Man sues after woman hit him with car

MARTINSBURG – A Berkeley County man has filed suit against a Jefferson County woman, alleging she collided with him as he was crossing the street.

Jacob Bernard Sykes claims he was walking north on the east sidewalk of S. Raleigh Street on Feb. 28, 2007 at 9:46 a.m., according to the complaint filed Oct. 27 in Berkeley Circuit Court.

When he stepped onto W. South Street to cross, a 2003 Kia Optima driven by Susan Lea Rudy was making a left-hand turn onto W. South Street from S. Raleigh Street and hit Sykes, the suit states.

Because of the accident, Sykes claims he was injured, incurred medical expenses and suffered great pain, annoyance, aggravation and inconvenience.

He claims Rudy was negligent because she failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian and failed to maintain control of her vehicle.

Sykes is seeking a judgment in excess of $100,000, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney's fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Paul G. Taylor of the Law Offices of Paul G. Taylor in Martinsburg will be representing him.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number: 08-C-1286