You may recall the story last summer about a former beauty queen who was involved in a serious auto accident on Interstate 15. Tracy Rodgers, who was the reigning Ms. Nevada for 2011, was driving along I-15 near Moapa several miles northwest of Las Vegas on June 23. A tour bus owned by U.S. Asia Casino Tours tried to make an illegal U-turn in front of Rodgers’ Chevy Camaro, and she slammed into the back of the bus. The beauty queen was transported by helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas in critical condition. Rodgers suffered numerous broken bones and was unable to compete in the Ms. United States pageant last July.

Earlier this month, Rodgers filed a personal injury lawsuit against the tour bus company. Not only did the bus driver make a dangerous and unlawful U-turn on I-15, but U.S. Asia Casino Tours was not even permitted to be operating buses on the roadways at the time of the crash. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials say that the tour bus company’s license had been revoked ten days prior to the collision because it had failed to submit the required proof of insurance.

Rodgers could potentially receive reimbursement for her medical expenses as well as compensation for any lost future wages she might have earned as a beauty queen, model, or related occupation had the accident never occurred. In addition to damages for emotional suffering, Rodgers may also be awarded punitive damages since the bus was not supposed to even be in operation at all.