$900k Jury Verdict Awarded in Bicycle Accident Case

After a recent five day trial, our client was awarded $900,000 by a jury as compensation for his injuries from a bicycle-car accident.

The case, Liu v. Luo, (Docket No. 06-449640) was tried in the San Francisco County Superior Court before the Honorable Katherine Feinstein.

Our client, a 58-year-old cook, had been riding his bicycle at night when he was struck by a car. As a result of the collision, he suffered bilateral hip fractures, multiple rib fractures, pulmonary injuries, a fractured clavicle and a fracture of the right C7 transverse process.

After the accident, the driver of the motor vehicle offered to settle the case for $468,000. Our client, with the help of attorney Bob Allard, decided to take the case to trial.

At the time of the bicycle-car accident, the bicyclist was not using a headlight, which is required under the California Vehicle Code. At trial, the defense took the position that the accident was entirely the bicyclist's fault, because he did not use the headlight as required by law, making it difficult for the driver of the car to see him.

After a two-day deliberation, the jury determined that the accident was only partially the bicyclist's fault and assigned 10 percent comparative negligence to our client. As a result, the jury awarded $900,000 to our client.