Four Children Injured In DuPage County School Bus Accident on Interstate 55
Bus Accident - January 24, 2023
Four Students Injured In DuPage County School Bus Collision on Interstate 55
DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS (January 23, 2022) – Four children were injured in a DuPage County school bus accident on Interstate 55 not far from Route 83.
DuPage County officials are saying that the collision took place on Friday. Two school buses collided in the roadway under uncertain conditions.
Two tow trucks were called to the scene to remove the disabled school buses following the crash. A total of four students were sent to local area hospital in order to receive treatment.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For DuPage County School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe for children. However, school bus passengers are occasionally injured in crashes. 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.” There are a number of factors that could contribute to a school bus accident.
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
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. Many collisions are due to speeding. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the road. The vast majority of rear-end collisions are due to drivers that are distracted, fatigued, speeding or following the lead vehicle too closely. Victims of bus accident tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
When a bus driver is negligent and causes an accident that injured children, the school district or company that they worked for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers 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 that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. It is extremely important that all evidence is properly preserved after any accident.
Investigating An Illinois School Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the students injured in this crash and their families. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a school bus accident? Our team of bus safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of help after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
