Passenger sues over bus involvement in auto accident

NEW ORLEANS – A bus operator along with numerous motorists are being sued by a woman who claims she was injured when the bus was involved in an auto accident.

Zoila Martinez filed suit against Regional Transit Authority, Veolia Transportation, Veolia Transportation North America, Veolia Transportation Services Inc., Continental Casualty Co., Triple G. Express Inc.. GHI, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., Leroy Minor, Gregory Williams, an unidentified bus driver and numerous unknown insurers in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Jan. 31.

According to the suit, an international truck with the Tennessee License plate T815326 was involved in a collision with a NORTA Bus on Feb. 13, 2013. Martinez claims she was a paying customer on the bus during the incident, which took place in the vicinity of Alvar Street and Sidney Duplesis Street in New Orleans.

The defendant is accused of failing to see what should have been seen, failing to take precautions, failing to maintain control of the vehicle, being inattentive or distracted, driving at an excessive speed under the circumstances, failure to stop before striking another vehicle and negligent entrustment of a vehicle.

Martinez is suing for damages including physical and mental pain and suffering, anguish, anxiety, humiliation, loss and impairment of enjoyment of life and lifestyle, disability, loss of earnings and earning capacity, loss of consortium, loss of society, loss of support, loss of use of vehicle and property damage.

Plaintiff is represented by Peter R. Brigandi Jr. of the Brigandi Law Firm LLC.

Triple G Express Inc., Leroy Minor and Continental Casualty Company answered the suit on April 15 denying all wrongdoing. They claim the accident was caused by the wanton negligence of the plaintiff herself by failing to see what she should have seen, failing to avoid the accident after having a clear opportunity to do so, failing to act reasonable under the circumstances.

They are represented by Michael J. Monistere from the Law Office of Sheryl Story.

State Farm answered the suit on April 11, denying any and all wrongdoing. They are represented by Constance C. Hobson of Frederick A. Miller & Associates.

Case is assigned to Division D Judge Lloyd J. Medley.

Case no. 2014-01118.