13 Hospitalized In CTA Bus Accident In Chatham
Bus Accident - May 15, 2024
13 People Injured In Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Bus Crash In Chatham By Cottage Grove Avenue and 79th Street
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 15, 2024) – At least 13 people were injured in a CTA bus accident at the intersection of Cottage Grove Avenue and 79th Street in Chatham.
Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place on Friday morning. A van was involved in a collision with a CTA bus under uncertain conditions.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. A total of 13 people were hospitalized. Seven were listed in fair condition, and three were listed in serious condition.
A full investigation into the Chatham bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Chicago Transit Authority Bus Accidents
There are hundreds of Chicago Transit Authority bus accidents every year. According to ABC 7, “For CTA buses, that crash factor is 36 hours. Every day and a half in Chicago, a city bus is involved in a crash and the I-Team discovered a surprising number of injuries in CTA accident reports.” There are a number of common factors that can contribute to bus accidents.
- Blind Spots: Buses have large spots all around that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles and pedestrians.
- Turning Radius: Buses have a large turning radius and are more likely to be involved in side-impact collisions.
- Bus Weight: A fully loaded bus weighs much more than smaller vehicles. They therefore take much longer to stop.
Public buses are considered “common carriers” under the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Their drivers must use an abundance of caution to avoid accidents. A large number of bus accidents are due to speeding. If a driver fails to slow down in order to avoid an accident, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Liability for a bus accident could extend beyond any driver.
The company or municipal entity that operated a bus could be liable for an accident. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a bus driver may have been transporting passengers when they were involved in a crash. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have $5,000,000 in liability coverage. Sadly, though, bus agencies and their insurance providers will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their drivers is involved in an accident. This is why it is a good idea to seek legal advice after any bus accident. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After CTA Bus Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Chatham bus accident. It is our sincere hope that all involved will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all those affected.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a CTA bus accident? Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
