Significant Settlement in Michigan Bicycle Accident Case

Bicycle accidents sometimes result in significant payments to injured victims. For example, in April 2016, Royal Oak, Michigan, agreed to pay $300,000 to a bicyclist injured when her bike hit an uneven part of a sidewalk.

Details of Accident

In May 2012, the 49-year-old Royal Oak woman was biking underneath the Grand Trunk Railroad viaduct along the north side of 13 Mile Road. When she reached a sidewalk section two-inches higher than the section preceding it, she fell off her bike and broke her hip.

In a 2013 lawsuit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, attorneys for the bicyclist also alleged that the accident had aggravated previous back problems, and they sought compensation for her pain, suffering and lost wages.

City Appeals

However, after a circuit court ruled in the injured bicyclist’s favor, attorneys for the city appealed the case to the Michigan State Court of Appeals. However, the appellate court refused to overturn the circuit court’s decision. The case went before a retired judge who helped the parties come to a final agreement.

According to the Oakland Press News, the uneven sidewalk was repaired after the accident.

Although every case is unique, a failure to properly maintain public property may constitute evidence of negligence in certain cases. When a person suffers an injury, it is often possible to seek compensation for certain medical expenses, pain, suffering and lost wages.

If you or a family member is a victim in a bicycle accident, it is possible to review the details of your case with a bicycle accident attorney. There is no charge for this consultation. To learn more, please contact us.