Woman wants $42,000

A San Clemente woman is asking for Costa Mesa to pay more than $42,000 in medical expenses because she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle at Fairview Road and Fair Drive in November.

In the claim filed against the city March 17, Katelyn Obbards, 18, blames the signals at the Costa Mesa intersection for not giving her enough time to cross before she was hit by a Dodge Intrepid after midnight Nov. 18.

Obbards claims that when she and her friend were riding their bikes eastbound on Fair Drive and when they got to the corner of Fairview Road, the Fair Drive light turned green, permitting them to cross. About half way across, the light went yellow, then within seconds, red, according to the claim.

As they tried to make it across, the car traveling northbound on Fairview hit the rear of Obbards’ bike, sending her into the middle of the intersection. The police report shows that she lost several front teeth and suffered facial cuts and bruises.

Obbards also suffered a fracture in her back and a herniated disc, according to the claim.

The police report contains two versions of the incident. The driver of the Intrepid, and one witness, told police that the car’s traffic signal was yellow when it entered the intersection. A second witness said Obbards’ light was green, and the driver ran a red light.

Christian W. Wilbert, Obbards’ attorney, said regardless of the driver’s signal, it’s clear that the light phases there need to be addressed.

Wilbert said an officer at the scene commented that the timing of the signals was off.

Obbards is asking the city to cover her medical expenses, which continue to accumulate, on top of possible pain and suffering damages.

Costa Mesa’s city attorney did not return a call for comment.

A claim against the city is a typical first step toward a lawsuit.