Mother sues driver over injuries she and son sustained in accident

A woman has filed suit against a driver who she says struck the vehicle she was driving and in which her son was riding.

Philicia Holman claims she was driving her 2002 Chevrolet Malibu north in the 2500 block of State Street near its intersection with North Mather Street in Alton when she stopped for traffic on Oct. 30, 2008, at about 5:05 p.m.

At the same time, Matthew Sanders was driving a 1999 GM Suburban in the same direction when he rear-ended Holman, according to the complaint filed Dec. 14 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Because of the accident, Holman and her son, O'Brien Pigee suffered sprained muscles, ligaments, membranes, nerves, blood vessels and tissues and became sick, sore, lame and disordered, the suit states. In addition, they suffered great pain and anguish and experienced internal derangement of the injured members of their body.

Holman also suffered injuries to her neck, shoulders, back and abdomen; experiences headaches; and incurred medical costs, the complaint says. She has been prevented from earning money and from participating in her usual activities and incurred medical costs.

Pigee sustained injuries to his right ear, his mother claims.

Holman blames Sanders for failing to keep his vehicle under control, for failing to observe her vehicle, for failing to drive at a reasonable speed, for failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision and for failing to maintain a safe distance between his vehicle and hers.

In the three-count suit, Holman is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Richard G. Reed of Reed and Bruhn in Belleville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-1347.