Parking lot accident results in lawsuit

A Galveston County woman has brought suit against a driver, claiming negligence in a May 2014 retail parking lot accident, which left her injured.

Chiva Tagle of League City filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Galveston County, on Jan. 22, 2015, accusing Rhonda Reynolds of negligence and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Tagle was on the premises of Gulf Granite & Tile Inc., located at 1105 Gulf Freeway South in League City, on or about May 20, 2014.

The plaintiff had permission to use the dumpster in the rear of the premises and was transferring sacks from her truck to the dumpster. The rear entrance was secured by an iron gate. While driving past, Reynolds allegedly struck the open gate with her vehicle and caused it to swing at the plaintiff. As a result, Tagle was struck in the leg, suffering a fractured femur that required surgery.

Claiming that Reynolds failed to brake to avoid hitting the gate and refrained from stopping to help, Tagle seeks compensation between $200,000 and $1 million for the reimbursement of medical expenses, as well as for physical and mental pain and impairment, attorney’s fees, expenses and costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Trey Apffel of Apffel Law Firm, League City.

U.S. District Court Southeast Texas Galveston case CV-0073552