Settlement of $290,000 is Reach After Virginia Cyclist is Injured by Driver Who Left the Scene

Inexperienced drivers often make mistakes when they are driving near cyclists. This was illustrated in a recent case filed in Chesterfield County Circuit Court in which a driver who had just turned 18, hit a bicyclist.

Virginia Lawyers Weekly reported the cyclist was riding his bicycle on April 2, 2012 in the direction of traffic on the right of the road. The young driver hit him from behind and fled the scene.

Later the driver returned to the accident scene with his mother. He told a police officer he thought he had hit a mailbox or a trash can. He also claimed he had been dazzled by the high-beam lights of an oncoming car. The police officer did not issue him a ticket at the scene.

The cyclist suffered some serious injuries including a nondisplaced midshaft clavicle fracture and a Grade III open segmental fibula fracture with a laceration on his calf. His calf injury required several surgical procedures and he ultimately had a skin graft. He continues to suffer swelling and pain in his leg.

The plaintiff’s lawyers subpoenaed the driver’s cellphone records, which showed he was on his cell phone at the time of the accident.

The case was settled before a trial for $290,000. The attorney for the plaintiff was Kelly B. Martin from Richmond. All cases are different and we cannot guarantee the same result in your case.

Our Norfolk injury lawyers have dealt with a number of cases in which cyclists have been injured. Cyclists and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable of road users in urban and rural Virginia and drivers often fail to give them the space they need. See our attorneys’ information on accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians in Virginia. Call Cooper Hurley at 757.455.0077.