Bicyclist Settles Brain Injury Claim Caused By Defective Bikepath

A bicyclist in Seattle, Jeffrey Totten, suffered a severe and permanent brain injury in 2006 as a result of inadequately and defectively maintained bike path reports the Seattle Times, "King County To Pay Brain-Injured Bicyclist $3.5 Million." According to the report, Mr. Totten was an avid bicyclist who had participated in a number of triathlons, regularly rode his bike to work and, on the day of his accident, was training for the 700 mile, 90 hour Paris-Brest-Paris bike tour. While riding on a bike path, his bike struck a hole surrounding a survey marker that had grown deeper with successive paving jobs. Notwithstanding that he was wearing a helmet, he sustained a severe and permanent brain injury.

The bike path was maintained by the county and Mr. Totten filed suit for the injuries caused him by its defective maintenance and condition. The claim was settled for a payment of $3.5 million, which will provide for the necessary care for Mr. Totten for the rest of his life.