Getting around New York City is tough enough when drivers follow the rules and tougher still when motorists break them. Negligent drivers may not intend to cause an accident. However, at-fault drivers are responsible for damages.
A 56-year-old Staten Island man recently hit the jackpot. He and his son are sharing a $136 million lottery win. The older winner’s share of the lump sum prize is over $38 million, some of which he might have to pay to an injured bicyclist.
The 40-year-old bicyclist, a Spotify executive, fractured both elbows in May after the bike he was riding slammed into an open truck door. The Ford F-150 pick-up truck driver who allegedly opened that door without caution was the father who hit the Powerball lottery.
The defendant in the personal injury case wasn’t the multi-millionaire he would be later at the time of the Brooklyn bicycle accident. The lawsuit was filed five days after the plumber struck it rich.
According to the complaint, the driver “forcefully” swung open the truck door causing a sudden barrier for the bicyclist. The rider was injured after he struck the open door and fell “violently” to the ground. The accident victim required elbow surgery.
The personal injury lawsuit alleges the crash caused more than physical harm. The plaintiff claimed his profession also suffered “substantial injury.” News reports didn’t offer any further details about the accident’s effects on the bicyclist’s work.
The complaint also stated the now-wealthy truck driver made light of the crash when the bicyclist’s wife contacted him about the accident. The driver also is accused of hanging up on a law enforcement officer who phoned him about crash details.
Personal injury attorneys assess accident claims and identify possible sources of compensation. A negligent driver can be ordered to pay for losses suffered by accident victims, including medical expenses for serious injuries and wage losses.
Source: SILive.com, “$136M Powerball winner is sued by bicyclist over accident,” Ryan Lavis, June 22, 2015
