A city woman who alleges she became injured after her leg got caught between the doors of a public transit bus is suing the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
Philadelphia attorney Leonard K. Hill, of the firm Hill & Associates, filed the personal injury claim against SEPTA Oct. 5 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
In her lawsuit, the plaintiff, Fallon Nelson, who resides in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond section, claims that while riding the C bus in the area of Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue back on Oct. 5, 2009 at about 4:15 p.m., she was asked by the bus driver to exit the vehicle and reenter because the bus was overcrowded.
When Nelson reentered the bus, she alleges in her civil claim, the bus driver closed the door on her left foot and ankle, and was unable to open the door for about three minutes.
As a result of the incident, Nelson sustained sprains and strains to her left foot, left ankle, neck and back, the suit claims.
Nelson had to spend various sums of money on medical treatment, and she may be required to do the same in the future.
The lawsuit accuses SEPTA of negligence on the part of its driver for failing to have his vehicle under control, failing to keep alert and maintain a safe vehicle, and being otherwise negligent.
The lawsuit claims that Nelson has undergone great physical pain and mental suffering, great inconvenience in carrying out her daily activities and loss of life’s pleasures and enjoyment.
It also claims Nelson has been the subject of great humiliation and embarrassment and that she has sustained work loss, loss of opportunity and permanent diminution of her earning power and capacity as a result of the accident.
Nelson demands judgment against the defendant in an amount not in excess of $50,000.
The non-jury matter has not yet been scheduled for an arbitration hearing.
The case number is 111000326.