A Beaumont woman claims she incurred medical costs after a driver talking on her cell phone failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign and crashed into her vehicle.
Lena Chizel filed a lawsuit April 27 in Jefferson County District Court against Roxie Lewis and Bryan Dugas.
Chizel claims she drove on Roberts Street in Beaumont on May 20, 2008, when Lewis, who drove a vehicle owned and insured by Dugas, failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign and slammed into Chizel's vehicle. At the time of the collision, Lewis was talking on her cell phone, according to the complaint.
In addition to her medical costs, Chizel lost earnings and her earning capacity; suffered physical impairment, physical pain and mental anguish; and incurred property damages, the suit states.
Chizel blames Lewis for causing the collision, saying she negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to timely apply her brakes to avoid a collision, failed to obey an official traffic-control device and failed to proceed through an intersection only when such an action could safely be performed.
Chizel seeks an unspecified judgment, plus pre-judgment interest, costs and other relief to which she may be entitled.
Jonathan C. Juhan of Beuamont will be representing him.
The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: D186-729.