A 51 year-old cyclist was riding his bicycle in a designated bicycle lane in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco when a driver made right turn into a hotel parking lot.
The driver crossed into the bike lane, without warning, cutting off the cyclist and causing very serious personal injuries. Although the cyclist attempted to avoid the negligent driver by braking, he was unable to do so and was forced into the side of the car and thrown over the hood onto the street.
The accident resulted in serious injuries including six broken ribs and a broken collarbone. The driver apologized repeatedly at the scene of the accident, saying he didn’t see the cyclist. However, later (once represented by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies) he tried to claim that the cyclist was “riding too fast” such that he couldn’t see him coming in the bike lane and that is why he turned right in front of the cyclist.
The San Francisco bicycle injury attorney team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers hired an accident reconstruction expert who presented a report proving that the cyclist could not have been traveling more than the posted speed limit and that the motorist was at fault for the accident for failing to make a safe right turn into the parking lot.
The cyclist sought payment of his medical expenses and money for the pain and suffering he endured due to his injuries and his recovery from the accident. He chose to settle for the fair amount of $135,000 just four months after having completed his medical treatment.
