BELLEVILLE — A St. Clair County cyclist has filed a vehicular personal injury complaint against State Farm over injuries he received in a collision while bicycling in Belleville in 2017.
In his four-page complaint filed Aug. 21 against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in St. Clair County Circuit Court, John Williams alleges he incurred about $50,000 in medical expenses. Williams also says he expects to incur more expenses in the future, and continue to experience suffering and discomfort.
State Farm declined to respond to questions about the complaint, saying through a spokesman, "The matter is pending before the court, so it would be inappropriate for us to comment."
According to the complaint, on Sept. 28, 2017, Williams was cycling eastbound on Mascoutah Avenue in Belleville, near the 1700 block, "when his bicycle was negligently and violently crashed into by a vehicle operated by Heather Sabo."
The complaint alleges Sabo "was negligent and failed to exercise the highest degree of care" by driving at excessive speed and failing to "keep a careful look out" and "to yield the right of way," the complaint said. Sabo's alleged negligence "directly caused or directly contributed" to Williams' injuries to his left shoulder that required surgery and other medical care, the complaint said.
Sabo, who was uninsured at the time, is not a named as a defendant in the complaint.
Williams was covered by a State Farm policy that provided underinsured vehicle coverage, and Williams says he is entitled to recover damages under the policy that are "in excess of the policy limit."
Williams seeks a jury trial and all other just relief. He is represented by attorney Scott L. Kolker of Kolker & Labovitz in Clayton, Mo.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case number 19L0595