15 Students Injured In Peoria School Bus Accident on Fayette Street
Pedestrian Accident - August 22, 2024
Investigation Underway After 15 Students Injured In Downtown Peoria School Bus Collision Along Fayette Street
PEORIA, ILLINOIS (August 21, 2024) – At least 15 students were injured in a downtown Peoria school bus accident along Fayette Street.
Peoria County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:42 a.m. on Wednesday. A school bus was involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle.
The bus was carrying students from Charter Oak Primary School at the time of the collision. They were on a trip to the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Peoria County School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe. But they can be involved in serious collisions under certain circumstances. According to the National Safety Council, “Of the people injured in school bus-related crashes from 2011 to 2020, about 33% were school bus passengers, 8% were school bus drivers, and 54% were occupants of other vehicles. The remainder were pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other or unknown.” There are a number of common causes of school bus accidents.
- School buses tend to have large blind spots that may obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
- School buses have a wide turning radius, which can lead to side-impact collisions.
- School buses have a high center of gravity, thereby making them more susceptible to rollovers.
School bus drivers must exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid collisions. A number of school bus accidents are due to drivers who make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-707), no person shall make a left turn or U-turn upon a roadway unless such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after a truck accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be collected.
- Photos of the accident site should be collected.
- The truck’s event date recorder should be collected.
It is important to seek medical aid as early as possible after any bus collisions. Many victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries for several days or a week after a collision. Sadly, though, school districts will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their drivers is involved in a collision. This is one of the reasons it is so important to seek legal counsel if you’ve been injured.
Investigating Illinois School Bus Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the stunts injured in this Peoria school bus accident. It is our hope that all involved will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Illinois school bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they need. 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.
