$________ Motor Vehicle Negligence – Auto/bicycle collision – Plaintiff bike rider/homeless man is struck by side view mirror of car when defendant swerves onto shoulder – Shattered right arm.

Morris County, NJ

The plaintiff bicyclist contended that as he was riding northbound, and on the shoulder, the defendant, traveling in a southerly direction, became distracted, and swerved onto the shoulder, striking the plaintiff with the side view mirror of his car. The plaintiff, who was homeless, and not covered by insurance, could not initially satisfy medical bills, and had difficulties securing representation. The plaintiff maintained that the force of the impact was so great it knocked him off of his bicycle and shattered his right arm. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery for a Gaelezzi type fracture, as well as a dislocation of the right forearm via plating of the radial shaft fracture. The treatment also involved a closed reduction, leaving him with an approximate 12cm scar along the volar aspect of the proximal forearm.

The evidence reflected that because of his personal situation, his medical bills had not been paid, and he could not follow up with any doctors for post-surgical therapy.The plaintiff’s counsel agreed to take the case, arranged for all of his bills to be paid, including some \ NJPLIGA and others by Charity Care, and after securing deposition testimony from witnesses and of the parties, the case settled prior to trial for $________.