Three years ago, a bicycle accident on a Seattle bridge turned physically strong and active attorney Mickey Gendler into a quadriplegic. He was recently awarded $8 million from the state, the highest payout to an individual since 2003.
I have found that representing bicyclists for highway design cases, or even when they are struck by negligent drivers poses tremendous challenges. Most jurors are not avid bicylists. Those that are are usually excluded by the defense. Common juror attitudes toward bicylists on the road include the idea that “they don’t follow the rules of the road” and “they make me nervous” and “they should stay out of the way of cars” and the like.
But when the City of Seattle, for instance, puts a bicycle pathway or extends the Burke Gilman Trail in Ballard on a road where old and abandoned railroad tracks are located, the chances of a bicyclist having his tires caught in the tracks is pretty high and has caused numerous serious accidents, including a man I am representing.
A recent article in the Seattle Times describes a similar accident involving a Seattle attorney Mickey Gendler. His attorneys did a fantastic job of representing him and obtained a terrific settlement. Here is the link:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013265574_gendler27m.html
JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMESMickey Gendler now spends most of his time at home in Seattle after being seriously injured in a cycling accident in 2007.
JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Caregiver Suzanne Walker helps Mickey Gendler in his Seattle home. Gendler, a quadriplegic, relies heavily on such help from two caregivers to get through the day.