The Chicago Transit Authority operates approximately 2,000 public buses on Chicago’s roads, traveling over 2,273 route miles around 150 routes and providing trips for over one million passengers every single day. In addition, commercial buses carry passengers in and out of the Windy City all the time, and school buses transport children to and from school every day.
While most of these bus trips end in passengers getting to and from their destinations safely, sometimes they can result in accidents. When they do, the resulting injuries can be severe, leaving either the passengers or those they share the road with severely injured.
Fortunately, there are steps accident victims may take—and with which a skilled personal injury attorney could assist—to seek compensation for injuries that were not their fault. However, these types of cases are some of the most complex that Chicago civil courts see, particularly when a city-owned bus is involved. For this reason, anyone injured in a bus accident should speak to a Chicago bus accident lawyer as soon as possible to see what their options may be.
Negligence in Bus Accidents
Bus drivers in Chicago owe the people around them a significant duty of care. This means they must take all possible precautions and operate their vehicle with a mind towards keeping passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers safe the entire time they are on the bus.
If they breach this duty of care, they may be found legally negligent. When someone is found negligent in a bus accident, they may be held liable for paying compensation to all injured individuals. This compensation is meant to help cover the costs of medical bills, lost income, and other expenses a person may face after being injured in a bus accident.
Determining Liability in Bus Accidents
One of the reasons bus accidents are often so complex is because there may be many different parties involved who acted in a negligent way. When an accident involves a commercial bus, for example, the subsequent civil case could include the owner of the bus company, the bus driver, anyone who performed maintenance on the bus, and perhaps even the bus manufacturer as liable parties.
Each of these entities is responsible for providing a duty of care to the passengers on the bus, and if they fail to do so, they could be held liable for paying compensation to accident victims for their injuries. Even the drivers of other vehicles could be held liable for a bus accident if they acted in an unreasonable manner and caused the crash.
Claims Against the Government
In certain cases, a bus accident claim could involve a claim against a government agency or entity. For example, if a city bus gets into an accident and causes serious injury to other parties, the government could be the party that is held responsible in any resulting civil suit.
Claims against the government have strict limitations compared to other bus accident cases, as well as different time limits for filing. There may be different processes that need to take place, such as certain forms or notices that must be filled out.
However, that does not mean the situation is hopeless. Filing a claim against the government and pursuing economic recovery is possible with the help of a qualified bus accident attorney in Chicago.
Speak with a Chicago Bus Accident Attorney Today
Any time someone is injured in a bus accident, they may face serious injuries that can be very costly to treat. These are cases that should not be fought alone.
If you were injured in a bus accident, speak to a Chicago bus accident lawyer for help. You may be eligible for compensation, but that compensation may be difficult to get without experienced legal counsel by your side. A seasoned attorney could represent you throughout the case and work hard to ensure you get all the compensation you deserve. Call today.
