America's Next Top Model Contestant Sues Over Bus Crash

Lexie filed the legal docs in L.A. County Superior Court -- claiming a guy named Narciso Ayala took an illegal right turn on March 28, 2011 ... and smashed into her car ... resulting in a "catastrophic accident which caused serious and permanent injuries."

Lexie's lawyer tells TMZ, the model's career has taken a crippling blow as a result -- and now, she's suing for lost wages ... plus hospital and medical expenses.