LA Pays $7 Million to Settle Suit by Volunteer Crippled at Triathlon
By Jim Greene
Published on April 09, 2010
A $7 million payment by the city of Los Angeles has settled a lawsuit brought by a man who claims he became a paraplegic because of a police officer's error. According to the suit, the officer directed a car to turn into the path of the plaintiff's motorcycle while he was volunteering at the 2007 Los Angeles Triathlon.
Steve Albala, then 60, was helping direct the bicycle portion of the event on his motorcycle on the day of the motorcycle accident. According to the lawsuit, Albala had 40 years' experience riding motorcycles and frequently joined other members of his motorcycle club in volunteering for community events.
Suit Claims Vertebral Fracture Required Several Surgeries
Thrown 20 feet by the collision with the car, Albala suffered a vertebral fracture and was hospitalized for more than two years, according to his suit, and had to endure several surgeries.
His wife Sheri said Albala had been looking forward to the chance to ride from the coast to downtown Los Angeles without concern for auto traffic. She said he suffered not only physically because of the accident, but also emotionally, deprived of the opportunity to continue his community activities. She said he not only volunteered with his motorcycle club, but also at the couple's Chatsworth synagogue, and with an organization that sends packages to American military personnel stationed in Iraq.
Attorney Says Police Report Blamed Plaintiff for Collision
Plaintiff's attorney Douglas Aberle said the police report of the accident blamed Albala, claiming he was speeding at the time.
The city also paid $250,000 to a triathlon official who was a passenger on Albala's motorcycle and $500,000 to the driver of the car involved in the collision.
If you or someone you know was injured in a traffic collision that was not your fault, contact an experienced attorney. You may be eligible for financial compensation to help you deal with medical expenses, physical therapy, loss of income and benefits, and pain and suffering.
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