Woman Injured In Chicago Bus Accident On Jane Addams Expressway near Elk Grove

Bus Accident - March 26, 2022

Chicago Bus Accident Injured One Woman By Jane Addams Expressway near Elk Grove

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 26, 2022) – A woman was injured and a bus driver tragically died in a collision on the Jane Addams Expressway near Elk Grove.

Cook County police officials are saying that the collision took place on Friday afternoon. A bus crossed into opposing lanes of traffic around 3:00 p.m. and hit a Nissan traveling in the same direction.

The force of the impact caused the Nissan and bus to both hit a median wall of the Jane Addams Tollway. Police said that the Nissan flipped onto its roof before coming to a stop.

A 62-year-old woman in the Nissan sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. Paramedics began measures to save the bus driver, but he could not be revived and died due to his injuries.

An investigation into what may have caused the bus driver to swerve on the Jane Addams Expressway remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In Chicago Bus Accidents

Buses are among the safest forms of transportation for bus passengers, but they pose unique hazards to pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. According to 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. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” There are several factors that make commercial buses particularly dangerous.

• Buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles and pedestrians.
• A fully loaded bus can weigh 44,000 lbs and take long distances to stop.
• Buses have a wide turning radius which increases the odds of side-impact collisions.

Bus drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and undergo extensive training. Bus companies are considered common carries and are held to the highest duty of care consistent with the operation of their vehicles. See, for example, Sheffer v. Springfield Airport Authority and Gaines v. Chicago Transit Authority. All bus drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-709, no vehicle shall move from within a single lane unless such a movement can be done with reasonable safety. Failure to exercise due care may create the basis for a civil claim.

The company or city that a bus driver worked for could also be held at fault in the event of a collision. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. See, for example, Lang v. Silva, 306 Ill. App. 3d 960 (1999). Sadly, though, bus companies will often fight hard to deny liability for accidents involving their drivers. It is important that a number of steps are taken in the event of a Chicago bus accident.

• Medical records should be preserved.
• Bus maintenance records should be examined.
• Work records should be sought.
• Surveillance footage from inside and outside the bus should be reviewed.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.

The FMCSA requires commercial buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Bus crashes are typically complex events. They can be caused by dozens of potential factors some of which may occur days or months prior to a crash. A Chicago bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Chicago Bus Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this horrific accident on the Jane Addams Expressway. It is our sincere hope that she will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to the Chicago police department. There needs to be accountability and transparency about what took place.

Have you or someone that you love been injured in a Chicago bus accident? There are a number of laws designed to help you. Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.