A man with traumatic brain injuries claims he suffered further disability after he slipped out of his wheelchair while riding on a shuttle van.
Timothy J. Bates filed a lawsuit March 13 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Covenant Care Midwest, doing business as Cedar Ridge Health and Rehab Center, and Cynthia Sanchez.
In his complaint, Bates alleges Sanchez placed him into a shuttle van owned by Cedar Ridge then started to drive the van. Bates, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and has no use of his left leg and left arm, slid from the wheelchair during the ride and suffered injuries to his knee and shoulders, according to the complaint.
In addition to his injuries, Bates experienced pain and suffering, endured mental anguish and incurred medical costs, the suit states. He also incurred medical costs, the complaint says.
Bates blames the defendants for causing his injuries, saying they negligently failed to place him in the van in a safe manner, failed to adequately secure him in the van, drove in such a manner that he slid out of his seat, drove too fast and failed to reduce the van to prevent him from slipping.
Bates is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. He is being represented by Stephen C. Buser of the Law Office of Stephen C .Buser in Columbia.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-215.