Why Did Jury Award Bicyclist $9.1 Million

1. WHY DID JURY AWARD BICYCLIST $9.1 MILLION In late September, a jury ordered the city of Los Angeles and Caltrans to pay a man $9.1 million for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident on the Pacific Coast Highway. In their decision, the jury ruled that both Caltrans and the city of Los Angeles were responsible for failing to clear the pavement of debris, which altered the victim’s path and resulted in the accident. While the victim experienced a brain injury from the accident, he was wise to leverage the skill and expertise of a personal injury attorney to protect his interests and secure the compensation to which he was entitled. In this issue, The Law Office of Ramtin Sadighim will discuss the said case in more detail and the necessary steps that should be taken if you or a loved one is involved in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles. EVEN EXPERIENCED CYCLISTS NEED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS The victim in the above case was an experienced bicyclist who regularly rode his bike to work. While riding back home, he obeyed signs instructing cyclists to use the shoulder of the highway. After approaching a pile of debris on the pavement, he had to steer into the travel lane. While in the travel lane, he hit the side mirror of a truck and lost control of his bike. The crash left him with irreversible brain damage.

2. WHO WAS AT FAULT? Even though Caltrans owns the stretch of highway, they hire the city of Los Angeles to sweep it clear of debris at least once per month. During the trial, however, city street sweepers testified in court they routinely ignored gravel and rock debris in the road. Eventually, the jury found the city of Los Angeles to be 60 percent responsible for the accident and Caltrans 40 percent liable. IF INVOLVED IN A BICYCLE ACCIDENT It’s always a good idea to have a cellphone with you while riding your bicycle so that you can call for help, take photographs, and record information, if and when necessary. Regardless of how mild you feel your injuries may be, call the police. It’s important that a record of the events be made as soon as possible, and one of the best ways to ensure that is via police report completed at the scene of accident. In addition to making sure you have a copy of the incident report, be sure to get a business card of the responding officer. Look for witnesses and get their contact information. If your cellphone has a voice recorder app, use it to record their name, contact information, and their thoughts on the accident. Photograph the scene of the accident. Be sure to photograph your injuries and damage caused to your bicycle. Immediately seek medical attention. Even if you don’t feel as if you’ve experienced a serious injury, symptoms can take a while show. Through a full examination, a doctor will be able to document your condition, which is vital to prevailing in legal action. Speak very little to the other persons involved in the accident. Beyond obtaining the at-fault person’s name, contact information, and insurance provider, say nothing to the person who caused the accident. Get in touch with personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible. IF YOU ARE INJURED IN A BICYCLE ACCIDENT IN LOS ANGELES, CALL RAMTIN SADIGHIM

3. As one of the leading Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, Ramtin Sadighim will make sure your unfortunate circumstance is represented with utmost integrity and persistence for the best possible outcome. For further information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim at 888-999-8744 or visit www.CaliAccidentAttorney.com.