A recent school bus crash on Interstate 94 near Deerfield allegedly left 20 middle school children hurt. According to Sergeant Tim Moore of the Illinois State Police, the accident occurred after one of nine eastbound school buses traveling from Lake Villa to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont was struck from behind by one of two semi-trucks that had just collided on the roadway. The bus, operated by Durham School Services, was reportedly carrying 43 seventh graders at the time of the incident. Officer Moore said all 20 injured students were transported to three area hospitals by emergency crews from Bannockburn, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Wilmette, and Winnetka. He stated none of the students suffered a life-threatening injury.
School administrators and a representative for the bus company were allegedly dispatched to the scene of the accident immediately following the collision. In addition, a text and voice message system reportedly alerted district parents to the crash. Patricia Volling, Director of Business Services for School District 41, said the students were on their way to see a Chicago Wolves hockey game when the accident occurred. Instead, all uninjured students were transported back to school following the accident.
Although the exact cause of the collision is still under investigation, one of the tractor-trailer drivers, 47-year-old Brian Bosch of Franklin, Wisconsin, was cited for failure to reduce speed. State police said there was no reason to believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the injury accident.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 2,418 school bus accidents occurred throughout the state in 2008. 123 students and 99 school bus drivers were hurt as a result of those collisions. Because students normally do not wear seat belts while riding school buses, the injuries sustained in a crash can be catastrophic and life-altering. Common school bus wreck injuries include broken bones, head, neck, back, and traumatic brain injuries, and even death. The parents of a minor who was hurt while riding a school bus may bring a lawsuit on behalf of their child in order to recover medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and other damages. If your child was hurt in a Chicago Metro school bus collision, you should discuss your case with a skilled personal injury attorney.
If your child was injured while traveling on a school bus, give the experienced lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call today at (312) 475-9596. Our hardworking Chicago school bus accident attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you protect your child’s rights and assist you in filing your personal injury case. Our capable lawyers are ready and willing to aid you in achieving the financial compensation your child deserves based upon the severity of his or her injuries. For a free confidential consultation with a quality lawyer, contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Another Lockport Township High School Student Killed in Automobile Crash, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 21, 2012
Cicero Cleaning Contractor Dies After Falling Into Chemical Tank in Wheeling, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 18, 2012
Additional Resources:
20 students from Lake Villa middle school injured in bus crash, by Jeff Danna, Chicago Tribune