Six Injured After Chicago Bus Accident with Ambulance on South Michigan Avenue

Bus Accident - June 19, 2025

Private Ambulance Involved in Chicago Transit Authority Bus Accident on South Michigan Avenue by East Roosevelt Road

Six Injured After Chicago Bus Accident with Ambulance on South Michigan Avenue

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 18, 2025) – At least six passengers on a Chicago Transit Authority bus were injured after their vehicle was hit by a private ambulance on South Michigan Avenue.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday. A private bus was heading southbound on South Michigan Avenue when an ambulance collided with the rear of a Chicago Transit Authority bus.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help all of the victims. Three victims in their 20s were taken to Rush University Medical Center to receive treatment.

Two other men were also injured in the crash. Police have issued the driver of the Medical Express Ambulance Service two citations related to the crash.

A full investigation into the Chicago Transit Authority bus accident remains ongoing.

Liability for Chicago Transit Authority Bus Accidents

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles are involved in many serious collisions each year. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 198 people died in crashes involving emergency vehicles. More than half of these deaths were occupants of non-emergency vehicles (57%). Deaths among pedestrians accounted for 23% of the total, while emergency vehicle drivers represented 11%, and emergency vehicle passengers accounted for about 7% of the deaths.” Several factors may contribute to any bus accident.

  • Bus accidents are much more likely to occur at intersections.
  • Bus accidents tend to occur during periods of inclement weather.
  • Bus accidents often involve one or more drivers who are speeding.
  • Bus accidents usually involve drivers making unsafe turns.

Ambulance companies are considered common carriers, and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to Squaw Valley Ski Corp. v. Superior Court, “This elevated standard of care for common carriers has its origin in English common law. It is based on a recognition that the privilege of serving the public as a common carrier necessarily entails great responsibility, requiring common carriers to exercise a high duty of care towards their customers.” If an ambulance driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Ambulance drivers typically enjoy a great deal of immunity when responding to an actual emergency with their lights and sirens on. But when they are not responding to an emergency, they must obey the rules of the road as would any other driver. It is also possible that the company that employed any ambulance driver could be held at fault for a collision. Companies are typically vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees–insofar as those employees were working within the course of their job duties. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries.

  • Broken bones
  • Head injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Organ damage
  • Death

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that buses that can transport 16 or more passengers have at least $5 million in liability coverage. Any person injured in a bus accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. Sadly, ambulance companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility for collisions. Any person injured in an accident on a Chicago Transit Authority bus may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Chicago Transit Authority Bus Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Chicago Transit Authority bus accident on South Michigan Avenue. This was a preventable crash that should not have taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Was the driver of the ambulance involved distracted? Were they speeding? What is the safety record of the company that owned this ambulance?

Have you or a loved one sustained injuries in a Chicago Transit Authority bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims get the most compensation possible so that they can focus on recovering. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.