Lawsuit claims tractor-trailer failed to pull over for emergency vehicle, caused wreck

MARSHALL - A Harrison County woman has filed a lawsuit claiming she was injured in a vehicle accident when a tractor-trailer failed to stop for an emergency vehicle.

Lashunon Gaut filed suit against Associated Couriers Inc. on Dec. 17 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. 

Court papers state the incident occurred on Jan. 4, 2012, while Gaut was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Candace Anderson. Their vehicle was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 59 in Harrison County.

According to the lawsuit, Anderson stopped to allow an emergency vehicle to proceed through an intersection. Allegedly, an employee of the defendant’s was traveling in a 2010 Volvo Tractor Trailer and pulling a trailer southbound behind the Anderson vehicle.  The suit alleges that the defendant’s employee failed to stop for the emergency vehicle and rear-ended the Anderson vehicle.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to timely apply his brakes, following too closely and for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Gaut is seeking an award of damages for physical pain, mental anguish, physical pain, emotional pain, torment and suffering, medical expenses, disfigurement, impairment, loss of earning capacity, interest and court costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Longview attorney Bradley T. Steele.

A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:13-cv-01111