Today marks the first official day of spring and though Chicago has experienced some mild temperatures in recent weeks, today will be a reminder to many that winter is coming to a close and that sunny weather, baseball games, and kids home from school are just around the corner. In the meantime, though, springtime means that summer activities remain at bay as residents of Chicago go about their daily routines. For thousands across the city and even more in the state of Illinois, the daily routine includes making sure their children catch a bus on the way to school.
Depending on where you live, your children might be picked up by a school bus and taken to their schools to learn. Countess parents utilize this service with confidence, believing that the bus driver is trained and that the driver will always place the safety of children first when behind the wheel. Many times, this happens and children arrive at school after an uneventful trip, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Every year, school bus accidents occur in Chicago and in Illinois and some of them leave children and adults injured or even killed. When this happens, an entire family can be affected and can suffer due to the losses incurred in the crash, including the medical bills that may be necessary to help the children obtain the medical help they need. If your child or someone you love has been hurt in a school bus collision, make sure you understand whether you have a valid claim for your losses, and if so, what steps you must take to guarantee that your rights are protected. A good place to begin may be speaking with personal injury lawyer in Chicago to learn about your options and to help you secure your rights.
In an unfortunate incident, police in Kendall County have confirmed that a school bus carrying preschool children was involved in a collision on Thursday and that the accident sent three kids to the hospital for needed medical treatment. Little has been confirmed at this time about the crash but it has been stated that the school bus left the road’s surface near River Road and Blackhawk Spring Road in the afternoon hours and that the bus continued until it struck several trees which brought the vehicle to a stop. Three children ages three to five were on the bus as were two adults and all three children sustained some degree of injury in the accident.
In addition to the injured students, one adult on board was hurt but it is not clear whether that adult was the driver of the bus. An investigation is being conducted into this crash and officials are trying to determine what caused the bus to strike the trees; the outcome of that review may determine whether any citations are issued to the driver or to anyone else as a result of this incident.
When a child is hurt in a school bus accident, parents may not know where to turn or how to get the help they need for themselves and for their child. However, the laws in Illinois are designed to help these minor victims and to enable their guardians to recover financially and in their best interests through the use of a civil claim for damages.
The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. have experience helping bus accident victims and their family members seek and obtain compensation for their injuries and if your family has been affected by a similar crash, we want to help you. You can call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we have a lawyer available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and to provide you with a free case consultation without obligation. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we believe in fighting for the best possible outcome in every case we handle and if we represent you, we will fight for the optimal relief available in your case. Do not wait to see if an at-fault driver will reach out to you; call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Amtrak Train Involved in Fatal Crash with Truck en route to Chicago, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published March 16, 2015.
Resource:
Preschool children injured in Kendall bus crash, by Erika Wurst, Chicago Tribune/Aurora Beacon-News, published March 19, 2015.