A woman claims she sustained severe and permanent injuries after a trailer detached from the vehicle pulling it, causing a person in the opposite lane to strike the trailer and push it into the woman’s vehicle.
Brittany R. Kruse filed a lawsuit March 21 in Madison County Circuit Court against Budget Truck Rental, Michelle D. Martinez, James R. Edwards and Maschhoff Transport.
Kruse claims she drove west on Highway 16 near its intersection with Highway 127 in Hillsboro on March 21, 2011. At the same time, Martinez drove a Budget truck west on the same road and was pulling a dolly trailer also owned by Budget. Suddenly, the trailer detached from the truck and traveled into oncoming traffic, according to the complaint.
“Edwards was operating his motor vehicle in an easterly direction on Highway 16 and struck the dolly which then struck plaintiff’s automobile,” the suit states.
Because of the collision, Kruse became disfigured, incurred medical costs, lost wages, suffered disability and experienced great pain and suffering, the complaint says.
Kruse blames the defendants for causing the collision, saying they negligently failed to supply safe equipment, failed to properly secure the trailer to the truck, failed to keep a proper lookout, drove in a reckless manner and drove too fast, among other negligent actions.
In her complaint, Kruse seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.
Brian M. Wendler of Wendler Law in Edwardsville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-467.
Detached trailer causes Hillsboro accident, suit claims
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