The family of a career volunteer, that fell from a golf cart after attending a Toby Keith concert and is now in a coma, is suing the volunteer driver and the golf cart designer in a personal injury lawsuit, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Along with volunteer M.K and those entities involved in the design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of the golf cart, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – where the accident took place – is also named in the suit.
Y.H., 65, suffered a "closed head injury" on February 25 when she was thrown from a seat in a golf cart that lacked seatbelts and other restraints.
Y.H. was known for her years of volunteer service to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Following the concert Y.H. and her husband traveled in a golf cart driven by M.K. During the ride M.K. made a sharp left turn with enough "force and speed" to eject Y.H. "from the right side of the moving vehicle and onto the pavement."
The speed of the fall, coupled with coming into contact with a hard unforgiving surface, left Y.H. with a "closed head injury" and rendered her unconscious. The injury subsequently left her in a comatose state. She is currently still in the coma, nearly 8 months after the injury.
According to L.S., the Rodeo Chief Operating Office, Y.H. is on the Livestock Shows' board of directors and has chaired the Western Art Committee. L.S. refused to comment as to the pending litigation and would only state, "(Y.H.) is one of us and our heart goes out to her and her family."
There are two internal reports from the rodeo regarding the incident. L.S. has refused to release them because they will be needed in the pending litigation. The reports also allegedly detail personal medical information.
Though Y.H. was injured six months ago, no police report was filed by law enforcement because it was a personal injury. According to L.S., other serious rodeo injuries are made known to the public quicker.
Houston-based attorney Brant Stogner is representing Y.H.'s family in the lawsuit. Stogner commented, "Usually when there's an accident involving a motor vehicle, we can obtain a crash report. The most information has come from the ambulance records."
According to the lawsuit both the rodeo and the driver were negligent, and the golf cart had design defects.
The golf cart failed to have seatbelts, headlights, taillights, mirrors and "handhold restraints … that passengers could use to avoid being ejected from the vehicle while it was moving." All safety features were lacking in the vehicles that Conroe Golf Cars leased, and later sold, to the rodeo.
Y.H., a self-employed businesswoman, currently has medical bills nearing $500,000.
Stogner added, "Now, she's totally reliant on a feeding tube. She's been off the ventilator - and that's good - but assuming no further recovery, she will require the same type of treatment for the rest of her life…periodically (she opens her eyes) but it's a blank stare."
If you need to file a lawsuit on behalf of an injured family member, contact a personal injury lawyer today without further delay!