Truck Driver Sues Over Faulty Bungee Blinding

A Rosenberg, Texas truck driver’s day went from bad to worse.  On April 25, 2011, M.C. Trucking contract driver Abe Coffman had just picked up a load at  Chevron in Port Arthur  and was headed out to make a delivery when a tire on his trailer blew out.

Coffman pulled over and changed the blown-out tire and put it in the storage cage and set back out on the road.  Several miles down the road, another tire blew out.

“Coffman states he was forced to secure the tire on top of the trailer using Dole’s bungee cord. While attempting to secure the tire, one of the bungee cords snapped and struck Coffman in the eye, permanently blinding him, the suit claims,” the Southeast Texas Record reported.

On August 31, 2012, Coffman filed a lawsuit against Dole Foods Inc. and Chevron Port Arthur Lubrication Plant.

“Dole is accused of negligence for failing to properly inspect the subject trailer, failing to provide adequate storage areas on the subject trailer, failing to provide adequate devices to secure its tire carcasses to the subject trailer and for providing a defective or inadequate bungee cord to Coffman,” the Record reported.

According to the lawsuit, Chevron is accused of negligence for failing to properly inspect the trailer as well.

Coffman and his attorney are seeking compensation for “damages for physical pain and mental anguish, lost earnings, damage to earning capacity, disfigurement, physical impairment, medical expenses, property damage, interest, exemplary damages and court costs.”