Alton accident causes neck injuries, suit claims

A woman claims she sustained a broken, bruised, crushed and displaced neck and body after a driver rear-ended her.

Pauline Hoffman filed a lawsuit Jan. 7 in Madison County Circuit Court against Joan Hensley.

Hoffman claims she drove south on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Alton on May 17, 2008, when she stopped for traffic. However, Hensley, who drove in the same direction behind Hoffman, failed to stop and slammed into the rear of Hoffman's vehicle, according to the complaint.

In addition to her neck and bodily injuries, Hoffman became hindered and prevented from attending to her usual duties and incurred medical costs, the suit states. She also lost sums of money that otherwise would have accrued to her, the complaint says.

Hoffman blames Hensley for negligently failing to yield for Hoffman's stopped vehicle, for failing to reduce her speed to avoid a collision, for failing to keep a proper lookout and for driving too fast.

Hoffman seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Joseph E. Hoefert of Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-12.