Motorists sue Phila. Water, Streets depts. over injuries from construction hole incident

Two city agencies are being sued by a driver and passenger who claim they became injured

after driving their vehicle into an open construction hole smack dab in the middle of a roadway.

Philadelphia resident Leonie Gilbert and fellow city resident Carol Williams are suing Philadelphia’s Streets Department and Water Department over claims that the driver and her passenger sustained physical injuries on Oct. 16, 2012, when their vehicle drove into what they allege was a “huge” construction hole on the 7200 block of Forrest Avenue.

Gilbert, the driver, claims she and her passenger were jolted about upon impact, and that they sustained “severe, painful and permanent injuries” as a result of the incident.

The other defendant named in the complaint is Clements Bros and Sister Inc., which the suit says is a business located at the location in question.

As a result of the accident, Gilbert alleges that she sustained injuries to her head, neck, back, body, knees, limbs and nerves.

This included a disc protrusion, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy and other injuries.

Gilbert claims she incurred more than $2,500 in medical bills to treat her injuries. She also experienced pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, wage loss, embarrassment, humiliation, property damage, along with serious and permanent impairments of body functions.

Williams, the codefendant, claims that she sustained similar injuries as Gilbert, but that she additionally suffered a severe chest contusion requiring emergency mammography and ultrasound, a left breast hematoma, broad based disc protrusion, and cervical sprain and strain.

Williams, too, suffered embarrassment and humiliation, medical bills of over $2,500, wage loss, excess medical bills, and serious and permanent body function impairments, the complaint states.

Both women seek damages in excess of $50,000, plus interest and costs.

The plaintiffs are being represented by Philadelphia lawyer Jerry Lyons, of the firm Joseph Chaiken & Associates.

 

The case ID number is 130302949.