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Bus drivers and the companies employing them owe the lightest level of care to others on the road, with an obligation to keep passengers safe from harm. When carelessness leads to crashes and serious injuries, civil laws protect victims by providing a process to hold motorists accountable and collect compensation to cover their bodily injuries and other losses.
Busing companies must also ensure they maintain the vehicles as required by law and train their operators adequately, or pay the consequences of failure to comply with the regulations. You could be eligible for compensation if you suffered personal injury damages in a bus collision. Schedule a meeting with an experienced Chicago bus accident lawyer to learn more.
While crashes involving common carriers, such as buses, are less frequent than those involving passenger cars, they are devastating when they happen. Unfortunately, when collisions occur, passengers do not enjoy the same protection from safety equipment that they get in passenger cars, such as seatbelts and airbags. Some of the common causes of bus crashes in Chicago include:
A Chicago attorney could conduct a thorough investigation of the bus collision to identify the cause and the liable party.
Busing companies and their operators must adhere to the rules of conduct to prevent accidents and harm to passengers. The instruction provided by the Chicago Transit Authority Bus System Rules Book ensures operators receive proper training during regular working conditions and in emergencies. Bus operators must receive sufficient training and knowledge to safely operate the equipment as necessary and identify potential problems and safety hazards.
When issues arise, operators must understand the practical steps they must take to prevent a dangerous situation, and pull over in a safe location for passengers to exit the vehicle and transfer to another bus. All bus service employees must do all they can to make emergency repairs without causing harm to themselves or others.
When crashes occur, the operator and their employer must report the event immediately. Lawsuits against public entities are complex and have additional challenges because of the State’s Tort Immunity Act. Even so, there are civil laws in place to protect passengers who suffer injuries because of negligence.
After establishing fault in bus collision cases, the court may award compensation for the following:
A bus accident lawyer in Chicago is experienced with handling claims and knows the vital documents needed to determine liability. They could provide injured passengers with sound legal guidance to navigate the court procedures and collect a fair settlement.
You have the legal right to pursue compensation if you suffered physical, psychological, and financial injuries and other losses while riding on a bus in Chicago. While the process can be challenging, the regulations protect passengers from the economic losses related to collisions caused by negligence.
A seasoned Chicago bus accident lawyer from McCready Law could review your case specifics, answer questions, and help strategize the most effective way to collect compensation. Call us soon to review your case and begin preparing your claim.