In a harrowing case of alleged negligence, a Texas man has filed a lawsuit against three companies following a catastrophic vehicle fire that left him with severe injuries. Darrell Singleton lodged the complaint in Harris County District Court on June 10, 2024, naming Gulf Coast Alignments, LLC, Trailer Wheel & Frame Co., and Mateco Truck Equipment, LLC as defendants.
The incident in question occurred on August 1, 2023, when Singleton took his vehicle to Gulf Coast Alignments for rotor resurfacing and recalibration. According to the court documents, after the work was completed, Singleton noticed issues with his brake pedal and suspected a brake fluid leak. Despite returning to the shop and expressing his concerns, he was assured by the employees that the vehicle would self-correct after some driving. However, while driving on I-45 the next day, sparks emanated from his tires before one tire burst into flames. The situation escalated quickly as Singleton had to pull over urgently and leap over a roadside barrier to escape the engulfing flames. The fire department was called to extinguish the blaze.
An initial investigation revealed that a locked brake caliper caused the sparks that ignited the tires and eventually consumed the entire vehicle. Additionally, it is believed that defective wiring for a winch installed by Trailer Wheel & Frame Co. acted as an ignition source for the fire. As a result of this terrifying ordeal, Singleton sustained major injuries to his neck and back among other parts of his body.
Singleton's lawsuit accuses all three companies of negligence and gross negligence. He asserts that they failed in multiple ways: contributing to an unsafe vehicle condition; performing repair work unsafely; not recognizing or addressing hazards; failing to warn about known dangers; not adhering to safe work policies; creating latent dangers without proper disclosure; and inadequately training personnel. The plaintiff contends these failures directly led to his injuries.
Furthermore, Singleton claims that these acts of negligence were carried out by employees within their scope of employment, making their employers liable under respondeat superior—a legal doctrine holding employers accountable for their employees' actions performed within employment duties.
The lawsuit also emphasizes gross negligence on part of the defendants—arguing that they acted with extreme disregard for safety despite being aware of potential risks involved. This conscious indifference allegedly demonstrated malice towards others' rights and welfare.
In terms of relief sought from this legal action, Singleton is asking for damages exceeding $1 million for physical pain (both past and future), disfigurement, mental anguish expenses along with loss-of-earning capacity (past & future). Given what he describes as egregious behavior by defendants—he seeks punitive damages too alongside post-judgment interest at maximum legal rates plus court costs among other possible entitlements.
Representing Darrell Singleton are attorneys Anthony G Buzbee & Christopher J Leavy from The Buzbee Law Firm based out Houston Texas while presiding over this case will be Judge Marilyn Burgess under Case ID 2024-36733 filed in Court No 234.