CHARLESTON — Two lawsuits have been filed against Ashlee Transport for a vehicle accident that caused several people to be injured.
Terry Hardin was also named as a defendant in the lawsuits.
Samantha Stepp and Roger Ray filed the lawsuits in Mingo Circuit Court in November. They were removed last month to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Stepp was driving a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck on Jan. 19, 2018, when Hardin negligently, carelessly and recklessly operated a 2001 Peterbilt Tractor Trailer owned by Ashlee Transport on U.S. 119 toward U.S. 65 in Mingo County and struck her truck. Ray was a passenger in Stepp's vehicle.
Hardin's actions were a violation of West Virginia highway traffic laws and rules, according to the suit.
Stepp claims as a result of his negligence, she suffered serious and permanent injuries and was required to see medical and hospital treatment and procedures, which have resulted in a vocational disability.
After the accident, Stepp was transported to Williamson Memorial Hospital, where she was evaluated and diagnosed with a sprain of ligaments of the cervical spine, sprain of ligaments of the thoracic spine, contusion of the back wall of the thorax, a sprain of the left shoulder and contusion of the left knee, according to her suit.
Ray was also transported to Williamson Memorial and was advised he had an acute cervical and lumbar spine sprain.
Stepp claims she was evaluated by another doctor at his office and was diagnosed with having a chest wall injury, blunt left upper abdominal injury, cervical injury strain and strain of the thoracic spine.
Ray claims he was also evaluated by another doctor who noted he had a cervical strain, acute lumbosacral strain, a strain of the thoracic spine and right shoulder strain.
As a result of the defendants' negligence and carelessness, Stepp and Ray suffered physical pain; physical and vocational impairment and disability; loss of enjoyment of life; emotional distress; medical, hospital and pharmacy expenses; and annoyance and inconvenience.
Stepp and Ray are seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. Stepp is represented by Guy R. Bucci and Ashley N. Lynch of Hendrickson & Long. Ray is represented by A.J. Ryan od Ryan & Ryan.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Case number: 2:19-cv-00002, 2:19-cv-00003