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Motorcyclist loses case against the city of Stockton, California for negligent road construction

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Monday, October 12, 1981
Result Date: 
Wednesday, April 4, 1984
Monetary Result: 
$0
  Early in the morning on October 12, 1981 Jerry Baudensdistel, a 21-year-old shift supervisor at a bakery was driving his motorcycle down Charter Way in the city of Stockton. A pickup truck emerged off of Aurora Street, and Baudendistel slams his motorcycle into the truck, and was ran over by a third vehicle. He sustained serious injuries in the crash, including partial paraplegia, with a loss of functioning below the waist. He also suffered constant muscle spasms. Baudendistel decided to sue the city of Stockton for negligent road construction. He argued that he could not see far enough down Charter Way to be able to see a vehicle coming out of Aurora Street. The city claimed that there was no lack of sight distance and that sight distance was not a proximate cause of the accident. Ultimately, the city of Stockton won the case and Baudendistel was not given any award.