Orange County. Bicycle accident. Plaintiff was a student at UCI. He was riding his bicycle to campus. He was riding on the sidewalk and was approaching a driveway into a private parking lot. Defendant was exiting the parking lot and was stopped in the driveway looking for a break in traffic so that she could make a left hand turn. Plaintiff passed on the sidewalk in front of Defendant's vehicle. As Plaintiff passed, Defendant pulled out of the driveway apron and began to make her left turn, striking the Plaintiff's bicycle. Plaintiff suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his left knee. The fracture was non-surgical. 

Plaintiff tried to handle the claim himself initially. The insurance company for the driver denied liability and therefore denied the claim.  He contacted my office one week before the statute of limitations was set to expire. My office filed suit, took all relevant depositions, and hired the necessary accident reconstruction expert and orthopedic surgeon expert. Defendant's insurance company initially offered $6,000. The case settled for $75,000 about two months prior to trial.