Oakland – Lake v. Chen

Oakland – Lake v. Chen

Bicycle Accident

This case involved an automobile versus bicycle collision that occurred in Oakland. Ms. Lake was riding her bike down a residential street in Oakland, that contained shallow bike lane markings, when Mr. Chen, who was parked on the right side, suddenly and without warning flung his driver side door into the path of Ms. Lake’s oncoming bicycle. Ms. Lake was unable to avoid striking the car door. She was thrown over her handlebars and landed on her face, sustaining serious injuries to her jaw, nose and teeth. The matter had to be litigated because Mr. Chen denied fault, arguing that Ms. Lake was riding too close to his car door. Heinrich Law proved this wasn’t true, and the matter was resolved for $375,000 at mediation.