Bicyclist Injured In Champaign MTD Bus Accident By Wright Street and Chalmers Street
Bus Accident - January 31, 2023
Bicycle Rider Sustained Leg Injury In Champaign MTD Bus Accident By The Intersection of South Wright Street and East Chalmers Street
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS (January 30, 2023) – A bicyclist was injured in a Champaign MTD bus accident near the intersection of South Wright Street and East Chalmers Street.
Champaign County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:30 a.m. on Monday. A bicyclist was riding in the area when they were struck by an MTD bus.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital in order to get treatment for a leg injury.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Champaign MTD Bus Accidents
Buses tend to be very safe for their passengers. But they can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. According to the Journalist’s Resource, “The researchers note that “buses and other commercial motor vehicles (CMV) have a higher likelihood of fatal accident involvement per registered vehicle” (though the victims are often in other vehicles, or are pedestrians and bicyclists.)” There are many steps that bus drivers should take in order to avoid hitting bicyclists.
- Bus drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
- Bus drivers should always use their turn signals to alert others of their intentions.
- Bus drivers should obey all speed limit and traffic laws.
Buses are considered “common carriers” and are held to strict safety standards set forth in the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Bus drivers must operate their vehicles with the highest vigilance and utmost care in order to protect their passengers and those on the roadway. To that end, bus drivers must continuously scan the road ahead of them for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or bicyclist upon a roadway. The driver must also use their horn when necessary to alert others of their presence. One of the major safety issues with buses is that they have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists near them. Victims of bicycle accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
It is extremely important that all evidence is properly preserved after any bus accident. The physical evidence including a person’s injuries can paint a picture of what happened. Any person that is injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver may be able to seek aid through a civil claim if that is what they choose. Sadly, though, it is common for bus companies to deny liability for any accident involving their drivers.
Investigating An Illinois MTD Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the bicyclist injured in this collision. It is our hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Champaign bus accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are 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 after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
