A new twist as Arnold Schwarzenegger counters lawsuit over hitting bicyclist with his vehicle

Two months ago, we reported on a bicycle crash involving Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger who allegedly hit cyclist Joanne Flickinger while he was driving an SUV. Now, although not disputing he hit the cyclist, the former Governor of California is demanding the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against him. According to an article on Radar Online, Flickinger had accused Schwarzenegger of driving “wrongfully and recklessly,” alleging negligence and excessive speed.

The incident occurred on San Vicente Boulevard, a prominent thoroughfare in west Los Angeles, where initial reports suggested Flickinger had turned left into Schwarzenegger’s path before he could brake. The collision resulted in the bicycle rider sustaining severe and permanent injuries, leading to substantial medical bills.

Now, court documents obtained by Radar Online show Schwarzenegger’s counteraction. In his response, the movie star. and well-known cycling advocate, denies all allegations of wrongdoing and shifts the blame onto Flickinger, asserting her “carelessness and negligence” as contributing factors to the injuries and damages. Schwarzenegger further requests the court to dismiss the entire lawsuit and award him the court costs.

The 76-year-old actor argued that Flickinger’s alleged carelessness and negligence should eliminate any possibility of recovery on her part. Additionally, he claims that any injuries she suffered were caused by third parties outside of his control.

Schwarzenegger’s legal response proposes that, if found liable, the court should reduce liability based on the percentage of fault attributable to Flickinger and other involved parties. He contends that liability for non-economic damages should be several only, not joint, making the defendants responsible only for the amount of non-economic damages.

While the exact amount sought by Flickinger in damages is not clear, previous reports indicated a figure exceeding $25,000. This amount is intended to cover various elements such as past and future pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of earnings, medical expenses, and more.

At the time of the collision, TMZ reported that local police and eyewitnesses suggested Flickinger had abruptly swerved into Schwarzenegger’s lane before he could brake. LAPD officers confirmed that “no crime was committed,” and Schwarzenegger was not driving at excessive speed during the incident.

This legal dispute marks the second traffic incident involving Schwarzenegger in the past year. He is also facing a lawsuit from Cheryl Augustine, who claims to be permanently disabled following a crash with Schwarzenegger in January 2023.

A cycling enthusiast, Schwarzenegger has expressed his aspiration to “bicycle all over the world” and has been observed riding alongside climate activist Greta Thunberg in Santa Monica, as well as in the company of various political dignitaries.

Earlier this year, Schwarzenegger was seen taking matters into his own hands by repairing potholes on a neighborhood street. In a social media post, he shared, “Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that’s been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say, let’s not complain, let’s do something about it. Here you go.”