Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
How many buses do you see on your average day in Chicago? If you are like most, buses are so common that you may not fully realize how many you come across as you travel to or from work. In addition to the fleet of CTA buses, tour buses, double-decker buses, Greyhound buses, charter buses, and others all take to the streets of Chicago and elsewhere across Illinois. Buses provide an efficient and cost-effective means of transit for millions of people every year in the state and can help ease traffic congestion in heavily-populated areas, like Chicago. Additionally, the construction of bus lanes is often significantly cheaper than the investment needed for alternative transit infrastructure like railways for elevated trains. When all things are considered, it is easy to realize that buses in Chicago are beneficial to many.
You may even ride on a bus from time to time if you call Chicago home. If so, you may board the bus, pay your fare, and take a seat with little thought. Regular riders might take these actions in an automatic manner as they are used to the procedures that accompany a bus ride. But once a rider is seated, few pay attention to the habit and actions of the driver behind the wheel, even though each patron’s safety depends on that bus driver.
While buses are often safe, they are still involved in collisions every year, and many of those crashes cause injuries to the bus drivers, passengers on board, others in nearby vehicles, or even pedestrians. Often, these victims are left with medical expenses and other financial damages that can be complex and may hinder the victim’s ability to recover. Illinois law is designed to hold an at-fault driver or another responsible party liable for these financial damages and therefore victims may be entitled to seek relief through the use of a civil claim, a type of action that belongs to the victim and is separate from any traffic charges brought by local authorities. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago who has experience representing bus accident victims may help you understand your options if a collision has affected your life.
On Monday afternoon, a CTA bus near Central Avenue and Chicago Avenue was traveling northbound when a vehicle in the area approached the bus and rear-ended it, injuring at least two people. The collision occurred around 1:30 p.m. and involved a Number 85 bus on Central Avenue, triggering a response at the scene by local police. At least one victim was transported to an area hospital for additional treatment of undisclosed injuries and at least one other person was treated at the scene.
Officials are still reviewing all relevant facts and trying to determine why the second vehicle rear-ended the CTA bus.
If you have been involved in a collision with a bus or while a passenger on a bus, you may realize that these accidents rarely end when the dust settles. Rather, injuries may occur and may take weeks, months, or even years to heal with the worst injuries remaining permanent.
The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. have represented numerous bus accident victims and their families and if you have been injured, we want to represent you as well. We offer a free case consultation without any obligation on your part and we are standing by 24 hours a day to take your call. You can reach us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and you will be able to speak with a licensed lawyer, regardless of when you call.
If you have been injured, do not continue to suffer due to the mistakes of another. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Actress Angelina Jolie Involved in California Car Accident, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 1, 2014.
Resource:
Minor injuries in West Side bus crash, by Liam Ford, Chicago Tribune, published December 1, 2014.