Minneapolis Bicycle Accident Attorneys Win Verdict in Wrongful Death Case
For Immediate Release
Contact: Attorney Fred Pritzker
Phone: 612-338-0202
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman of PritzkerOlsen, P.A. obtained a significant verdict from a Hennepin County, MN, jury on April 14, 2011 in a tragic bicycle accident wrongful death case. 53-year old bicyclist Julie Casey was killed on August 15, 2008 when she was run over by the rear wheels of the trailer of a right-turning tractor-trailer at a busy intersection. The consensus of the investigating police officers had been that Ms. Casey should have seen the truck and that the accident occurred because Ms. Casey was unable to remove her feet from her new clipless bicycle pedals.
PritzkerOlsen’s investigation of the case revealed, however, that the accident had not occurred as the truck driver had initially claimed. After obtaining the truck driver’s logbooks, Pritzker and Hageman were able to determine that there were numerous falsifications, which should have caused the driver to be out of service at the time of the accident. The falsifications in the logbook, which cast doubt on the truck driver’s account of the accident, were compounded when he repeated them under oath at his deposition. Moreover, the deposition revealed that the truck driver had failed to monitor his right outside mirrors during his turn, which is crucial due to the significant “off-tracking” which occurs. This failure was compounded by the truck driver’s admission that he believed he was pulling a 48-foot trailer, as opposed to a 53-foot trailer.
“Never give up on a case without doing your own investigation,” Hageman said. “You can’t fully evaluate a case until you know all of the facts.”
At trial, the defense asserted that Ms. Casey was primarily at fault because she had fallen off her bike prior to getting run over, should have seen the semi and did not have the right-of-way. The jury disagreed. After an eight-day trial, the jury found 70% fault on the truck driver and 30% fault on Ms. Casey and awarded her heirs and next of kin $2,469,339 in damages.
“Our clients are extremely pleased with this result,” said Pritzker. “While no amount of money will ever make up for the terrible loss they have endured, they are thrilled that someone has been held accountable for Julie Casey’s death.”
Minneapolis bicycle accident attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman can be reached at 612-338-0202. PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a Minneapolis, MN personal injury and wrongful death law firm that represents accident victims and their families throughout Minnesota, including in the following cities: Minnesota Cities: Twin Cities, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Moorhead, Mankato, Brainerd, Bloomington, Eagan, Eden Prarie, Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Edina, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Stillwater, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Austin, Worthington, Woodbury, Maplewood, Golden Valley, Shoreview, Blaine, Anoka, South St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Roseville, St. Cloud, Arden Hills, Brooklyn Park, Forest Lake.
Tags: Minneapolis Bicycle Accident, Wrongful Death Bicycle MN