Amber Lash Injured In Peoria CityLink Bus Accident On Harrison Street

Bus Accident - June 20, 2022

Amber Lash Injured In Peoria CityLink Bus Accident  After Bus Driver Lost Control Before Hitting Parked Vehicles And A Tree

PEORIA, ILLINOIS (June 20, 2022) – A woman identified as Amber Lash was injured in a downtown, Peoria CityLink bus accident along Harrison Street.

Peoria County officials are saying that the accident took place  around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. Amber Lash was on the CityLink bus and heading to a doctor’s appointment.

As the bus was making a left turn from Jefferson Avenue, the bus driver lost control and crashed into parking meters and a parked blue truck before hitting a tree.

An eyewitness to the crash said that he heard a loud pop before the crash and thinks a tire blew out. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.

Amber Lash bounced off the windshield and fell to the ground when the bus hit the tree. She was then sprayed with oil and antifreeze before being rescued by first responders.

Firefighters had to use the jaws of life in order to free the CityLink bus driver who became trapped. In all, six people were taken to the hospital in order to received treatment for their injuries.

Amber Lash told reporters the she sustained extensive injuries including a concussion and bruising all over her body. She still needs extensive medical support and may not heal for several weeks or months.

Liability In Peoria CityLink Bus Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in bus accidents every year. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” Pedestrians, bicyclists and passengers in smaller vehicles tend to make up most of the victims. There are a number of risk factors associated with the severity of any bus crash.

• Young bus drivers under 25 are more likely to be involved in severe crashes.
• Bus drivers over the age of 65 are more likely to be involved in severe crashes.
• Crashes that take place at intersections are more likely to be severe.
• Bus accident severity increases because of inattentive and risky driving.

CityLink buses are considered “common carriers” under the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/) and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Driving a bus is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. Among other things, they are much more difficult to stop and have a wider turning radius. In order to be safe on the road, bus drivers will need extensive training. They must also get a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Serious traffic infractions can jeopardize a bus driver’s ability to maintain their CDL.

All bus drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. This includes traveling at a safe speed at all times. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601),  no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. When a bus driver hits a parked vehicle, this tends to be a sign they were traveling too fast. The company or municipal entity that employed a bus driver could also be held at fault for the negligent actions of their drivers. Employers are typically vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees.

Liability for a bus accident could also extend to the company  or entity responsible for maintaining a bus. Bus companies have a legal obligation to properly maintain their fleet to prevent accidents. A large portion of tire blowouts occur when tires are not being properly checked or maintained. In order to prevent blowouts, tires should be (1) properly inflated, (2) checked for signs of wear or cracking, (3) balanced and rotated. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any bus accident.

• Surveillance footage outside of the bus should be sought.
• Surveillance footage from within the bus should be examined.
• Maintenance records for the bus should be reviewed.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Victims should consult with an experienced bus accident attorney.

The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus accident can seek aid through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, bus companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any accident. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Peoria CityLink Bus Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Amber Lash and all of the other victims of this collision. It is our sincere hope that everyone is able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to investigators. There are so many questions that need to be answered. Was this bus driver adequately trained? Was the bus involved well maintained? Have there been similar accidents involving CityLink buses?

Have you or someone that you love been injured in a CityLink bus accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.