Man claims pain and suffering after auto wreck

A Beaumont man claims he sustained physical pain and suffering after a driver failed to yield the right-of-way to him at a stop sign.

Wrandall Carter filed a lawsuit April 22 in Jefferson County District Court against Rodwick Terrence Smith and Inniercia Lomax.

Carter claims he was a passenger in a Geo Prizm traveling south in the 4600 block of Highland Avenue on Feb. 12 when Smith, who drove east in the 500 block of Campus Street, failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign and pulled into the intersection, causing a collision. Before the collision, Lomax lent her vehicle to Smith, which he drove at the time of the accident.

In addition to the physical pain and suffering Carter incurred because of the collision, he incurred medical costs; experienced physical impairment, disfigurement and mental anguish; and fears a future disease, the suit states.

Carter blames Smith for causing the collision, saying he failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to turn his vehicle to avoid a collision, failed to keep the same distance a person using ordinary care would have done, drove too fast, failed to timely apply his brakes, failed to stop or yield at an intersection and failed to enter the intersection only when it was safe to do so.

Lomax never should have lent her vehicle to Smith because she should have known him to be an unlicensed, reckless and incompetent driver, according to the complaint.

Carter seeks a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus exemplary damages, pre-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief to which he may be entitled.

Langston Scott Adams of Port Arthur will be representing him.

The case has been assigned to Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: A186-657.