Motorcyclist Injured In DeKalb County Bus Accident by Chicago Road and Illinois Route 23
Bus Accident - August 31, 2022
Motorcyclist Rider Injured In DeKalb County Bus Accident Near The Intersection of Chicago Road and Illinois Route 23
DEKALB COUNTY, ILLINOIS (August 31, 2022) – A motorcyclist was injured in a rural DeKalb County accident with a bus near the intersection of Chicago Road and Illinois Route 23.
DeKalb County officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. A bus was traveling east on Chicago Road when the driver ran through a stop sign and hit a motorcyclist.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. They were taken to the Kishwaukee Hospital in Sycamore.
Police cited the 46-year-old bus driver with disregarding a stop sign and failing to reduce speed in order to avoid an accident.
Liability In DeKalb County Bus Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in bus accidents. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, 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.” There are a number of factors that make buses particularly dangerous to motorcyclists and those in passenger vehicles.
- Buses have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
- A fully loaded bus can weigh 36,000 lbs and can take much longer to come to a stop than a passenger vehicle.
- Buses have a wide turning radius making them much more prone to side impact collisions.
Buses are considered “common carriers” under the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1204(b), the driver of any vehicle must stop at the limit line when approaching a stop sign. They must continue to yield for any vehicle traveling from the opposite direction that is close enough so as to pose a hazard. If a driver goes through a stop sign and hits a motorcyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
If a bus driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, 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. For example, a bus driver may have been transporting passengers when they were involved in a crash. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 of liability insurance. However, bus companies will often fight hard to deny responsibility for any crash. The bus driver’s logbook should be examined. Photos of the accident site should be taken. Medical records should be preserved. Evidence is what will ultimately be needed to demonstrate liability for any collision.
Investigating An Illinois Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the motorcyclist injured in this DeKalb County collision. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for this preventable collision.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a bus driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of bus 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 a free investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
