The Chicago Transit Authority is the largest provider of public transportation within Chicago, through its use of street-level buses as well as elevated and underground trains. In fact, on an average weekday, the CTA provides 1.7 million rides to travelers and in 2011 alone, the CTA provided 620.5 million rides to residents, commuters, and visitors of the city.
Of the nearly two million people who use the CTA every day, the majority of them receive safe transit from their point of origin to their destination as intended. But unfortunately for some, incidents arise that leave them hurt, injured, or in the worst cases, even dead.
A fatal train accident involving a CTA red line train occurred on Wednesday around noon at the 63rd Street station on Chicago’s south side. The train was near the station when it struck a 63-year-old woman who was believed to be waiting for the train. Emergency crews responded to the scene but the woman’s injuries were too severe and she died as a result.
Local police are investigating the incident to determine whether the train crew or the victim were at fault for the collision but the final determination is expected to take some time. Red line service in the area was halted for a time but resumed later in the afternoon.
What is clear at this point is that the woman and the train should not have been at the same point at the same time and that a collision between the two should never have occurred. This incident not only cost the woman her life but also took the victim away from her family and friends, leaving many people to feel a loss as a result of the crash.
When an accident is due to the negligence of a train owner, operator, or employee, a victim involved in an incident with the train who becomes injured may be entitled to a financial recovery for his or her damages. In the event that the victim loses his or her life, the victim’s surviving family members may have a right to bring a claim for their losses.
These claims are provided for by the laws of Chicago and Illinois but they must be brought within a specified period of time following an accident. Failure to bring a claim for damages in a timely manner will result in a victim losing the right to bring such a claim at all. After an accident, a victim may wish to speak with an injury lawyer to make sure his or her rights will be protected.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we believe that victims deserve the compensation they are entitled to and we make it our job to help victims obtain the best possible outcome in their case. We offer a free case consultation to all those hurt in accidents who call us at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442. If you have been the victim of a train accident, call us today and let us help you obtain a recovery you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Cop with Car, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 4, 2013.
Resource:
Red line train hits, kills woman at 63rd Street, Chicago Tribune, published December 4, 2013.