Landfill accident leads to truck driver's personal injury suit

A man who was injured at the Milam Landfill in Granite City filed a personal injury suit against Waste Management of Illinois seeking damages in excess of $100,000.

Represented by James Stever of Edwardsville, Greg Lutes claims he was operating his truck in the landfill on Sept. 20, 2005, when he stopped in a designated area to secure the swing tailgate on his truck.

According to the suit filed Sept. 11 in Madison County Circuit Court, Lutes alleges that an employee for Waste Management was also driving a vehicle in the landfill at the time and collided with the swing tailgate pinning his arm between the two vehicles causing severe and permanent injuries.

He claims the employee and Waste Management were negligent by failing to stop the vehicle in time to avoid a collision, failing to use ordinary care and failing to sound the horn to give warning of approach.

Lutes claims his injuries hindered and prevented him from attending to his usual duties and affairs of life, caused great pain and anguish, medical expenses and lost wages.

07 L 810