A Port St. Lucie man is suing the City of Vero Beach after suffering “significant head trauma” and other injuries when a city police vehicle turned in front of him while he was riding a bicycle in the bike lane on Highway A1A south of Beachland Boulevard, according to court documents.

David C. Frazier is suing the city in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Indian River County for negligence and vicarious liability. His wife, Deborah R. Frazier, is also a plaintiff in the suit and has filed a consortium claim against the city for the same incident, according to the complaint.

Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine that holds one party – in this case, the city – responsible for the wrongful acts or negligence of another – in this case, the officer driving the vehicle. A consortium claim is made by a spouse or other family member for non-economic damages, such as lost companionship, affection, intimacy or support.

The collision occurred nine months ago at 8:30 a.m. on May 30, 2024. Frazier was traveling south on A1A in the bike lane when Officer Camilla Ann Defriese-Romero failed to yield to oncoming traffic and cut in front of Frazier, the complaint says.

Frazier, who was wearing a safety helmet, struck the passenger side door of the police vehicle, was thrown over the bike’s handlebars, striking his hip and head against the vehicle, breaking the passenger side window. Frazier also suffered lacerations to his lip and leg and abrasions to his chest, left arm and right leg, the complaint says.

The head trauma was serious enough that Frazier did not recall the incident moments later in the ambulance.

Defriese-Romero, who said she did not see Frazier, was cited for making an improper right turn, according to the lawsuit. She is no longer with the Vero Beach police department.

Frazier was paid $11,649 to replace his Trek brand bicycle by the city’s auto liability policy through the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, said Vero Beach City Manager Monte Falls. The limits of the policy are $200,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, per Florida statute, Falls said.

Trek brand bikes cost anywhere from around $600 to well over $10,000 for high-performance road bikes, according to the company’s website.

Nothing has been paid for Frazier’s injuries, according to Falls.

The Fraziers are seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and asking for a jury trial. The case has been assigned to Judge Cynthia Cox. Stuart attorney Casey J. Williams represents the Fraziers. No trial date has been set.