title
Meagan Lamothe v. City of Gainesville; Case No. 2015-CA-3399; Eighth Judicial Circuit, in and for Alachua County, Florida. (NB)
recommendation
The City Commission 1) approve the terms of the negotiated settlement agreement; and 2) authorize the City Attorney to settle the claim of Meagan Lamothe arising from an accident that occurred on or about June 17, 2014.
explanation
On June 17, 2014, Ms. Meagan Lamothe, a student at the University of Florida, was riding her bicycle westbound in the designated bicycle lane on Museum Road, on the campus of the University of Florida. A Regional Transit System bus was also traveling west on Museum Road, and had passed Ms. Lamothe a few minutes prior to the accident. The bus stopped at a marked bus stop immediately east of Fraternity Row to allow a passenger to disembark. The bus waited for the passenger to cross Fraternity Row on foot prior to departing the bus stop to turn right onto Fraternity Row. As the bus proceeded to turn right, Ms. Lamothe had already begun to pass the bus with the intention of traveling straight on Museum Road. The bus driver appeared to activate the right turn signal after Ms. Lamothe had pulled even with the bus. Consequently, the bus struck Ms. Lamothe in the intersection, and pinned her under the weight of the bus. Gainesville Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, and used air bags to lift the bus and extricate Ms. Lamothe, who was transported to Shands Hospital for emergency care.
Among other injuries and damages, Ms. Lamothe suffered severe injuries to her right thigh and left ankle. Including the emergency care, surgical intervention, and necessary physical therapy and rehabilitation, Ms. Lamothe incurred medical bills through April 2015 totaling $464,235.57. Her attorney reports that there are outstanding liens of over $295,000. If this case were to proceed to trial, the past medical bills would be only a part of the damages Ms. Lamothe would seek to recover. The perma...
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