Woman sues over collision with lane-changing freight truck

A woman says she incurred serious injuries after a freight truck and trailer made an unsafe lane change and collided with her.

Raquel M. Garrett filed a lawsuit June 24 in Jefferson County District Court against Frozen Foods Express Industries Inc., Conwell Corp. Inc. and Bobby Watson.

Garrett says she was driving north in the 900 block of IH-10 North on Sept. 1, 2007, while Watson was driving a truck for Frozen Foods and Conwell on the same road.

According to the complaint, Watson was traveling next to Garrett when he unexpectedly made a lane change and collided with her vehicle.

Because of the accident, Garrett claims she incurred medical care and expenses and experienced physical pain, suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment, all of which will continue into the future, the complaint says. She also incurred property damage, the suit states.

Garrett blamed Watson for failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to apply his brakes, driving too fast, failing to turn his vehicle to avoid a collision, driving in her lane and failing to keep a prudent distance from her vehicle.

Frozen Foods Express and Conwell are named as defendants through respondeat superior.

Garrett is seeking damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court, 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 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: D184-359.