from an accident on LaBrea Avenue in Hancock Park, wasn’t our largest result, it may be the one we’re the most proud of, for two major reasons.

First, this result was a trial verdict. Since civil trials are very rare these days, most Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers have little trial experience. As a result, they avoid trials like the plague. But our team didn’t blink when this case required us to go all the way.

Second, our client was partially at fault, or from the insurance company’s perspective, mostly at fault. The tortfeasor changed lanes unsafely, but our client rolled through a stop sign.

Our lawyers used a combination of the favorable laws in California and evidence in the case to obtain significant compensation. The Golden State is a pure comparative fault state. So, even if a victim is partially responsible for a wreck, compensation is still available. Second, we partnered with an accident reconstruction engineer who convincingly testified that, even if our client hand’s coasted through the stop sign, the tortfeasor’s unsafe lane change would’ve caused a crash.

All bicycle accidents, not just the worst bicycle accidents, cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with experienced personal injury lawyers in California, contact the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.