Suit alleges incompetent driver caused collision

A Harris County woman claims she became seriously injured after a driver failed to obey a traffic control device and yield the right-of-way to her.

Perla Sanchez filed a lawsuit Feb. 26 in Jefferson County District Court against Standard Alloys and Manufacturing Sales Co., Blue Tee Corp. and Gerald Garcia.

Sanchez claims Garcia, who drove a Ford F450 pickup truck, struck her vehicle on Jan. 21.

"The vehicle that collided with Plaintiff was owned by Defendants, Standard Alloys and Manufacturing Sales Co. and/or Blue Tee Corp., and operated by Defendant, Gerald Garcia, who was an employee of Standard Alloys and Manufacturing Sales Co.," the suit states.

Because of the collision, Sanchez suffered physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, limitation of activities and loss of enjoyment of life, according to the complaint. In addition, she sustained painful and disabling injuries, lost wages and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Sanchez blames Garcia for causing the accident, saying he failed to maintain a proper lookout, failed to properly apply his brakes, failed to bring his vehicle to a stop before it collided with Sanchez, failed to turn the vehicle to avoid a collision, drove inattentively and in a reckless manner, failed to obey traffic signals and failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

Standard Alloys and Blue Tee should never have let Garcia drive the car because they knew him to be an incompetent and unfit driver, according to the complaint.

Sanchez seeks actual, compensatory and exemplary damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.

Vuk S. Vujasinovic of Vujasinovic and Beckcom in Houston will be representing her.

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

Jefferson County District Court case number: D186-137.