Multiple People Injured In Oak Brook School Bus Accident on I-88
Bus Accident - December 16, 2022
Several People Injured In Oak Brook School Bus Accident Involving Van on Interstate 88 West of I-294 York Road
OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS (December 15, 2022) – At least 10 people were injured in an Oak Brook school bus accident with a van on Interstate 88 near York Road.
DuPage County officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:17 a.m. on Monday. A school bus, van and three other vehicles were involved in a collision.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. A total of 10 people were taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
The victims included 7 adults, including a pregnant woman, from the van. Two adults and a child on the bus were also injured. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Oak Brook School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe for their passengers. But they pose a number of unique hazards to those in passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 54 people nationwide in 2020, down by over 50% compared to 2019 according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” There are a number of factors that could contribute to a bus accident including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
- Driver fatigue
School 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. If a school bus driver failed to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
If a school bus driver was working at the time of a crash, the company that they work 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 children when they crashed. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any school bus accident. But it is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. They are able to recover damages through a civil claim. Sadly, though, it is common for any driver to deny liability for a collision. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
Investigating A Cook County School Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Oak Brook school 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 of the victims.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Oak Brook car accident? 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 those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
