A San Jose motorcyclist left paralyzed after a crash last June 2025 is taking the city and other public agencies to court, arguing that a quiet neighborhood intersection was a catastrophe waiting to happen. His lawsuit says the collision left him paralyzed from the neck down and seeks both money damages and concrete roadway fixes so no one else ends up in the same position. The case lands as San Jose wrestles with a troubling run of serious crashes on its streets.
Lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County
The civil complaint, filed April 27 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, names the City of San José, Caltrans, and Santa Clara County as defendants and demands a jury trial, according to KRON4. Plaintiffs Jeffrey Garmany and his wife say they are seeking accountability, along with safety improvements at the Fruitvale and Corlista intersection.
Crash details and arrest
The lawsuit centers on a June 9, 2025 collision in which a Honda Accord allegedly made an illegal U‑turn into the path of a motorcycle traveling on Fruitvale Avenue, throwing the rider and causing catastrophic injuries. The complaint describes fractures to the neck and spine, a punctured lung and broken ribs that together left the motorcyclist paralyzed from the neck down. The driver, identified as Misael Lara‑Moya, fled the scene, later reportedly claimed the car had been stolen, and was arrested on suspicion of felony hit‑and‑run. Attorney Mary Alexander called the crash "completely preventable," as reported by KTVU.
Allegations about the intersection
Garmany’s attorneys argue that the junction of Corlista Drive and Fruitvale Avenue "constituted a dangerous condition of public property" and claim the City and other agencies failed to provide adequate signage, lighting and traffic control devices. The complaint asks a jury to require physical changes at the site and to hold the public entities liable. The city manager's office has indicated it will stand behind the existing roadway design, according to KRON4.
Safety context
The case arrives amid a broader fight over street safety in San Jose. The City of San José reports 41 traffic fatalities in 2025, and the San José Police Department recorded its 18th traffic fatality of 2026 in early May, underscoring why advocates are pushing hard for change. Planners and safety advocates have pointed to quick‑build redesigns, protected intersections and automated enforcement as practical ways to prevent the types of illegal turns and visibility issues described in the complaint. Local reporting and city messaging show San Jose pursuing Vision Zero strategies while contending with a stubborn series of deadly and severe crashes. The City of San José and the San José Police Department have provided collision data and safety advisories, and planners have publicly discussed design fixes in outlets such as Streetsblog California.
Legal stakes
To win against public agencies, the plaintiffs will have to navigate some tight legal lanes. Under California law, a person suing for a "dangerous condition" must show that the property was in fact dangerous, that this condition proximately caused the injury, and that the public entity had actual or constructive notice of the danger, according to Gov. Code §835. Claims against government bodies also face strict procedural timelines, typically including a requirement that injury claims be presented within six months under Gov. Code §911.2, so timing, notice and proof of what the city knew about the intersection will be central as the case moves ahead.
