A passenger's unfortunate encounter with a public transportation service has escalated into a legal battle, as she seeks justice for injuries sustained in an incident involving a bus door. Ursula A. Ondrusek filed a complaint against the Port Authority of Allegheny County on September 14, 2023, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit arises from an alleged negligence by the Port Authority's employee that resulted in personal injuries to Ondrusek.
According to the complaint filed by Ondrusek through her attorneys at Mislanovich Law, LLC, the incident occurred when she was attempting to exit a Port Authority bus near her residence on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh. As she was alighting at bus stop 1197, without warning, the bus door closed on her right arm. This sudden closure caused her arm to be caught and jerked violently, leading to significant injuries. The complaint accuses the Port Authority of negligence through its employee's actions and details several failures attributed to the bus driver. These include not maintaining adequate control over the bus doors, failing to ensure passengers had cleared before closing doors, and neglecting due care for passenger safety.
Ondrusek claims that as a direct result of this negligence, she suffered multiple injuries including sprains and strains to her right arm and shoulder muscles and ligaments. She also reports experiencing pain radiating through her shoulder and arm, numbness, and difficulties with fine motor skills. The physical trauma has been compounded by emotional distress; Ondrusek describes enduring great pain and suffering along with mental anguish following the incident.
The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the Port Authority for damages within arbitration limits but exclusive of interest and costs. Her demands include compensation for medical expenses incurred due to treatments necessitated by her injuries—both those already undertaken and potential future surgeries—as well as damages for ongoing pain and disruption to daily life activities.
Representing Ursula A. Ondrusek are attorneys Josh S. Licata and Mark S. Mislanovich from Mislanovich Law, LLC based in Pittsburgh. The case ID is: CVPDD008S288F275.