WILLIAMSON – A man is suing the West Virginia Department of Transportation-Division of Highways after he claims he was injured as a result of a car accident.
John W. Thompson and Brian L. Adkins, employees of the WVDOH, were also named as defendants in the suit.
On Feb. 14, 2014, Joseph A. Chambers was lawfully operating a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt with due care and reasonable precaution on W.Va. 65, north of Lenore in Mingo County, according to a complaint filed Jan. 12 in Mingo Circuit Court.
Chambers claims Thompson was operating a 2012 Mack 700G dump truck that was owned by the DOH and failed to exercise reasonable care and precaution while driving the vehicle under poor roadway surface conditions.
Thompson drove the vehicle in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of Chambers in violation of West Virginia Code and drove at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing poor roadway surface conditions, according to the suit.
Chambers claims Adkins was acting as supervisor of Thompson and was acting within the scope of his employment when he entrusted and supervised Thompson.
The plaintiff suffered serious and permanent bodily injuries as a direct and proximate result of the negligence and/or gross negligence of Thompson, Adkins and the DOH, according to the suit.
Chambers claims he experienced and will continue to experience pain, suffering, mental anguish and inconvenience as a direct and proximate result of the negligence and/or gross negligence of Thompson, Adkins and DOH.
The plaintiff also sustained damage to his credit score for unpaid medical bills because of the injuries he sustained in the accident, according to the suit.
Chambers is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Jeffrey S. Simpkins of Simpkins Law Office.
Mingo Circuit Court case number: 16-C-6