Minami Tamaki LLP Partner B. Mark Fong and Senior Associate Seema Bhatt recovered a $3.85 million dollar settlement for a 52-year-old cyclist who was struck by a car while riding to his job as an aircraft cleaner at San Francisco International Airport.

The initial facts of the case were unfavorable. Based on witness statements the police concluded our client ran the red light, causing him to be struck by the defendant, a Canadian citizen driving a rental car. Our client also tested positive for methamphetamine at the hospital.

Through tenacious investigation, we were able to obtain security video from the airport that showed our client entered the intersection on a green light, and the driver struck him before he had a chance to clear it. Based on this, the police prepared an amended report which found the driver at fault for the crash. We also argued the drug in our client’s system did not cause the driver to run the red light.

Our client suffered significant orthopedic injuries and bleeding on his brain in the crash. His case was further complicated when he suffered a stroke two years after the crash, which could have been caused by his methamphetamine use. At mediation, Mark and Seema obtained a settlement of $3.85 million dollars for the client, which will allow him to fulfill his dream of reuniting his family in the United States.