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Crazy SF Bicycle Verdict
49-year-old Leah, while riding her bicycle in downtown San Francisco, collided with a vehicle trying to make a three-point turn, encroaching on the bicycle lane.
Leah admitted that her bicycle struck the vehicle when she was going only 5 to 10 miles an hour. She remained upright, did not lose consciousness, and rode all the way to work.
Later on, she sought medical care.
Leah claimed significant and permanent serious brain and neck injuries that hurt her ability to work as a nurse.
The defendant lawyers instead basically stated, “Who are you kidding?” They argued in court that her problems were pre-existing. She always had anxiety, photophobia, PMDD, depression, and ADHD, which might’ve been true.
Leah’s team made a formal demand for $1 million in July 2024. They raised it to $5 million in October 2025.
Defendant countered with $750,000 in October 2025. They never offered more money.
The jury really liked Leah. The jury awarded a total of $12,102,869 in damages. But they found her 30% negligent, which reduced her award to $8,472,008.30.
Leah’s team hired 5 experts:
- Neuro radiologist
- Neurosurgeon
- Accident reconstruction
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Economist
Defendant hired 7 experts:
- Neuro radiologist
- Spine surgeon
- Life care planner
- Neuropsychologist
- Neurologist
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Economist
This is what trial lawyers call a battle of the experts.This was a massively expensive case for both sides — with a massive judgment against the defendant.
Defendant will not only have to pay the full amount of money, because the verdict ran millions of dollars over $5 million from their last demand. The defendant will have to pay for all the experts, plus 10% interest on the award and other court costs.
You’ve got to love San Francisco juries.
Leah vs. Harrington
San Francisco Superior Court, December 8, 2025
The Hon. Victor M. Hwang presiding.
Pro Tips
- Blaming the victim for pre-existing injuries often doesn’t work—and can backfire by turning the jury against the defendant.
- Bicyclists are always vulnerable when sharing the road with cars. Many jurors strongly empathize with an injured cyclist.
- Brain injuries (TBIs) are taken seriously by most juries. In this case, it took a tremendous amount of evidence—and significant $$$$$—to prove to the jury just how serious the injury was.
- We will discuss a comprehensive TBI treatment program at our upcoming Annual PI Masters Seminar
- Most important, the plaintiff must be enormously sympathetic to the jury. If you like your patient, chances are the jury will too.
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