Our office helps injured passengers, motorists, pedestrians, and others understand the issues that may follow an Illinois bus accident.
How Bus Accident Claims Arise
A bus passenger may be injured in a collision, during boarding or exiting, because of an abrupt stop or turn, or because of an unsafe condition inside the vehicle. Other claims involve pedestrians, bicyclists, or occupants of another vehicle struck by a bus.
Potential negligence can include distracted driving, unsafe speed, failure to yield, inadequate training, negligent maintenance, fatigue, unsafe passenger loading, or violations of transportation rules. Another motorist may also be wholly or partly responsible.
Private Buses and Public Transit Require Different Analysis
A charter bus case is not necessarily handled the same way as a claim involving a public transit agency. Claims against certain governmental entities can be subject to immunities and shorter filing periods than ordinary personal injury claims. For example, some actions against local public entities and certain transit authorities are subject to one year limitations periods.
Because the correct deadline can depend on who owned or operated the vehicle, identifying the parties should happen early.
Evidence That May Exist in a Bus Case
Commercial and public transportation systems may maintain evidence that ordinary vehicles do not. Onboard video, exterior cameras, driver schedules, dispatch records, training records, maintenance records, inspection records, incident reports, electronic data, route information, and passenger records may all become relevant.
Some of that information may be retained for only a limited period. Michael and his team evaluate what evidence is likely to exist, who controls it, and whether preservation steps are appropriate.
What Compensation May Be Available?
When a bus operator or another party is legally responsible, recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost earnings, future treatment, pain and suffering, disability, loss of normal life, and other losses supported by the evidence. The scope of recovery can depend on the defendant, the type of claim, and any statutory protections that apply.
What Should I Do After a Bus Accident?
Medical care should come first. If possible, preserve the bus number, route, operator information, date and time, location, photographs, witness information, tickets or receipts, police reports, and any incident documentation. Avoid assuming that the transportation company will preserve every record automatically.
If you or a family member has been injured in a bus accident, Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC can help identify the parties involved, evaluate applicable deadlines and insurance issues, and explain the options available under the circumstances.
Areas We Serve
Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC assists clients throughout Boone County, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County.
Our office serves clients throughout Northern Illinois, including Addison, Algonquin, Antioch, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Bartlett, Batavia, Belvidere, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Cary, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Evanston, Fox Lake, Fox River Grove, Frankfort, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glenview, Grayslake, Gurnee, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Harvard, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Joliet, Lake Barrington, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Marengo, McHenry, Mokena, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, Northbrook, Palatine, Park Ridge, Plainfield, Poplar Grove, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Romeoville, Roselle, Schaumburg, Shorewood, South Elgin, St. Charles, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wheeling, Wilmette, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge, and Woodstock.