Senior Managing Partner
Seattle, WA – The City of Seattle has paid a record amount to settle a lawsuit after having been found liable by King County Superior Court Judge Kent Liu, for violating its own standard of care and breaching its duty in creating a dangerous “protected bike lane” in the Greenlake area of Seattle.
On June 20, 2024, Aviv Litov, then 24 and wearing a helmet, was riding his bicycle on Green Lake Drive North. He was traveling in the designated bike lane at 18 mph, which was less than the posted speed limit of 25. He had the right of way. The driver of a car said parked cars blocked her view of Aviv in the bike lane when she drove directly into his path. The collision caused Aviv to suffer a severe permanent traumatic brain injury. A lawsuit was filed against both the city and the driver.
At the scene, a responding SPD officer said: “We hate these bike lanes—they run between traffic and parked cars, and drivers can’t see them.”[1]
Aviv grew up in Seattle and had the typical Pacific Northwest love of everything active and outdoors.
Aviv performed hip hop and contemporary dance. He taught for a number of years in West Seattle.
After graduation Aviv worked as a cook with aspirations to become a chef.
Aviv became more interested in bicycling and joined the ACT (A Cycling Team) in 2022 as an inaugural member of the new ACT Racing Team.
He participated in Criterium races in the summer, the Tour de Bloom in Washington, and Tour of America’s Dairyland.
He was in the top 1% of people doing this bicycle race. He was a pretty well recognized talent as a bicycle racer. He was dedicated, and he was exceedingly friendly and modest about this all.
Cory Potts (bike shop owner)
He worked at in the service industry at Oxbow Bakery which was rare in our biking community of primarily software engineers. I hosted an event right before he was injured – he brought pastries and good cheer which is not something Meta from Bellevue is showing up with.
Just before his injury, Aviv received enough points in order to upgrade to a Category II in U.S.A. Cycling (one step below elite status).
Aviv’s injuries
Aviv was rushed to Harborview.
He was comatose and remained in critical care at Harborview for two months before being discharged to his parents (his mother is a physician). The brain injury was so severe that it acted like a massive stroke impairing the entire left side of his body.
Aviv worked hard and has made a miraculous recovery. He can ride a stationary bike, use the row machine, and work out at the gym. But he cannot walk long distances. Most importantly, he suffered the loss of his left side field of vision in each eye and is now considered blind. He will not be able to obtain a driving permit.
Aviv:
“I went through one of the most horrific bike crashes possible and if it weren’t for the amazing team at Harborview (also medic one) I probably would have died. I also don’t think I would have been able to emotionally come through all of this if it weren’t for my amazing cycling team and community. I think it’s incredibly important that people see cyclists as human beings who deserve to bike through a city safely without being hurt or killed.”
Details of Settlement
The City will pay Nine million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($9,250,000.00), which is understood to be the largest amount it has ever paid to a single bicycle crash victim. These sums will be used to help provide care and support for Aviv for the rest of his life.
While the City acknowledges its role, the driver still has not. The case against her for failing to yield while making a left-hand turn across a double yellow line is set for trial in May.
Aviv Litov is represented by Stritmatter Law:
Attorneys Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, Darcy Covert
Paralegals Kristin Michaud, Jamie Kessler
Legal assistant Isaac Rosenkranz
[1] Dkt. 113: Exhibit A to Hamoudi Declaration in Support of Plaintiffs Reply to Compel Defendant City of Seattle.
Legal Documents
Complaint for Damages
Answer of the City
MSJ Order Finding the City at Fault
Media Contact: Kassie Slugić | Stritmatter Law | kassie@stritmatter.com | 360-310-3398