Bartlett High School Students Injured In School Bus Accident
Bus Accident - October 19, 2024
Two Bartlett High School Students Injured In Chicago Area School Bus Crash on West Schick Road
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 19, 2024) – Two students at Bartlett High School were injured in a school bus accident along West Schick Road.
Cook County officials say that the collision took place around 3:20 p.m. on Friday. Two students were running alongside a school bus when they fell.
Both students were then hit by the school bus. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.
The female student was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with critical injuries. The male student was taken to Ascension Saint Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates with a fractured forearm.
A full investigation into the cause of the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Cook County School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe for bus passengers. But they can be uniquely dangerous for pedestrians. According to the National Safety Council, “From 2013 to 2022, about 71% of the deaths in school bus-related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus, and 16% were pedestrians. About 5% were school bus passengers, 4% were school bus drivers, and 3% were pedalcyclists.” There are a number of reasons that school buses can be uniquely dangerous.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- School buses have a high ground clearance, which can increase the odds that a pedestrian is pulled underneath a bus.
- School buses have a wide turning radius, which can increase the odds that a pedestrian is hit at an intersection.
School 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. Bus drivers have a legal obligation to continuously can the road ahead of them and watch out for pedestrians. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries.
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Depending on the facts of any case, the company or school district that operated a bus could be liable for a pedestrian collision. In general, 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. Any person injured in a school bus accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. A school bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Cook County School Bus Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the Bartlett High School students injured in this school bus accident. It is our sincere hope that they are able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents may be averted.
Have you or someone that you love been injured in a bus crash at Bartlett High School? You may have legal recourse. Our team of school bus accident attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.