Tractor-trailer strikes bicyclists, killing one and injuring the other. $182,000 verdict for injured cyclist. Los Angeles County.

Facts and Background

• Facts and Background:

  Plaintiff, age 16, was riding her bicycle eastbound with her boyfriend on the south sidewalk of Del Amo Boulevard in Dominguez Hills.  They rode into the crosswalk to cross the street.  Defendant Zambrano, operating a tractor trailer owned by his employer, Ruan Transport Corp., was making a right turn from southbound Susana Road to westbound Del Amo when he struck the bicyclists in the crosswalk, killing plaintiff's boyfriend and injuring plainitff Montana, who was thrown from her bicycle into the intersection.

• Plaintiff's Contentions:

  That defendant stopped for the red signal for southbound traffic 5 feet past the limit line and therefore was not legally able to negotiate a right turn on red; that he did so without adequately checking for pedestrians or bicyclists on the sidewalk, thereby entitling plaintiff to be given a negligence per se instruction, which was given by the Court.

  Although a Los Angeles County ordinance prohibits bicyclists from riding on the sidewalk, the California Supreme Court has held in dicta that the only class of persons sought to be protected by the ordinance are other pedestrians, and therefore no negligence per se instruction was appropriate. Since the bicyclists were on the sidewalk and in the crosswalk, signals for traffic on the roadway did not apply to them, and the pedestrian walk/don’t walk signals also did not apply to bicyclists. Although there were obstructions to the field of vision of the driver, the bicyclists were visible to him from his cab for more than 5 seconds before the impact with plaintiff’s bicycle.

  That plaintiff was entitled to emotional distress she suffered as a result of the accident and from seeing her boyfriend killed. The Court ruled that she could recover only for emotional distress arising from her physical injuries.

• Defendant's Contentions:

  That the driver came to a stop as required by law, and looked for oncoming traffic and at the sidewalk. His vision was obstructed by a fence, shrubs and a tree on the adjoining property. That plaintiff should not have been riding on the side of the street facing traffic; she had a red signal when she entered the crosswalk. That plaintiff’s claimed injuries and emotional distress were exaggerated.

  That regarding the Los Angeles County ordinance, the dicta ruling did not say what the court believed it said. Therefore, the bicyclist could not comply with or be deemed to have violated any vehicle or traffic code because bicyclists were not supposed to be on the sidewalk to begin with. (That issue has been preserved for appeal.)