If you live in, work in, or visit Chicago, chances are good that you occasional utilize public transportation to get from one point to another across the city or even to one of the many suburbs surrounding the metropolitan area. Public transit can offer an efficient and easy to use form of travel for many people on a daily or occasional basis as they move around and most of the time, safety never becomes an issue.
Unfortunately, though, public transit poses many of the same threats to safety as other forms of travel, including driving by private car. Bus accidents happen every year in Chicago and many of them result in injuries to those on board or those in another vehicle involved in the crash. Injuries may cause victims to incur medical expenses or to miss time from work, depriving them of money they otherwise would have earned. Though nothing can erase these crashes once they take place, it may be possible for the victims of bus collisions to seek financial compensation for their damages, including any pain and suffering they are forced to endure. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago who has experience in bus accident claims may help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt in a crash.
Police in Chicago were alerted to a collision between a vehicle and a CTA bus on Wednesday afternoon near 71st Street and Paxton. Though it is still early in the investigation, authorities believe that the bus was stopped when a second vehicle in the area approached the bus and caused a rear-end collision. It is not yet clear what caused the driver of the car to allegedly strike the rear of the bus but it appears that the driver, along with at least 10 passengers on board the bus, sustained injuries in the crash.
Emergency medical crews responded to the scene and evaluated all victims for potential injuries. Those in need of additional treatment were transported to area hospitals where their current conditions are not known, though all were expected to survive the incident. It is not clear whether any citations have been issued in the crash or whether any charges are pending.
When stepping on a public bus, passengers assume that they will be safe from injury and from harm. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and some people are hurt every year in bus-related accidents in Illinois.
The lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. have experience representing the victims of Chicago bus crashes, including those who have been passengers on board a CTA bus or have otherwise been involved in a CTA bus collision. We are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and help you as well.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we offer a free case consultation to all injury victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we provide it without any obligation on your part. Everything discussed will be kept confidential and we will help you understand whether you may have a valid claim, depending on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding your crash.
If you have been injured in a bus accident, do not let yourself suffer in silence. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you seek the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Worker in Critical Condition after Chicago Water Tower Accident, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published August 20, 2014.
Resource:
At Least 10 People Hurt in South Shore Bus Crash, NBC 5 Chicago, published August 20, 2014.