Taxi crashes into a woman’s vehicle allegedly leading to acute personal injuries

NEW ORLEANS – A taxi company and driver are being sued after a taxi allegedly crashed into the back of a woman’s vehicle pushing her car into the intersection.

Sharon Williams filed suit against United Cabs Inc., American Service Insurance Company Inc. and Eliyas G. Asrat in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Sept. 24.

Williams claims that on Sept. 30, 2012, she was driving a 2011 Subaru Legacy around 7:05 p.m. in the left westbound lane of North Rampart Street when she stopped at a red light at the corner of North Rampart Steet and Bienville. While the plaintiff was stopped, suddenly and without warning, the defendant, also traveling in the westbound lane of St. Claude Avenue, allegedly crashed his taxi into the back of the petitioner’s vehicle, supposedly ramming it into the intersection.

The petitioner contends she sustained severe and agonizing personal injuries as well as serious damage to her vehicle. The defendant, Eliyas G. Asrat, was cited under law for failure to use reasonable vigilance and careless operation. The defendant was purportedly operating a 2008 Dodge Caravan, which was totaled as a result of the incident and towed from the episode.

The defendant is accused of failing to yield to traffic in front of him, stop short of the plaintiff’s vehicle, pay attention, properly manage his vehicle, exercise prudence and be weary of the laws of the State of Louisiana.

The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for pain and suffering, mental agony, disabilities and emotional distress.

The petitioner is represented by Gregory W. Rome of Williams & Rome LLC.

The case has been assigned to Div. I Judge Piper D. Griffin.

Case no. 2014-09356.