Severe and permanent injuries claimed in Granite City accident

A woman has filed suit against the driver who she claims failed to obey a traffic control device, causing a collision.

Lois A. Schmidt claims she was driving a 2003 Chrysler Voyager west on St. Clair Avenue at its intersection with Myrtle Avenue in Granite City on Oct. 23, 2010, when defendant Samantha M. Coontz, who was driving a 1992 Acura Legend south on Myrtle Avenue, failed to keep a proper lookout and struck Lois Schmidt’s vehicle.

Because of the collision, Lois Schmidt suffered severe and permanent injuries, experienced great pain and anguish and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed Oct. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court. She also lost wages and suffered a damaged earning capacity, the suit states.

Walter L. Schmidt, Lois Schmidt’s husband, claims he has been deprived of his wife’s companionship and society due to the collision.

Coontz negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to reduce her speed to avoid a collision, failed to keep her vehicle under proper control and failed to follow traffic control devices, the complaint says.

In addition to Coontz, Schmidt names Laura A. Dotzauer as a defendant, saying she owned the Acura that Coontz drove.

In her complaint, Lois A. Schmidt seeks a judgment of more than $500,000, plus costs.

Patrick G. Johnston and Benjamin T. Stephens of Johnston Law Offices in Edwardsville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-1700.