A massive motorcycle accident settlement, one of the most costly in Oakland’s history, was recently awarded to a motorist who was hit by a police car early last year.

The motorcycle accident settlement is set to be approved for $12 million.

Motorcycle driver Elliot Van Fleet, according to the East Bay Express, was riding his motorcycle in downtown Oakland in March 2017. He was driving through a green light at Broadway and 19th when he was allegedly struck by a vehicle that had driven through a red light.

That vehicle that hit Van Fleet was a Ford SUV police car driven by a police officer. That officer was “in violation of police policy” when he ran the light, the East Bay Express notes.

Van Fleet was launched from his motorcycle during the collision and he suffered from major injuries including a fractured pelvis and vertebrae. Later, at the hospital, medical personnel had to amputate his lower left leg.

The proposed recipient of the motorcycle accident settlement has been unable to work since the accident, he claims. His medical bills, Van Fleet claims, were in much greater excess than $500,000 and wonders if he will need to pay out more in the future for continuing medical costs.

Oakland Police and PPP

The Oakland Police Department’s police pursuit policy states that a police officer cannot run a red light without stopping, even while in pursuit. The East Bay Express notes that it has not been clarified if the officer involved in the motor accident was re-trained or disciplined or if the city was able to find the officer guilty of violating police pursuit policy or breaking the law.

When the news outlet contacted the Oakland Police for comments, they referred the Express to their attorney’s office and claimed they did not comment on disciplinary action involving a single police officer.

This new $12 million motorcycle accident settlement may be the largest in the history of Oakland. In the last three years, the city has paid out $26,478,638 to settle over one hundred lawsuits. Even though this motorcycle accident settlement is upwards of $12 million involving the police department, most of the $26.5 million in settlements are due to Oakland’s public works department.

Oakland residents often sue the city for slip and fall accidents and other personal injury accidents due to unsafe environments such as broken sidewalks and unsafe streets. These residents often allege they were injured or sustained property damage as a result of negligence on the part of the city in some way.

The most costly of the personal injury lawsuits against the city of Oakland involve the police department, paying out $19 million in settlements, including Van Fleet’s motorcycle accident settlement, since 2015. In contrast, Oakland public works has paid less than $5 million in personal injury settlements.

Aside from Van Fleet’s motorcycle accident settlement, others that have sued the Oakland police department include the survivors of Bien Cam Tran, who was walking across E. 12th Street in Oakland when a police car fatally struck him in 2014.  From his injuries, Tran died and his family sued the police department for reckless actions. This personal injury lawsuit was settled for $2.5 million.

If you believe that you or someone close to you has been injured in a motorcycle accident or other personal accident, you may be eligible for a motorcycle accident settlement or other personal injury settlement from the responsible parties.