Pedestrian Injured In Rockford School Bus Accident By Jefferson and Winnebago
Bus Accident - January 13, 2023
Pedestrian Injured In Rockford School Bus Accident By The Intersection of Jefferson and Winnebago
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS (June 12, 2022) – A pedestrian was injured in a Rockford school bus accident near the intersection of Jefferson and Winnebago.
Winnebago County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A pedestrian was hit by a school bus under uncertain conditions.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. The injured pedestrian was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Rockford Bus Accidents
School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation that children can take. According to the NHTSA, “The school bus is the safest vehicle on the road—your child is much safer taking a bus to and from school than traveling by car.” However, school buses can be quite dangerous for pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles.
- School buses can weigh up to 30 times more than passenger vehicles.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- School buses make wide turns and are more likely to hit pedestrians in intersections.
School buses are considered “common carriers” and are held to strict safety standards set forth in the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They are responsible for even the slightest negligence and must do all that human care and vigilance can to keep their passengers safe.
A large number of bus accidents are due to bus drivers that make dangerous turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-902), the driver of any vehicle intending to turn left must first yield the right of way to all traffic traveling from the opposite direction that is close enough so as to pose a hazard. If a bus driver fails to yield to a pedestrian while turning left, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Even after the physical injuries from a bus accident have healed, accident victims are often left with long-term PTSD. It is important that accident victims know that they do have rights. Any person that is injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Unfortunately, bus companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision.
Investigating A Rockford School Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the pedestrian injured in this Rockford school bus accident by Jefferson and Winnebago. Any person that may have information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of pedestrian 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. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
