Khmer auto repair shop faces personal injury lawsuit

A city auto repair shop is facing a personal injury lawsuit after a former customer filed a complaint alleging employees’ failure to tightly secure a tire led to a vehicle accident.

Lawyer Andrew R. Spirit, of the Philadelphia firm Golomb & Honik, filed the personal injury lawsuit May 24 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Sovichea Sok.

Named as the defendant in the suit is Khmer Auto Repair, of the city’s Olney section.

According to the complaint, Sok took his 2003 Infinity G35 to the auto repair business in early August 2005 for brake service and repair work. In the course of the work, auto repair shop employees removed the vehicle’s driver’s side rear tire.

After the leaving the shop, the suit states, Sok was driving along Mascher Street near Ashdale Street when the tire in question fell off the vehicle, causing Sok to lose control of the car.

As a result of the accident, Sok sustained “severe” injuries to her body, the suit alleges, including injuries to her head, back, wrist, knee and ankle, as well as a shock to her nervous system.

The plaintiff also suffered embarrassment and humiliation, and the accident had a negative affect on her life’s pleasures, the suit states.

Sok has experienced a loss of earnings and earning capacity as a result of the incident, the lawsuit says, and will be obligated to expend various sums of money on medical attention.

The plaintiff is seeking damages against the defendant in an amount not in excess of $50,000, together with interest, court costs and attorney’s fees.

The non-jury matter is scheduled for an arbitration hearing Jan. 26, 2012.

The case number is 110502681.