A Los Angeles motorcyclist will receive $6.1 million from the city of Los Angeles for injuries he suffered in a 2015 crash. According to reports, Philip Ramon Alvarez was riding his motorcycle in San Pedro when he struck several potholes on Western Ave. The hazardous road conditions caused him to crash. He suffered severe injuries in the accident.
In his lawsuit, Alvarez claimed the potholes had been caused by surveying equipment utilized by city employees. In order to avoid a large jury award, council members unanimously agreed to issue a payment of more than $6 million to put the motorcycle accident lawsuit to rest.
Generally speaking, the government is immune from personal injury lawsuits. However, the government can be sued if its own negligence – or the negligence of its employees – creates a dangerous or hazardous situation. More specifically, the government can be liable for injuries if it knew or should have known about a dangerous condition, but failed to provide a warning or fix the hazard.
Here, Philip Alvarez was involved in a severe motorcycle accident because of road conditions in a Los Angeles neighborhood. The roads were in bad condition because city employees used surveying equipment. The equipment caused the roads to break down and generated potholes.
Potholes can be incredibly dangerous, particularly for smaller two-wheeled vehicles. When the front tire of a motorcycle hits a pothole, the bike can:
Any of these outcomes can put motorcyclists at an increased risk of severe and fatal injuries. Some studies even suggest that the impact of hitting a pothole on a motorcycle is similar to being in an accident while driving 35 MPH.
Ideally, motorcyclists should be able to navigate their bikes around any potholes that exist on the road. However, this can be difficult for a number of reasons.
Changing Lanes Suddenly Is Dangerous: Los Angeles roads are busy. MOtorcyclists typically aren’t riding alone. They’re right alongside other, often larger, vehicles. When a motorcyclist sees a pothole, there may not be much space for them to maneuver around it. If a motorcyclist changes lanes suddenly, they risk hitting (or being hit by) another vehicle or creating a hazard themselves.
Roads Have Multiple Potholes: In his lawsuit, Alvarez claimed that he hit a “series” of potholes on Western Ave in San Pedro. Even though he may have been able to avoid one or two potholes, others were still in his path.
Potholes Aren’t Always Obvious: Potholes don’t have to be deep to create a hazardous situation for motorcyclists. Some potholes are relatively shallow. It can be difficult for a motorcyclist to see these potholes, especially when they’re focused on traffic and other vehicles around them.
Alvarez will receive $6.1 million to settle his motorcycle accident lawsuit. The money is paid to cover damages he has incurred because of the accident. Damages that are recoverable after a Los Angeles motorcycle accident include:
If Alvarez is temporarily or permanently disabled, the financial award can be used to compensate for his reduced earning capacity.
Joshua W. Glotzer is a Super Lawyers-recognized personal injury attorney and Managing Partner at Glotzer & Leib, LLP. With over 25 years of experience and multiple seven-figure recoveries, he handles complex cases involving car accidents, slip and falls, and elder abuse. Known for his personalized, results-driven approach, Glotzer ensures every client receives the skilled representation they deserve.
“Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.
His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”
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