Minnesota Attorneys of the Year Win Accolades for Bicycle Accident Verdict
Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman of our law firm. have been named “Attorneys of the Year” by Minnesota Lawyer. Each year Minnesota Lawyer recognizes the best achievements in the Minnesota legal profession with the Attorneys of the Year awards presentation.
Pritzker and Hageman won this coveted award for their a hard-fought win in a bicycle accident wrongful death case on behalf of the heirs and next-of-kin of a bicyclist, Julie Casey, who was killed on August 15, 2008 when she was run over by the rear wheels of the trailer of a right-turning semi-trailer at a busy intersection. One of the significant aspects of this case is that, at the outset, the case did not look promising, but Pritzker and Hageman won a $2,469,339 verdict.
Following Ms. Casey’s death, the the investigating police officers determined that she was at fault for accident, but Pritzker and Hageman’s investigation of the case revealed that the truck driver:
- Had failed to monitor his right outside mirrors at all during his turn
- Believed he was pulling a 48-foot trailer, as opposed to a 53-foot trailer
- Falsified his driver’s log book.
“Eric and I are proud of the result in this case,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “The insurance company refused to offer any settlement. We believed strongly in our case and worked hard to prove it. The result brought closure to the family and helped them move on.”
Fred and Eric can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form.
Pritzker and Hageman Named Attorneys of the Year
Minneapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents on the Rise
In 2010 Minneapolis was named the nation’s “best city for bicycling” by Bicycle Magazine. We would like to see it become the safest bicycling city in the nation. In spite of a bicycle-friendly culture and designated bicycle lanes Minneapolis bicycle and pedestrian accidents are on the rise. On average, every year 8 people are killed in bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Minnesota.
Summer has not even started and we are halfway to the yearly average. Just in the last two weeks the following accidents were reported:
- Minneapolis Pedestrian Accident: A pedestrian was injured when hit by a pickup truck near Target Field.
- Uptown: A taxi cab hit four people while they were crossing the street at Hennepin Avenue and Lake street in Minneapolis, in the crosswalk. One woman was killed.
- Dinkytown: A hit-and-run driver struck three pedestrians, killing one and injuring the other two.
- Dinkytown: A bicyclist was hit and killed by a right turning truck at 15th Avenue SE and 4th Street SE.
- Winona Bicycle Accident: A 73-year-old woman was killed in a bicycle – school bus collision. The bicyclist was in the bike lane on Sarnia Street when a 2003 International school bus made a wide left turn from Chippewa Street onto Sarnia, hitting and killing the bicyclist.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the number one contributing factor to bicycle – pedestrian – motor vehicle accidents is failure to yield. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians share the blame:
- Motorists fail to be observant of bicycles and pedestrian.
- Bicyclists disregard traffic signals and do not obey the rules of the road.
- Pedestrians disregard traffic signals and jaywalk in congested areas.
With the warmer weather, drivers need to exercise more caution as they drive. Then, even though the law is on their side, pedestrians and cyclists need to be alert and watch out for themselves.
Attorney Fred Pritzker is an avid bicyclist and he knows how to get injured cyclists the compensation they deserve. If you were injured in a Minneapolis bicycle accident, a Minnesota bicycle accident lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. will meet you wherever it is convenient for you. For a free consultation with a Minnesota bicycle accident attorney, please call 612-338-0202 or submit our free consultation form.
$2.4 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit over Fatal Bicycle Accident
A $2.4 million dollar settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Menlo Park1:
Deborah Johnson, 54, was riding her bike with a friend on Sand Hill Road on a Sunday afternoon in July 2007 when she fell and struck her head. She was taken to Stanford University Medical Center, and pronounced dead two days later.
Her husband, John Gerrity, told The Daily News that Johnson’s friend saw her fall from her bike after hitting an object in the bike lane — the flat black octagonal rubber base of a “candlestick” delineator that had become separated from its plastic orange pole. The lane divider should never have been there in the first place, he said.
Mr. Gerrity is now advocating for safer bike lanes and strict adherence to state and federal regulations:
According to the federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, used by road managers nationwide, “posts or raised pavement markers should not be used to separate bicycle lanes from adjacent travel lanes.” The same notation is made in the state’s adaptation of the manual.
The underlying problem with this and hundreds of other accidents is inadequate and poorly enforced safety regulations for construction zones, particularly temporary work zones.
1. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_15280180?nclick_check=1
Jeep-Bicycle Accident Injures Minnesota Bicyclist
A bicyclist from Afton, Minnesota was hit and injured by a Jeep Wrangler in Star Prairie, Wisconsin on Saturday. The bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was hospitalized.
Head injury is the most common serious injury in bicycle crashes with motor vehicles. Head injuries cause traumatic brain injury (TBI), a type of injury in which the victim does not always recover. Using a helmet while biking can prevent serious TBI; however, we have had clients that suffered serious TBI even though they were wearing a helmet.
Minnesota law does not require bicyclists to wear a helmet, but helmets can prevent serious injury and death. Your bicycle helmet should fit properly and be worn the correct way. For more information on fitting a helmet, go to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute or State Bicycle Advisory Committee website.
Semi-Trailer-Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Minnesota
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman are currently representing the family of a wife and mother who was killed by a semi trailer that ran into the woman while she was riding her bicycle. The woman was in the bike lane at the time of the accident. The semi trailer driver said he didn’t see her before he moved into the bike lane to make a turn.
Pritzker Olsen law firm has won millions for people injured in a semi truck accident and for the families of people killed by negligent semi trailer drivers, including several settlement amounts over $2 million dollars.
Other semi-trailer-bicycle accident examples include the following:
- Semi trailer ran through a stop sign;
- Semi traier failed to yield the right of way to the bicycle;
- Semi trailer driver swerved into the bike lane;
- Semi trailer driver was DUI (drunk truck driver) and hit bicyclist;
- Semi trailer driver fell asleep at the wheel;
- Semi trailer driver was speeding and ran over a cyclist;
- Semi trailer driver was talking on his or her cell phone, texting, eating, looking at a map or was otherwise distracted and lost control of the truck;
- Semi trailer hit a bike rider in a parking lot;
- Semi trailer backed over bicycle rider
- Semi-trailer-bicycle accident in a construction zone
For more information, please see our main website, www.pritzkerlaw.com:
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