$4.85M Settlement to Bicyclist Hurt On Poorly-Kept City Sidewalk

A California man has reached a $4.85 million settlement with the City of San Diego in connection to severe injuries he suffered in 2014 when he crashed while riding his bicycle on a sidewalk that had been lifted by large tree roots.

The victim, Clifford Brown, landed on his head and tore spinal cord ligaments, lost several teeth and suffered a possible stroke when he and his 21-speed Schwinn bicycle were “launched” about 28 feet by a sidewalk that was raised up due to underground tree roots in the Del Cerro neighborhood of the city according to a March 1 story by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Brown spent nearly a month in a hospital being treated for his injuries and then spent two months in a skilled nursing facility, the story reported. He has been receiving home health care visits since the crash.

The plaintiff’s lawsuit argued the city “should have taken ‘corrective measures’ to eliminate the 7-inch sidewalk ramp that a tree root had created on the east side of College Avenue just south of Eldergardens Street,” according to the story. “The suit also notes that the city didn’t post a warning sign or any other indication to bicyclists and pedestrians that they were approaching a dangerous situation.”

Brown filed his lawsuit in 2015, the story reported.

Photo credit: iStockphoto.com/alexskopje

These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle incident or accident anywhere in the United States.

We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

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