CHICAGO – A driver has filed a negligence lawsuit on behalf of himself and his passenger, claiming they were injured in a motor vehicle collision when another driver strayed from his lane in the middle of a turn and struck their vehicle.
Plaintiffs Carl Alexander, a resident of Marietta, Georgia, and McClinton Howard, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Junior T. Oriazowanlan, US Leasing, HMD Trucking, HMD, LLC, Benefit Trucking, and B1 Trucking, formerly known as Benefit Trucking, citing allegations of negligence.
According to court documents, the complaint involves a motor vehicle collision that occurred on April 10, 2022, near the city limits of Madison, Illinois. The collision involved a vehicle operated by Carl Alexander, with McClinton Howard as a passenger, and a commercial vehicle driven by Junior T. Oriazowanlan, an employee of HMD Trucking and Benefit Trucking who was acting within the scope of his employment, according to court documents. The plaintiffs allege the collision occurred at an intersection when Alexander attempted to make a left turn while Oriazowanlan attempted a U-turn from northbound to southbound on Route 203.
The plaintiffs allege that Oriazowanlan breached his duty to operate his vehicle in a safe manner and cite various forms of negligence, including failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to properly observe traffic to see the plaintiffs' vehicle. HMD Trucking and Benefit Trucking are being held vicariously liable for the alleged negligence of their employee. US Leasing is named in the lawsuit as the leaseholder of Oriazowanlan's truck and is accused of failing to ensure that lessee (HMD Trucking) was competent to safely operate the vehicle.
The plaintiffs claim that they sustained severe injuries in the collision and are seeking damages in excess of $50,000 for loss of normal life, loss of earning capacity and wages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, disability and medical expenses, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented by attorney Christopher K. Provost of Witherite Law Group in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2023L011874