Bus accidents can be devastating and cause serious physical injuries and emotional distress. But you don’t have to go through this on your own. Because there could be multiple parties involved, you need an experienced lawyer to help you with your claim. A Chicago bus accident lawyer from the Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys will work with you through this process and do everything in their power to get you a favorable settlement that covers your financial losses from the accident.
Providing legal aid to the citizens of Chicago drives Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys to go above and beyond for our clients. Personal injury cases require expertise and a diligent work ethic—both of which our lawyers possess. We’re dedicated to helping you make a full recovery and those first steps start with a claim settlement.
Bus Accident Statistics
Many people in major cities like Chicago depend on metro buses to get them where they need to go. The bus has many advantages when compared to other transportation options like cars or bicycles. Taking care of a car in the city can be expensive and time consuming. Riding a bike isn’t going to be a realistic choice in the winter. People choose the bus to save time and money, and they trust the public transportation employees to be attentive and get them safely to their destination. When this doesn’t happen, people are at risk of being in a bus accident.
Tour buses, commuting buses, and long-distance travel buses like Greyhound buses are also commonly used throughout the city to help people get where they need to be. Accidents involving commuter buses or tour buses are rare, but do unfortunately happen. These types of accidents can be additionally complicated due to the multiple parties involved and the media attention these types of crashes get.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports on bus crash facts each year. They cover trends in the types of accidents, what vehicles are involved, and how many people are injured or lose their lives.
- From 2014 to 2015, all large truck and bus fatalities increased by 1.7 percent.
- For fatal bus crashes between 2005 and 2015, school buses accounted for 41 percent of fatalities, transit buses were 33 percent, and intercity buses were 13 percent.
- The number of buses involved in fatal car crashes from 2014 to 2015 rose 11 percent.
Because of the increase in bus accidents, preparing what to do if you experience one is a smart move. A large part of the frustration and anxiety that comes after a bus accident can be from uncertainty of what to do next.
How Do Bus Accidents Happen?
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. All it takes is for someone to not wait long enough at a stop sign, cross the road without looking, or for the bus companies to not give their vehicles regular maintenance. Negligence is one of the main causes of mass transit accidents and could have been prevented had the person acted responsibly.
- Bus Company. Bus companies may not keep their vehicles in top shape to save money. But this means essential systems of the bus could fail while people are in it. The brakes may not be as effective, tires could have less tread to grip the road, or a serious engine malfunction could occur, which could potentially cause a fire. The fumes from an engine issue alone could affect someone’s health and if the bus is packed, they may not be able to get off the bus before the fumes can harm them.
- Bus Driver. The driver could disobey traffic laws and drive above the speed limit, not signal turns or lane changes, or drive while they’re distracted. Anything from cell phones, snacks, and other people speaking to the bus driver can take their attention away from the road. They won’t have as much time to hit the brakes or turn out of the way if they’re distracted. Aggressive driving is another unsafe driving decision that endangers everyone on the bus and the other people on the road.
- Other Party. If another driver, motorcyclist, cyclist, or even a pedestrian isn’t paying attention to what they’re doing, they could collide with a bus or make the bus driver swerve and get into an accident to avoid a collision with them.
- Weather. Inclement weather like blizzards and freezing rain can reduce visibility and make roads slippery and difficult to maneuver. The most careful driver can’t completely control a vehicle if they hit a patch of black ice.
Determining fault can be a tricky process, but our lawyers are up to the task of finding out why the accident happened, how it affected you, and how we can help you.
Bus Accident Injuries
If you’re in a bus accident, you can incur serious injuries that could have long-lasting effects. It’s important to get to a doctor as soon as possible so you can begin treatment even if you don’t think you’re injured. The shock of an accident can mask symptoms and it can take a few hours to a few days for symptoms to appear. Waiting too long until your injuries worsen could jeopardize your bus accident claim and prevent for from getting full compensation.
- Broken Bones.
- Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Neck and Spinal Cord Injury.
- Concussion.
- Whiplash.
These injuries may need a long recovery time that require patience and rest, which could mean you’d have to spend time in the hospital, physical therapy, and stay away from work. While many people want to return to work as soon as possible, this could make their injuries worse and set back their recovery time.
Get in Touch with a Chicago Bus Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, you owe it to yourselves to stand up for your rights. You can recover benefits for your past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Holding the person who caused the accident responsible for their actions could help prevent another accident like this in the future, especially if the bus company or driver acted negligently.
In bus accident claims, it’s important to act quickly. The Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys is here to help you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (312)736-1111 or contact us online. Our Chicago bus accident lawyers are prepared to help and can discuss the merits of your case.
