Legal news for Pennsylvania Personal Injury lawyers– a bus passenger sued SEPTA and driver of vehicle that disabled him.
Frankfort, PA (NewYorkInjuryNews.com) – A SEPTA bus driver is being sued by a man who will be confined to a wheelchair for life, announced the Philadelphia Daily News.
42-year-old Clarence Lemar, was struck by a car after the SEPTA bus driver, Maria Vanelas, dropped passengers off in the middle of the street on Frankford Avenue January 11, 2008. Lemar’s lawyer stated that he is now incapable of walking due to the injuries that he suffered to his arms and legs in the accident.
Lemar had been working as a restaurant chef before the accident. Lemar has pressed charges and is suing the transit bus company, the bus driver and the driver of the car that struck him when he stepped off the bus.
The accident occurred around 9 p.m. Jan. 11, 2008, when Vanelas decided to not pull into the bus lane and drop people off in the normal traffic lane on Bridge Street, according to court documents and police reports.
When Lemar stepped out of the bus, he was hit by a Mazda that was trying to pass the bus on the right. Lemar is suing Luis Martinez, the driver of the Mazda for his injuries. Lemar suffers from negligent and purposeful acts of both drivers, according to the suit. He now suffers from paralysis, speech difficulties, loss of motor function, and neurological damage says a lawyer on the case. Lemar’s lawsuit was filed last Tuesday in Common Pleas Court.
Lemar has no memory of the accident. He was hospitalized for two weeks after the crash at Temple University Hospital and then continued on to rehabilitation at MossRehab. His medical bills have exceeded 1 million dollars. Thus far, Medicaid has paid for his bills. The lawsuit is charging the driver with failure to exhibit a consistent manner of dropping off passengers at designated bus drop off areas.
Lemar has been refused compensation from SEPTA. A SEPTA representative declined to comment on the suit, but said that there is a claims procedure in place for injured passengers that does take into account each victims personal situation.
Vanelas has not been charged criminally. And Martinez has not been charged as of yet criminally either. Police commented on the case stating that Martinez may face charges but Vanelas will not face charges. The case continues.
Bridget Hom
NewYorkInjuryNews.com