You can wear a helmet, reflective clothes, study up on bike laws, and use hand and arm signals, but you can’t predict crazy irresponsible driving by the people around you. What happens if you are an innocent bystander hurt by a road rage driver chasing another car?
That’s what happened to our client. He had been diligent with safety precautions. He was riding with traffic flow, use hand and arm signals, and wear appropriate safety equipment such as reflective materials and a helmet. Although this person had done their part to mitigate risk, it can never be avoided entirely. All of a sudden he was struck by a car and suffered significant injuries, including broken bones and facial injuries. Because of the accident’s severity, the bicycle rider had substantial medical bills, misses work, and was forced to miss time with their friends and family while recovering.
Seems straightforward. The driver ran a stop sign. Just sue the driver right?
Well the driver who struck them was intoxicated at the time of the accident and was underinsured. The car’s driver doesn’t have the assets to cover the massive medical bills and lost wages that the bicycle rider has had to deal with. Does this person have another option to get financial compensation for their injuries?
Why Personal Injury Attorneys Need Every Detail
It turns out there was more the story – much more.
Before the car struck the bicycle, the car was involved in a fender bender with a limousine. After the limo was hit by the car, the limo began to chase the car. The car’s driver panicked and drove through a stop sign which ultimately caused the bicyclist ride to be thrown over 20 feet. This information was derived through an investigation, interviews with witnesses, and dash cam footage.
Although the driver of the car was being held at Folsom prison, he could still be deposed while incarcerated. During that time, he claimed that the limo chased him, was scared, and that the chase was the impetus for him running through a stop sign.
The limo driver and company were responsible for our client’s injuries because they were road rage chasing a drunk driver. You can’t take the law into your own hands. You can’t have a high speed chase with another car over a fender bender. When you chase a vehicle at high speed through intersections, you can be responsible for the consequences even if the other vehicle caused the crash. That is exactly what we argued and as a result we were successful in helping out client.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
At Howell, LLP, we investigate each component of the accident before determining who is liable for your injuries and why. It is not about finding a scapegoat but rather having the ability to understand what happened by looking at it through the lens of the law. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, take the time to meet with a personal injury attorney, regardless of how bleak the outcome may appear at the time. Howell, LLP is committed to assisting you and recovering damages by utilizing every legal opportunity available. Contact us today by scheduling a free case evaluation.