Avis employee hits a bicyclist with SUV. $5.2M. Los Angeles County.

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
The Vartazarian Law Firm by Steven Vartazarian and Matthew Whibley, Sherman Oaks.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Homan & Stone by Gene Stone, Redlands.

Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Jennifer Sohal, M.D., orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles.
Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
William Dillin, M.D., orthopedic surgery, Los Angeles.
Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Henricus Jansen, accident reconstruction.
Defendant's Technical Expert(s):
Jon Landerville, accident reconstruction.

Facts and Background:
On July 10, 2013, plaintiff was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk in the opposite direction of street traffic. Defendant driver, in the course and scope of employment with Avis, was exiting a parking lot intending on turning right. As plaintiff passed in front of the parking lot exit, defendant ran into plaintiff’s left side with his SUV.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That defendant driver was negligent.
Defendant's Contentions:
Defendant alleged that plaintiff was not paying attention and recklessly rode her bicycle in front of the defendant’s SUV.

Defendant denied liability for the collision and disputed the nature and extent of the injuries and damages suffered by plaintiff.

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Plaintiff had a thoracic disc herniation as a result of the incident that required two spine surgeries: a discectomy and a fusion. She also had physical therapy. The thoracic disc herniation went undiagnosed for several months (her doctors incorrectly believed it was her lumbar spine that she injured). Plaintiff’s injuries were severe. She suffered bowel and bladder incontinence for two years before it resolved, and has ongoing reduced ability to use her left leg. She can walk, but will most likely have a permanent limp.

According to defense counsel:

The case was mediated but plaintiff never reduced her demand below $10,000,000 and would not negotiate at all after plaintiff's second surgery.