Madison County Transit was targeted in a personal injury complaint filed by a woman who claims her wheelchair tipped over while boarding an MCT bus.
Sandra McQueen filed the lawsuit Aug 14, alleging she was injured while attempting to board a bus in Wood River on Sept. 1, 2007.
According to McQueen, the bus driver extended a wheelchair ramp onto the roadway to allow her to enter. She claims that while driving her wheelchair up the ramp, it tipped over backwards causing her to fall and injure herself.
She claims MCT breached its duty of care when it negligently and carelessly failed to park the bus close enough to the curb so that the extended ramp would meet the sidewalk and not the street.
McQueen also alleges MCT negligently lowered the ramp at an angle that was unsafe, failed to assist a wheelchair bound individual who was entering the bus and failed to abide by its own rules, guidelines and procedures.
According to the complaint filed in Madison County Circuit Court, McQueen sustained injuries to her head, neck, right arm, legs and ankles that caused and continue to cause medical expenses and prevent her from attending to her usual duties and affairs as she had been able to do before the accident.
She is seeking a judgment in excess of $15,000, but less than $50,000, plus costs.
The case is awaiting mandatory arbitration.
08 AR 496