Collision on FM 365 leads to lawsuit

An Orange County woman says she was severely injured after the employee of a Houston business rear-ended her.

Carolyn Denise Chandler claims she was driving down 2800 FM 365 on July 25, 2007, when Paul Edward Woods, who was also driving on the same road, failed to control the speed of the truck he was driving and collided into the rear of Chandler's vehicle.

At the time of the accident, Woods was driving for Total Site Inc., according to the complaint filed June 8 in Jefferson County District Court.

Because of the collision, Chandler suffered physical pain, mental anguish, physical disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of earning capacity, loss of household services, loss of use and lost wages, the suit states.

Chandler says she also incurred a diminished value of her vehicle, costs of repair and medical expenses.

Woods negligently failed to keep a proper lookout for Chandler's safety, failed to apply his brakes, drove too fast, failed to turn to avoid a collision and failed to maintain a clear distance between himself and Chandler, the complaint says.

Chandler is seeking an unspecified judgment, plus pre-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief to which she may be entitled.

James M. Lassiter III of the Lassiter Law Firm in Houston will be representing her.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D184-247.