Clark Memorial Bridge (a.k.a. Second Street Bridge) Car, Bicycle And Pedestrian Accident Results In Serious Injury
38 year old Michael Amick of Louisville sustained serious injuries when a car stuck him after he was knocked into oncoming traffic by a cyclist. Mr. Amick was walking across the Clark Memorial Bridge a.k.a. the Second Street Bridge as is his daily custom from his home in Louisville to his job in Jeffersonville, IN and back. The cyclist was riding on the sidewalk and collided with Mr. Amick sending him into the roadway where a car could not avoid striking him. He sustained head trauma and abdominal injuries that required emergency surgery.
The accident occurred close to the Indiana side of the bridge. The Jeffersonville Police Department, which responded, stated that bicycles are not permitted to be ridden on sidewalks.
Hopefully, Mr. Amick will make a speedy and full recovery and those responsible for the harms and losses he has suffered have adequate insurance coverage to make it right.
The location of this accident gives rise to interesting questions about which state's law will apply. I previously posted about this in relation to another accident on this bridge. If you look at Google Maps with the state borders, and assuming it is accurate, there is actually shoreline in on the north shore of the Ohio River that is technically Kentucky.
Why does it matter? Well, the laws of the State of Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it comes to a car accident case can and do vary greatly. For example, Kentucky has a no-fault system designed to provide no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) benefits and Indiana does not. The statute of limitation for the states differs, as well.
An attorney experienced in handling car accident cases should be able to determine the correct law that applies to any given case and pursue the case in the most advantageous way possible under the law for his client. One important question to ask is in what states the attorney is licensed to practice. If he or she determines that a state's law in which he or she is not licensed to practice applies to a case, then the lawyer should disclose that to the client, and he or she should consider hiring an attorney who is licensed in the state whose law will apply.
