Injured? Meet with a Cook County Bus Accident Lawyer at No Cost!
Carriers such as bus companies have a high duty of care to their passengers, as well as to everyone else on the road. When a bus driver is at fault for an accident, victims can file a lawsuit against the company to recover damages. These cases can get exceptionally tricky, particularly if the bus was city-owned. You’ll want to review your options, rights and responsibilities with a Cook County bus accident lawyer first. You can discuss you case free of charge by calling our firm at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
Bus accidents often cause a lot of harm.
Approximately 63,000 buses are involved in crashes each year in America, according to the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute’s (UMTRI) study, “Type of Motor Carrier and Driver History in Fatal Bus Crashes.” An estimated 14,000 people are injured, and 325 are killed each year in these bus accidents.
Also, people inside of the bus are more protected from harm that other road users. Most injuries that occur in a bus crash happen to the occupants of the other vehicles, not generally the bus driver or the bus passengers, according the aforementioned the study. Only 50 bus occupants accounted for the 325 fatalities.
While relatively rare, bus accidents are still popping up in the news far too frequently. Take a look at these recent headlines related to bus accidents in Illinois.
- A Mahomet woman is suing the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District after a bus hit her last February — she lost both legs in the accident.
- A school bus carrying dozens of children collided with a car at the East Moline intersection last May. No children were injured, but the bus driver and the driver of the other car were taken to the hospital.
- Ten children were injured in a Boulder Hill Elementary bus accident crash when another driver disobeyed traffic laws and collided with the bus. The driver suffered injury as well.
Causes of Bus Accidents
According to UMTRI, the four most commonly cited causes of bus accidents that are attributed to driver error are failure to yield, inattention, driving too fast and traveling outside of the appropriate lane. Our lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates have been handling cases for bus accident victims for more than 30 years. We have come across crashes caused by myriad factors, including the following.
- Mechanical problems with the bus
- Failing to yield
- Texting while driving
- Rowdiness on the bus
- Congested roadways
- Driving off of the road
- Weight distribution problems on the bus
- Improperly secured or dangerous cargo
- Making an improper turn
- Over-correcting
Filing a Lawsuit to Recover Your Damages
If another party, such as the bus driver, carrier, or another road user, caused an accident in which you were injured, you will likely qualify to file a claim or lawsuit. To do so, you will need adequate evidence to prove fault, as well as to prove the extent of your damages. Keep in mind that claims against large bus carriers or government entities can get extremely complex. Winning your case is completely doable – it just generally necessitates a determined, knowledgeable attorney for negotiation and litigation.
If your accident does meet all the elements necessary to bring a claim, you may be able to receive a settlement award that covers both your tangible and non-tangible damages. These include things such as your medical bills, current and future treatments, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and death benefits.
For a free case evaluation with a Cook County bus accident lawyer, contact Buttafuoco & Associates today at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
