Two People Injured Rockford School Bus Accident by Auburn Street and Greenview Avenue
Bus Accident - October 9, 2022
Multiple People Injured In Rockford Car Accident With School Bus At The Intersection of Auburn Street and Greenview Avenue
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS (October 9, 2022) – Two people were injured in a Rockford school bus accident by the intersection of Auburn Street and Greenview Avenue.
Winnebago County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:50 p.m. on Thursday. A maroon SUV was struck by a Rockford Public School district school bus.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Two people were taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Rockford School Bus Accidents
School buses tend to be very safe for their passengers. But they pose a number of unique hazards for pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles. 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. The remainder were pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other or unknown.” There are a number of factors that could contribute to a school bus accident.
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Inclement weather
- Driver fatigue
School buses are considered “common carriers” under the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Their drivers must operate with a high degree of vigilance and do everything in their power to avoid collisions. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-710, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane.
If a school bus driver is negligent and hits a vehicle, the company or school district that they worked for could be held at fault. In general, employers are vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees who were performing their job duties. For example, a school bus driver may have been delivering children when they were involved in a crash. Victims of school bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly 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 worth of liability coverage. This can go a long way towards helping people who have been injured in a collision with a school bus. Sadly, though, school districts will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any accident involving their driver. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any crash.
Investigating An Madison County School Bus Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this crash. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Rockford school bus accident? Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that they get the support and resources that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after any accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.