Lebanon Vet Sues; Claims He Was Knocked Out, Hurt When Nearby Tractor-trailer Blew Tire

Lebanon vet sues; claims he was knocked out, hurt when nearby tractor-trailer blew tire

A military veteran who claims he suffered physical and psychological harm when a tractor-trailer had a tire blow-out on a curb in Lebanon is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in a newly-filed federal lawsuit.

Ray J. Falk states in the U.S. Middle District Court case that he was so close to the blow-out that he was knocked unconscious by the concussion. He claims he also suffered "severe trauma to his hearing" and "aggravation of pre-existing mental health issues related to his military service."

Falk's lawyer, Jesse L. Pleet, said Tuesday that his client is a decorated Navy veteran who served in the early 1980s and has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Falk, who had no prior diagnosed service-related hearing problems, contends that his hearing trauma from the tractor-trailer incident is permanent, Pleet said

According to the suit, Falk was on the sidewalk at Lincoln Avenue and Cumberland Street at 11 a.m. on May 9, 2013 when the truck driver misjudged a right turn, ran onto the curb and blew one or more tires of the rig, causing an "extraordinarily loud, concussive explosive sound."

Falk, who claims he was standing just feet from where the blowout occurred, is seeking damages from Tennessee-based Western Express Inc. trucking company and the truck's driver, whom he claims failed to keep the rig under proper control.

I can potentially believe it. Check out what happens to this idiot who tries to knife another trucker's tire: Linked so people need not see it if they don't want to. It's not graphic, but it's pretty painful-looking.

Was he panhandling on the corner?