Belleville rear-end accident causes injuries, suit says

A St. Clair County man and woman have filed suit against the driver who they claim rear-ended the vehicle in which they were riding.

Mary Gramm and Charles Anderson claim they were riding in a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Anderson, northbound in the 200 block of North Illinois Street in Belleville on Sept. 9, 2010, when he stopped at an intersection. Suddenly, defendant Kristin Schmittling, who was driving a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette in the same direction, struck the rear of the Malibu.

At the time of the collision, minor Christina Anderson was riding in the vehicle with Gramm and Charles Anderson, according to the complaint filed Dec. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Gramm, Christina Anderson and Charles Anderson were prevented from attending to their usual duties and experienced great pain and suffering, the suit states. In addition, Gramm and Charles Anderson lost wages and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Schmittling negligently drove too fast, failed to keep her vehicle under proper control, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to use her horn to warn of an impending collision, failed to apply her brakes and failed to stop when danger was imminent, among other negligent acts, the complaint says.

In their three-count complaint, Gramm and Anderson are seeking a judgment of more than $200,000, plus costs.

Mark C. Scoggins and Anthony P. Gilbreth of Crowder and Scoggins in Columbia will be representing them.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-688.