Missouri woman sues IDOT after tripping at rest stop

A Missouri woman has filed suit against the Illinois Department of Transportation and its secretary, alleging she fell on a protruding wood and concrete expansion joint.

Cecelia Dachsteiner claims she visited a rest area adjacent to Interstate 64 near the 25-mile marker near Mascoutah on July 1, 2008, when the incident occurred as she walked from a rest area pavilion to the main building.

"As a proximate [result] of Defendants' negligence, Plaintiff fell and immediately struck her chin and both hands and knees on the concrete sidewalk, and thereby injured them," the suit filed June 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court states. "In addition, Plaintiff suffered injuries to her arms and shoulders, when her arms were pushed into her shoulders, and to her thighs and hips, when her thighs were pushed into her hips. Her neck and back were also injured."

Because of her injuries, Dachsteiner was forced to seek physical therapy, became partially disabled and has been unable to return to work, according to the complaint.

She says the defendants negligently allowed a trip hazard to protrude from the sidewalk area.

In her complaint, Dachsteiner is seeking unspecified general and special damages, plus damages for lost earnings, interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.

She will be represented by Jerald A. Hochsztein of St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-330.