Man Injured in Crosswalk Recovers $15 Million in Brain Damage Lawsuit

The city of Los Angeles agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit by a man who was struck by a vehicle while crossing a Hollywood crosswalk. The accident caused the victim, John V., to suffer severe brain damage.

John was gravely injured while crossing Franklin Avenue in Los Angles, California. The attorneys who filed the brain damage lawsuit argued that the city was partially responsible for the accident because it failed to address the hazardous conditions at that intersection.

Many individuals know brain damage can be one of the most complicated medical conditions to be diagnosed immediately after an accident. Unfortunately, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders may be at a higher risk of developing brain damage after a severe accident due to their lack of protections that are afforded to passengers and drivers inside a vehicle.

Injuries Alleged in Los Angeles Brain Damage Lawsuit

The crash in Los Angeles put the plaintiff in a coma for several months and left him to cope with permanent brain damage. The plaintiff and his mother jointly sued both the city and the driver involved, arguing that traffic laws were not enforced appropriately and that the intersection itself was poorly designed.

Their personal injury attorneys argued that the markings for the crosswalk and warning signs for the intersection were in the wrong locations or were obscured in such a way that increased the chances of a severe pedestrian accident. The plaintiffs argued that the area had such significant accident history, that the city could have reasonably foreseen that an individual crossing that intersection would be struck by a motor vehicle.

When the city is responsible for sidewalks, crosswalks, and other city-managed features, the injuries sustained by a victim due to lack of maintenance or dangerous conditions may serve as the basis for a claim that the city is liable.

Los Angeles City Council approved the personal injury settlement last week and stipulated that the payment will be spread out over the course of three years. John is a military veteran who served in Afghanistan and now requires 24/7 care because of the severe brain damage tied to the accident.

City Settles Other Brain Damage Lawsuits

Unfortunately, this is not the first type of expensive settlement that the city of Los Angeles has faced over accidents resulting in brain damage.

The Council recently approved a $7.5 million settlement to end a bicyclist’s personal injury lawsuit when the cyclist became a quadriplegic after falling from his bicycle because his wheel hit an area of damaged pavement. Another cyclist who suffered severe brain damage after hitting a pothole was recently able to recover $6.5 million in a settlement.

If you or someone you know has recently been involved in an accident, and sustained brain damage or other catastrophic personal injuries, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit with the help of the attorneys at Bradley/Grombacher.

Fill out the form on this page now for a FREE case evaluation.