Arnold Schwarzenegger blames ‘careless’ cyclist for his second LA car accident in less than two months
- Arnold Schwarzenegger has blamed his most recent car accident in Los Angeles on the 'careless' cyclist
- Joanne Flickinger sued the Terminator star after he crashed into her on February 5 and left her with 'severe injuries'
- A month earlier, Schwarzenegger was hit with a lawsuit over another accident involving four cars
By Emma Richter For Dailymail.Com[1]
Published: 19:08, 4 January 2024 | Updated: 19:13, 4 January 2024
Arnold Schwarzenegger[2] has demanded that the lawsuit filed against him after he accidentally struck a cyclist with his car in Los Angeles[3] be thrown out of court.
The Terminator star blamed the rider, Joanne Flickinger, for being 'careless' and denied all allegations of any wrongdoing in recent legal documents, Radar[4] reported.
Flickinger said she was left with 'severe injuries' as a result of the crash on February 5, and alleged that Schwarzenegger was driving 'with excessive speed'.
This is the second car accident[5] Schwarzenegger has been involved in over the past year. He also being sued by a woman, Cheryl Augustine, who said she was left 'permanently disabled' when the pair crashed in LA on January 21, 2023.
On February 5, 2023, the Terminator star, 76, hit a cyclist that said caused her 'severe injuries' in a lawsuit that was filed in November. Now, Schwarzenegger has blamed the incident on the biker and demands the suit be dropped
The cyclist, Joanne Flickinger said that the actor was driving 'with excessive speed and failed to keep a proper lookout' and it is unclear what her injuries entailed
Flickinger was taken to hospital after the crash with the star taking the bike to a shop for repairs.
At the time of the incident with the cyclist[6], TMZ reported that Schwarzenegger was driving around LA when Flickinger 'suddenly swerved into his lane and made contact with his car before he had a chance to slow down.'
The woman went on to say that the Twins actor was driving 'with excessive speed and failed to keep a proper lookout' and claims the collision caused her extensive injuries, though it is unclear what those they entail.
Flickinger was taken to hospital after the crash and the star took her bike to the shop for repairs.
The actor spoke to a group of police officers who asked for further details regarding the accident that took place on San Vicente Blvd in Hollywood.
In the suit, Flickinger said that the actor, 76, 'negligently managed, maintained, repaired, drove, and/or operated their vehicle as to proximately cause the collision and permanent injuries to [Flickinger].'
She went on to sue and sought unspecified damages for her alleged pain, suffering, medical bills and loss of earnings due to the accident.
In response to her claims, Schwarzenegger said that Flickinger 'was so careless and negligent about the matters alleged in the complaint,' according to Radar Online.[7]
He added that any injuries that the biker suffered were a result of a 'third party' and he was not responsible.
The actor asked the court 'that in the event they are found liable to [Flickinger], said liability should be reduced by the percentage of fault attributable to [Flickinger], and all other parties, persons, firms, corporations, and entities; and that said liability for non-economic damages of these Defendants is several only, and not joint, so that these Defendants shall be responsible only for the amount of non-economic damages.'
In addition to asking that the lawsuit be thrown out, he has also requested that he be reimbursed for his court costs.
Schwarzenegger is seen standing next to his SUV following a crash on January 21, 2023 that involved 4 cars. He was hit with another lawsuit for this accident by plaintiff Cheryl Augustine
In addition to wanting the newest lawsuit to be thrown out, he said that any injuries that the biker suffered were a result of a 'third party' and he was not responsible. He also requested that he be reimbursed for his court costs
Schwarzenegger's enormous black SUV was perched on top of a Prius, leaving one other driver with a head injury
In his previous accident that also resulted in a lawsuit, the star was accused of 'negligently, wantonly, unlawfully, wrongfully, and recklessly' crashing into Augustine's and three other cars.
The crash occurred on Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue in January 2023 when his his enormous black SUV perched on top of another car, leaving one other driver with a head injury.
The former governor was driving his car and was about to turn onto busy Sunset Boulevard, about half-a-mile from his home in the Brentwood, when he smashed into a red Toyota Prius around 4:35pm.
The Prius was said to have been making a U-turn in the road when the collision occurred.
The impact of the crash was so severe that the Prius' airbags deployed as a result of the collision as did those in Schwarzenegger's vehicle.
Schwarzenegger SUV then started to roll onto a white Porsche Taycan that was directly behind Schwarzenegger's.
Law enforcement conducted a full investigation into how the accident occurred.
Plaintiff Augustine claims in her lawsuit that the accident stopped her from working. She is suing for 'general damages,' including all medical and incidental expenses and loss of earnings.
Police told TMZ at the time of the crash that Schwarzenegger was making a left turn while the arrow for a left turn was still red.
He was not ticketed by police and uninjured in the crash.
Arnold is seen in 2015 as he poses for a photo before driving the 2016 Toyota Mirai pace car at the Sonoma Raceway in California
The Terminator star is seen riding a bicycle in Los Angeles, California on December 7, 2023 with Ralf Moeller
He was concerned about the woman who was injured, checked on her and spoke to police officers and firefighters who were quickly on scene.
Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to DailyMail.com that no arrests were made and the crash did not appear to involve any form of DUI.
'Neither alcohol or drugs are suspected as a factor in this collision. All parties remained at scene. No further information will be made available,' police said in a statement.
The female driver that was hurt in the crash was seen bleeding heavily from her head and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
It is not clear if the injured woman is the plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Schwarzenegger's friend Jake Steinfeld was in the car at the time of the crash and could be seen in some of the pictures taken in the moments after the collision.
References
- ^ Emma Richter For Dailymail.Com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Arnold Schwarzenegger (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Los Angeles (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Radar (radaronline.com)
- ^ second car accident (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ incident with the cyclist (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Radar Online. (radaronline.com)