Five Injured In Chicago Bus Accident on DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Kenwood
Bus Accident - May 8, 2022
Four Women and Child Injured In South Side, Chicago Bus Accident on DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Kenwood
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 8, 2022) – Four women and a child were injured in a Chicago CTA bus accident along DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Kenwood.
Cook County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. A CTA bus was traveling in the northbound lanes when it rear-ended a car.
There were 50 people on the bus at the time of the collision. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
Four women and a child were injured in the crash on DuSable Lake Shore. They were taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
The bus passengers were transferred to the destination in another bus.
Liability In Chicago Bus Accidents
Buses are among the safest forms of transportation that a person can take. But they can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles. A fully loaded bus can weigh as much as 44,000 lbs and can be very difficult to stop. Buses also tend to have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles. There are a number of steps that bus drivers should take in order to reduce the odds of a collision.
- Bus drivers should receive adequate training.
- Bus drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Bus drivers should always maintain a safe distance with the vehicles ahead of them.
Bus drivers must get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Bus companies are considered common carriers and are subject to the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). The drivers for common carriers are held to strict safety standards. They must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person to avoid collisions. The duty of heightened care also applies to equipment maintenance and hiring standards.
Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-710), “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” There is no reason that a driver should ever rear-end another vehicle. These types of collisions typically occur when drivers are speeding, distracted or following the lead vehicle too closely.
When a bus driver is negligent and rear-ends another vehicle, the company or city that they work for could be held at fault through a civil claim. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent 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 in the middle of transporting passengers. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- PTSD
- Organ damage
The FMCSA requires commercial 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 may have legal recourse 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 collision involving their drivers. A Chicago bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Chicago Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this CTA bus accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all affected.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a bus accident on DuSable Lake Shore? Our team of consumer 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 bus companies are held accountable for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
