Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

As we recently reports on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, 9 students were hospitalized after a school bus accident in Illinois. According to the Daily Herald, the school bus crashed near Sugar Grove as it rolled over onto its side and slid into a nearby field. Come to find out, this accident may have been prevented had the busing company taken the numerous complaints that had been filed against this particular bus driver more seriously.

One of the students injured on the bus that day had previously filed a complaint about the bus driver who had a history of drowsy driving. The passengers on the school bus that day were between the ages of 4 and 20. They were heading from Sandwich to Napperville, a 30 mile journey. The bus transporting these passengers was owned by Illinois Central School Bus. The busing company agrees that the accident was caused by a drowsy driver, which they say was the first time something like this has happened, despite numerous previous complaints.

The busing company states that the driver was punished after complaints about his performance. Officials with the school said that all they could do was pass along the complaints because they were not the ones who contracted the bus company. That wasn't enough though because the driver stayed behind the wheel, endangering students.

“He started the route in September, and within days, some of us started to notice a regular pattern of him nodding off and swerving erratically,” said one complaining witness.

A teenage school bus passenger reportedly sent in a number of complaints with her grandmother. They both say that the complaints were just ignored.

On the morning before the accident, students report that the driver was falling asleep at the wheel, as had become the norm. The bus driver was allegedly woken up by the bus aide who was screaming.

One student said that she wasn't buckled in that day by a seat belt. She says that the bus driver's assistant was screaming at the sleeping bus driver. Within seconds of the yelling, the bus veered to the right and was thrown on its side. Nearby motorists pulled over to assist the young children.

According to officials with Kane County, an investigation is ongoing and information will not be released until the investigation is over. Lt. Patrick Gengler says that the department is awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Illinois Central is conducting an internal investigation of its own.

Officials with Little Friends, Inc., who operates the two Naperville schools where the students were being taken, say that they knew about the complaints that had been filed against that particular driver and had made previous attempt to intervene but they weren't able to do much because they aren't associated with the company and were not in charge of contracting the bus for these rides.

The witness says that she is just upset that her complaints were not acknowledged. She says her concerns, as well as the concerns of the other passengers, could have helped to prevent this accident.

Continue reading "Numerous Complaints Filed Against Driver accused of Causing Bus Accident in Illinois" »

A recent school bus accident in Kane County sent nine students and a bus driver to local hospitals. The school bus was carrying a group of special-needs students through Big Rock as it flipped on its side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

According to the Kane County sheriff's department, the accident happened just after 8:00 a.m. on Camp Dean Road and Granart Road as the students were being bused to Kreici Academy in Naperville. The accident forced Granart Road to be shut down for about three hours.

Our Illinois school bus accident lawyers understand that officers have yet to determine why the school bus left the roadway when the accident happened. In the area in which the accident occurred, the shoulder is narrow and slants into a ditch. Reports indicate that the driver of the bus tried to get the bus back on track, but failed to do so before the wheels went into the ditch. The bus landed on its side, but didn't roll over. Luckily, all of the children on board were wearing seat belts when the accident happened. The company that owns the bus, North American School Bus, requires all passengers to wear a seat belt.

Drivers who were passing by when the accident happened helped to get the special-needs students off of the bus after it tipped over.

Three of the students were taken to Provena Mercy Center and six were taken to Delnor Hospital.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 20 million young children who ride the a school bus to and from school and school-related activities. School buses are also used to help children to get to athletic activities, church, camp and other youth events. Since 2000, there have been more than 371,000 fatal traffic accidents. Of these fatal accidents, nearly 1,250 were classified as school transportation-related. In these fatal school-related accidents, more than 1,385 people died. This means that an average of 139 people died each year. School-transportation vehicle occupants who were killed during this time were a part of the near 10 percent of all roadway fatalities. Nonoccupants, bicyclists and pedestrians involved with school-related vehicle accidents accounted for another 20 percent of the fatalities.

A majority of the people who were killed in these accidents were the occupants of other vehicles involved. Since 2000, there have been nearly 150 school-age pedestrians, under the age of 19, who have been killed in school transportation-related accidents. In addition to these fatalities, another 170,000 students are sent to the emergency room with a variety of injuries.

Children are asked to be courteous to the bus driver when riding to and from school on the big, yellow bus. Children are asked to keep their voices down, to remain seated and to keep objects out of the aisle. Unfortunately, even with following all of the proper safety precautions, accidents do happen. Make sure that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney if your child has been injured in a bus accident. Failure to act could your ability to collect the compensation necessary to deal with current or future medical issues.

Continue reading "School Bus Accident in Illinois Sends 9 Students to Hospital" »

Illinois bus crash attorney David Abels has resolved an injury claim with the Chicago Transit Authority.

The claim arose out of a collision which took place on October 9, 2010 at approximately 5:30 p.m. Our client was injured when a CTA bus he was a passenger in lost control, veered off the road, and collided with several trees. As a bus passenger, the CTA, a common carrier, owed the plaintiff the highest duty of care.

He was a passenger on the No. 6: Jackson Park Express CTA bus, which was driven by a CTA employee. At the time of the collision, the bus was moving southbound on Lake Shore Drive near Interstate Highway 55.

Our client alleged the CTA driver failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to stop and/or reduce his or her speed to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area.

Following the collision, the claimant had an immediate onset of knee pain and ankle pain. He was transported by ambulance from the scene of the accident to Saint Bernard Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, a history was taken, he was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. He initially complained of right leg pain, right ankle pain, left knee pain, left ankle pain, and right foot pain. X-rays were taken and the client was diagnosed with a left knee abrasion, right ankle sprain, left knee sprain, and possible right tibial fracture. Based on the findings, his right knee was immobilized and he was given crutches. He was prescribed pain medication and instructed to seek follow up treatment.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, our client sought follow up medical care with a physician on October 12, 2010. There he complained of left knee pain, right ankle pain, and right foot pain. A history was taken and he was examined. A physical exam revealed left knee edema, pain on palpation of the medial aspect of the joint with some restriction of flexion and extension of the knee joint, right foot edema, and pain on palpation of the lateral aspect of the right ankle with limited range of motion. The doctor noted a possible left knee fracture or torn cartilage. He was diagnosed with a left knee contusion, right ankle sprain, and right wrist contusion. the physician ordered him off work pending a follow up visit. He also ordered a MRI of his left knee and x-rays of his right wrist, prescribed pain medication and recommended physical therapy.

On October 18, 2010, MRIs of his right wrist and left knee were taken. The MRI of the left knee found prominent marrow contusion within the medial femoral condyle, diffuse edema within the superficial soft tissues anterior to the knee, knee joint effusion, and fluid surrounding his MCL compatible with a grade I sprain.

On October 29, 2010, the plaintiff returned for follow up treatment with a medical doctor. At that time he complained of right wrist pain and left knee pain, as well as tenderness and swelling of the right ring finger. The physician noted a right wrist contusion and left knee contusion. At that time, he was allowed to return to work and discharged him as having reached maximum benefit.

Per his physician’s instructions, our client attended five sessions of physical therapy.

The case settled for $13,500 out of court, saving our client the time and expense of litigation.

Continue reading "Chicago bus accident attorney settles CTA case" »

The National Transportation Safety Broad (NTSB) recently released a report that concluded that you're seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal bus accident in Chicago and elsewhere on a curbside bus than on a traditional terminal bus. The six-month study was ordered after a string of fatal crashes, including a Bronx busing accident in March that killed 15 passengers and injured another 18. The study proved that safety officials are having a tough time keeping up with regulating of these popular buses.

"Business and safety practices within the growing curbside bus industry create challenges for enforcement authorities and consumers alike when it comes to separating the safe operators from the unsafe operators," NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.

Our Chicago bus accident attorneys understand that these cheaper curbside buses are harder to track down for safety inspections because they don't run out of typical terminals. Another factor hindering the regulation of these buses is the ticket sales. Tickets for curbside buses are sold through online brokers. Unfortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) doesn't have the right to control or monitor these sales.

With the release of this report, investigators and federal officials can now examine the information and look for a starting point to start better regulating these carriers.

Curbside buses typically run on scheduled paths and start and end at spots that aren't terminals where passengers are boarding or exiting. These buses also have more than one stops instead of one starting stop and one destination. Through this report, the FMCSA conducted compliance reviews, focus groups, interviews and various observations in search of information to help them to more efficiently rate the safety of these popular buses.

Findings of the study include:

-Curbside carriers that have been in business for less than 10 years and have fewer than 10 buses are much more likely to be in an accident and much more likely to fail an inspection and a review than a traditional bus.

-Accident statistics from 2005 to March of 2011 concluded that curbside buses were involved in seven times as many accidents as conventional bus operations.

-Curbside buses are harder to stop for inspections because they don't typically have a "bus barn" or a terminal.

-There aren't enough inspectors. There are only about 900 FMCSA personnel who can inspect buses and more than 765,000 buses. That means that ever 1.15 investigators has to inspect about 1,000 buses.

-Bus driver fatigue was reported as a top cause for bus accidents.

-Many drivers were cited for violations including language barriers and language discrepancies.

Since March, there NTSB has investigated five separate busing accidents. These accidents took the lives of more than 20 people and injured nearly 160 more.

When a passenger boards a bus, they should be thinking about their safety and the reliability of the bus and the bus' driver. Unfortunately, these cheaper bus rides don't provide passengers with the safest rides. Travelers are urged to look into busing companies before choosing one to ride with.

Continue reading "NTSB Releases Finding Showing Passengers Risks for Bus Accidents in Chicago, Elsewhere" »

A recent proposal by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) aims to ban truck and bus drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel -- either hand-held or hands-free. The recommendation follows yet another fatal trucking accident believed to have been caused by a distracted driver. The recent accident took the lives of 11 motorists on Interstate 65 in Kentucky. Authorities believe the truck driver was distracted by his phone when he crossed the median and slammed into a van full of people on their way to a wedding. The truck driver and 10 people in the van were killed.

Phone records reveal that the trucker had used his cell phone for calls and text messages just seconds before the fatal accident.

Trucking accidents in Illinois that are caused by distracted drivers are completely preventable. As current law states in Illinois, only drivers that are under the age of 19 or those who are traveling through a school or a construction zone are prohibited from using a cell phone behind the wheel. All drivers in City of Chicago have been banned from using a hand-held cell phone while driving.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand the reasoning behind such proposals, which have been made more than once by the NTSB. Traffic accidents that involve commercial vehicles have a high risk of fatally injuring someone. Passenger-vehicle motorists can be as cautious as possible, but without commercial driver attention, fatal accidents may be completely unavoidable.

The most recent recommendation from the NTSB supplements an earlier recommendation asking that federal regulations prohibit commercial truck drivers from both using hand-held cell phones and text messaging devices while driving.

"This is the most comprehensive recommendation we've made," NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman.

The support for these kinds of restrictions has been nearly unanimous, although the trucking industry is questioning the need to prevent drivers from using hands-free devices.

The NTSB is unable to enforce the recommendation and has forwarded it to all 50 states and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Currently, only 34 states prohibit all drivers from texting while operating a motor vehicle. Nine states prohibit hand-held cell phone use by drivers. No state bans hands-free devices.

The recommendation would only affect drivers of commercial trucks and bus drivers. It would only apply to these individuals when they're driving a commercial vehicle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this would apply to approximately 3 million drivers.

"This is not going to be popular. But, we're not here to be popular. We're here to do what needs to be done," Hersman said.

Continue reading "NTSB Pushes Cell Phone Ban to Reduce Truck and Bus Accidents in Illinois" »

"During this heavy summer travel season, we will remain alert and remove from our roads any passenger bus or driver that places motorists at risk,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

As travel increases during these summer months, more bus accidents in Chicago and elsewhere are expected to occur. This is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its state and local law enforcement partners conducted more than 3,000 surprise passenger carrier safety inspections. These inspections resulted in nearly 450 unsafe buses or drivers being removed from the nation’s roadways. Out-of-service citations were issued to 127 drivers and 315 vehicles during the surprise inspections.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand that many residents and visitors will be traveling through the city this summer as they get out and enjoy summer vacations. Passengers of these buses expect these companies to keep them safe and get them to their destination safely. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. A number of bus companies operate with unsafe vehicles and drivers not fit for the road. That's why the FMCSA steps in to push their safety rules and regulations on these companies to help to ensure passenger safety.

Motorcoaches transport roughly 750 million passengers ever year. Standards regulating roof strength, window glazing and a protected seating area reduce the risk of injury in an accident, according to the National Trasnportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The NTSB has placed bus accidents on their "most wanted" list. This list is a campaign that is used to raise awareness about preventable injury and to encourage states to increase their safety measures to regulate these companies. The FMSCA and the NTSB focus on these companies to help ensure the safety of all occupants. Both organizations continuously enforce new safety regulations and standards to make travel and equipment safer for these companies and for passengers.

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, a recent Illinois bus crash resulted in injuries to 20 passengers. Although serious, that is a small portion of the accidents experienced throughout the entire year. In 2009 there were 2,528 bus accidents in Illinois (non-school bus related). These accidents resulted in 608 injuries and seven deaths.

"The public deserves safe passenger bus transportation every ride,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "FMCSA and its law enforcement partners will not rest until we weed out every unsafe passenger carrier and driver. Our ongoing strike force inspections are essential to protecting motorists and reaching our goal of zero fatalities involving commercial vehicles.”

In recent years, the FMSCA has upped the ante in these comprehensive safety reviews. It's estimated that our nation has about 4,000 passenger bus companies. The Administration has increased their safety inspection efforts from 12,991 roadside safety inspections of motorcoaches in 2005 to nearly 26,000 inspections in 2010.

In another effort to protect bus passengers, the Administration passed a new final rule that requires any driver that is applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) to first have a commercial driver's learner's permit. The new rule also requires that every state licensing agency use a standardized CDL testing system and prohibits the use of foreign language interpreters to reduce the potential for testing fraud.

Safety is a top priority of the Department of Transportation. In an effort to increase and double check all safety measures, the DOT unveiled a new "Think Safety: Every Trip, Every Time." pre-trip safety checklist. This checklist is to help consumers review a bus company's safety record, safety rating and USDOT operating authority before they purchase a ticket.

The FMCSA has also banned commercial drivers from texting behind the wheel. They're also looking to enact a rule that would prohibit hand-held mobile phone use by all drivers. Through the Motorcoach Safety Action Plan, the Department has proposed rules that will require all buses to have seat belts and electronic on-board recorders. These recorders will be used to replace easily the falsified paper records of driver hours. Drowsy driving is a top contributor to these busing accidents.

Travelers are urged to look into busing companies. You're encouraged to look at their driving records, to look at their recent safety inspections and to look at the shape of their equipment. It may not always be your best bet to take the lowest priced company, but it's is always safest to travel with the most reliable company.

Continue reading "Research Companies before traveling this summer to avoid a Bus Accident in Chicago " »

An Illinois bus crash has resulted in injuries to 20 people, according to msnbc.com. The collision took place on the Dan Ryan Expressway northbound local lanes at 47th Street on Sunday around 6 PM.

Ambulances took the injured to area hospitals. 12 of the people hurt were in fair condition, and 8 were good condition. Another 31 passengers on the bus refused treatment. None of the injuries are supposed to be serious, according to representatives from the Chicago Fire Department. Those hurt were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Holy Cross, St. Bernard Hospital and University of Chicago Hospitals.

Once the fire department arrived they initiated an emergency response plan that sent 20 ambulances to the scene.

Northbound traffic on the expressway had to be temporarily closed, reopening around 7:30 PM. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the incident involved the tour bus and two other vehicles. The bus was traveling behind the other vehicles, when for reasons not reported one of the vehicles spun out. This caused the tour bus to strike the vehicle and then hit a median. One of the vehicles fled the scene of the accident.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the bus was traveling to Chinatown from the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Indiana. The casino bus is run by Royal Excursion of Mishawaka, Indiana.

One passenger on the bus stated that it quickly swerved, knocking people around. One elderly woman ended up on the floor and had to be removed on a stretcher by paramedics.

Bus accidents don't happen often, but when they do it can be a very scary experience for all those on board. Passengers typically do not have the benefit of seat belts, which can lead to being thrown around the cabin, making them more susceptible to injuries.

According to IDOT, in the year 2009 there were a total of 2,528 bus accidents in Illinois (non-school bus related). In those collisions, 608 people were injured and seven were killed. Further, 2 of those killed and 576 of those injured were bus occupants.

As far as school buses are concerned, there were 1557 accidents in 2009 where 291 people were injured and 2 were killed. No school bus occupants died and 242 were hurt.

Statistics for the year 2010 have not yet been released.

It has not been reported if any Chicago bus crash attorneys are involved in the case or if any civil claims have been filed.

An Illinois bus crash in north suburban Evanston resulted in the hospitalization of 20 students and one adult on Tuesday morning, Tribune Local is reporting. One school bus rear-ended another after one of the bus drivers was momentarily distracted.

The students were from Rowe elementary school and were on a field trip at Northwestern University. The collision took place around 11:15 AM as the 2 school buses were heading northbound on Chicago Ave. near Davis Street. There were a total of 50 students on the two buses.

Evanston police are stating that the at fault bus driver may have been looking in his side view mirror at the time of the accident.

The injured students were taken to Evanston Hospital, Rush and St. Francis Hospital. Ambulances from several communities, including Winnetka and WIlmette assisted. None of the injuries were reportedly life threatening. One child had neck & back injuires while another had chest pain.

The uninjured students continued on with the field trip.

Read the story as reported by ABC News and ABC News here.

A CTA bus accident early Friday morning has resulted in four people being hospitalized, according to Fox news in Chicago. The collision involved a car and bus at the intersection of Washington Street and Clark Street in the Loop.

Reportedly a number 20 Madison bus was headed eastbound around 3:15 AM when a car, also traveling eastbound, cut in front of the bus causing a collision.

Four CTA passengers were taken by ambulance to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Three of those hurt were taken to Mercy Hospital, and one was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Chicago Tribune.

A police spokesperson stated that tickets are expected to be issued to the driver of the car that supposedly caused the accident.

It has not been reported if any Chicago bus accident attorneys are involved in the case.

Accidents involving CTA buses can be extremely dangerous for passengers on board. Riders are not wearing seatbelts and they are often forced to stand due to overcrowding.

Eleven people were injured on Saturday night in a CTA bus crash on the far South Side, according to the Chicago breaking news center. The bus hit a viaduct after a passenger fell on the driver.

The passenger reportedly lost his balance. It was not stated if there were any factors leading to the CTA rider falling, such as bus overcrowding or erratic driving, which in my experience as a Chicago injury lawyer can be common causes of passengers losing their balance.

After the passenger fell on the driver, the bus swerved and hit a viaduct in the area of East 130th Street and S. Indiana Ave. The Incident occurred around 9:30 PM. All 11 of the injured were taken to local hospitals with no serious injuries reported.

Read the story as reported by WGN-TV here.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) teamed up with its state and local law enforcement partners across the nation recently and conducted nearly 3,000 surprise passenger carrier safety inspections, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. These inspections come after a string of fatal bus accidents that we recently told you about on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog.

"Working side-by-side with our state and local law enforcement partners, we can ensure that every passenger bus company and driver operates as safely as possible," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "These strike force activities are one of the many effective tools we use year-round to raise the safety bar for commercial buses and drivers on our nation's roadways."

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that everyone is budgeting their money more consciously since the beginning of the recession. While many companies are now offering lower ticket rates to appeal to potential customers, could they come with a cost -- in the form of older buses, less maintenance and lower pay for drivers.

"Safety is our number one priority," said Secretary LaHood. "We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to shut down unsafe passenger bus companies that place motorists at risk and remove drivers from our roads who put passengers in harm's way."

Of the approximately 3,000 inspections carried out by the FMCSA, nearly 300 drivers and buses were yanked off the road for failing to meet safety standards. The fact that 1 in 10 buses had safety risks so serious they were not permitted to remain on the road should tell passengers all they need to know about the state of bus safety in America.

The feds are making an effort to strengthen passenger carrier safety nationwide after being criticized for the recent fatal bus incidents. Still, more needs to be done to keep these companies honest -- and to make sure they are putting passenger safety ahead of profits.

Other agencies are contributing to the revamp of bus safety standards as well. The Obama Administration made much-needed improvements to motorcoach safety by creating and enforcing a new Motorcoach Safety Action Plan. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new regulations that require electronic on-board recorders and seat belts on every bus. These electronic on-board recorders aim to replace the antiquated system of having drivers track work hours with paper log books. The government also prohibited texting and cell phone use by commercial drivers who are operating a tour bus.

With the summer travel season upon us, we encourage you to do your best to ensure the bus company you choose can get you to your destination safely. More should go into your decisions about travel plans than the price of the ticket.

Continue reading "Surprise inspections target bus company after bus accidents in Chicago, elsewhere" »

As authorities continue to investigate a bus accident that claimed 14 lives in New York City, the incident has put the spotlight on the risk of bus accidents in Chicago and elsewhere involving tour buses and discount bus operators. The Wall Street Journal reports one of the crashes that first brought the growing industry to the attention of authorities occurred in 2007, when a bus traveling from New York to Chicago crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two passengers.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers frequently discuss the need to seek legal representation when dealing with an accident involving commercial trucks or buses. Multiple claims, multiple at-fault parties and state and federal regulations can make dealing with such claims a complex process.

Records indicate the bus company had previously been cited for driver fatigue by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It's buses had also been involved in several accidents. Still, the company managed to receive a "satisfactory" rating from inspectors. The bus was traveling from a Connecticut casino to New York City when it flipped over in Manhattan and skidded 480 feet into a guardrail. Fourteen riders were killed.

The Chicago Tribune reported the crash has renewed scrutiny of bus companies offering cheap, convenient fares on older buses. Such services are in the fifth year of a boom that has been no stranger to fatal accidents. Just last September four riders died when a Megabus missed an exit in Syracuse. And just one day after the accident in New York City killed 14, a driver and passenger were killed when a bus drove off the New Jersey turnpike.

Megabus launched a few years ago in Chicago, which has become a thriving hub. Some services offer rides from Philadelphia to Chicago for $22, or trips from Boston to New York for $10 or $15, compared to the $70 or more Amtrak would charge. Critics ask if they keep those fairs low by cutting costs when it comes to safety.

Continue reading "Discount bus services face scrutiny over potential for Chicago accidents in wake of New York tragedy" »

A Chicago area school bus accident has resulted six children being injured and hospitalized, according to Tribune Local. The collision occurred Tuesday morning in North Suburban Vernon Hills, and all children have since been released from Advocate Condell Medical Center.

It is being reported that a vehicle was trying to avoid hitting a school bus that veered into its lane when it slid on a snow-covered highway and struck the bus. The school bus involved was from District 73 and was carrying approximately 20 students to Aspen Elementary School. The incident took place around 7:40 AM.

Police are stating that the bus driver may have entered the other driver's lane to avoid a snow pile. The Vernon Hills Police Department and the Countryside Fire Department responded to the scene of the accident. In addition to the six children transported to the hospital, three kids were treated and released at the scene. Both drivers involved in the Illinois bus crash were reportedly uninjured.

The police investigation is ongoing. It was not reported if any traffic citations were issued.

Illinois accident attorneys at Abels and Annes have signed on to represent a teenage student that was recently injured in Chicago area bus crash. The collision occurred at the intersection of Oakwood and 197th Street in Lynwood Illinois on December 9, 2010 at around 6:45 PM.

Our client was riding in a school bus that was moving northbound on Oakwood. At that time the driver of a southbound Ford Escape sideswiped the driver side of the school bus. The Lynwood Police Department handled the accident investigation and witnesses confirmed the above version of events.

Shortly after the accident, our client started experiencing severe neck, head and back pain. She was seen at the Ingalls Memorial Hospital emergency room the same day. Over the next week her pain did not resolve and the teenager is now undergoing further medical care with an orthopedic physician in the Chicago area.

If your child is been injured in an Illinois school bus crash, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak directly to an attorney.

A Chicago area school bus crash has resulted in injuries to two students, according to the Lagrange Patch. The Illinois bus accident took place Friday morning just before 8 AM in Western Springs.

The school bus was rear-ended by a Chevy van after the bus stalled at the intersection of Howard Avenue and 40th St. The vehicle was from Lyons Township and was transporting 24 students from LTHS North Campus to the Technology Center of DuPage. Two students were injured and sent to an area hospital.

The injured children sustained back injuries in the accident and were taken by ambulance to Adventist Lagrange Memorial Hospital. They were released later the same day. None of the other students were reportedly injured.

The driver of the van that caused the accident was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The Western Springs Police Department handled the crash investigation.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule instituting a nationwide ban on text messaging by truck drivers, school bus drivers and the operators of other commercial vehicles.

Our Chicago accident attorneys reported earlier this fall when the new regulations were announced at the second annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C. The final rule went into effect at the end of October. Not only can drives face fines and other penalties for texting while driving, a violation can also prohibit a driver from renewing or obtaining a commercial driver's license.

Nationwide, 1 in 9 traffic fatalities involves a large commercial truck, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, a total of 4,229 motorists were killed and more than 90,000 were injured in accidents involving large commercial trucks. Illinois trucking accidents resulted in 136 traffic fatalities.

Federal statistics show the truckers who text message are more than 23 more times likely to be involved in an accident, near accident or other dangerous driving behavior, such as drifting across lanes.

Drivers may be fined $2,750 and employers face fines of up to $11,000.

The government continues to focus on the dangers of text messaging because of its exploding popularity and because it involves all three forms of driver distraction: cognitive, visual and manual. The wireless industry reports the number of text messages has increased from 32.6 billion in the first six months of 2005 to 740 billion in the first six months of 2009.

A CBS News/New York Times poll found that 90 percent of those surveyed think that all drivers should be prohibited from text messaging. So far, 30 states, including Illinois, have passed such laws.

Continue reading "Text messaging ban for commercial drivers reduces risk of Illinois trucking accidents, bus accidents" »

Chicago bus crash attorneys from Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to work on a case for a South Side resident that was injured in a CTA accident that occurred last Saturday on Lake Shore Drive. Our client was riding a Jackson Park Express bus going southbound around 6:00 p.m. He was seated near the front of the bus when the vehicle lost control, left the road and crashed in the area of 2800 South Lake Shore Drive. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

After the crash many people jumped out through emergency windows. Several people were bleeding.

There were around 70 passengers on board. A total of 37 people were injured and taken to area hospitals. Our client sustained left knee, right ankle, right wrist and low back injuries. He was taken by ambulance to St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago.

Over the next several days our plaintiff's pain increased. He has since seen a medical doctor in Chicago and has been referred for an MRI. The severity of his injuries are not yet known.

Other injured passengers were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Stroger Hospital.

The exact cause of CTA bus crash has not yet been determined.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Illinois bus accident, call the Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer now.

A Chicago CTA bus accident on South Lake Shore Drive has resulted in 37 passengers being taken to area hospitals, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Around 70 people were riding the Jackson Park Express bus going southbound when it crashed on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 6 PM near 2800 S. Lake Shore Dr.

The bus ran off the drive and hit several trees. Witnesses on the bus said the driver was having trouble steering and a passenger actually went to help her. They said she was trying very hard to pull the steering wheel and would not move.

After the bus came to a stop, many riders jumped off the bus through emergency windows. Several were reportedly bleeding from head wounds.

Four passengers were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Stroger Hospital in serious to critical condition. 33 other passengers were also injured and taken to area hospitals.

CTA officials are already stating that they will be looking at the black box on the bus to check speed and direction, and they will check video as well. Officials have not yet stated whether the steering wheel locked up.

It has not been reported whether any Chicago CTA bus accident lawyers are involved in the case yet. However, with so many injured and a technical issue as to what caused the bus to leave the road, is a safe bet that injury attorneys will be involved shortly and lawsuits may be filed preserve evidence.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Tribune and ABC news.

Illinois injury attorneys at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a 10-year-old minor that was injured in a Chicago area SUV vs. school bus crash. CBS news reported that the collision took place around 3 PM at hundred 147th St. and LaGrange Road on September 30, 2010.

The school bus was carrying around 20 students when a Cadillac Escalade may have ran a red light and struck the front end of the school bus. A total of nine students, including our client, were injured and taken to area hospitals. The bus was traveling with 3rd, 4th & 5th graders from High Point Elementary School in Orland Park.

Our plaintiff was transported to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. She sustained right ankle, head and neck injuries in the collision. Her pain has been ongoing since the accident, and she has been treating with her pediatrician in Palos Hills, Illinois.

If your child has been injured in an Illinois school bus accident, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575. There is no attorney's fee unless a financial recovery is made for your child.

Un abogado de herida en Illinois de Abels & Annes ha alcanzado un arreglo para un peatón de Chicago que fue golpeado y fue herido por un autobús de CTA. El autobús de Illinois contra el accidente pedestre sucedió el 25 de febrero de 2010 en la intersección de State Street y Lake Street en el Loop.

Nuestro cliente estaba cruzando la calle en un cruce peatonal en el momento del accidente. El acusado, un conductor de autobús de CTA, se movía en dirección norte por la calle State y entonces giró a la derecha en dirección este en la calle Lake. El conductor del autobús hizo la vuelta y falló de observar que nuestro cliente estaba en el cruce peatonal y golpeó al peatón.

El Departamento de Policía de Chicago investigó el accidente. El conductor de CTA fue multado por el fracaso por no ceder el paso a un peatón en un cruce peatonal. Luego se declare culpable en la corte de trafico y fue puesta en la supervisión del tribunal.

Inmediatamente después del accidente el demandante empezó a tener dolor en la pierna izquierda. A la mañana siguiente ella fue a la sala de emergencia de Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Radiografías fueron tomadas, Ella fue diagnosticada con una fractura del peroné izquierdo. La fractura fue confirmada luego con una resonancia magnética en marzo de 2010 que fue ordenado por un médico en Northwestern Centro de la Ortopedia.

En el momento de la última cita de nuestro cliente el 28 de marzo de 2010, su dolor y el malestar han mejorado mucho y su fractura fue platuda.

El reclamo se resolvio sin tener que presentar una demanda , Le ahorramos a nuestro cliente el gasto de litigos.

Si usted ha sido herido en un accidente pedestre o accidente de autobús, contacte a los abogados de heridas en Chicago de Abels & Annes para una evaluación de su caso gratís. Contáctenos en línea o al 312-924-7575 para hablar con un abogado ahora.

An Illinois injury attorney at Abels & Annes has reached a settlement for a Chicago pedestrian that was struck and injured by a CTA bus. The Illinois bus versus pedestrian accident happened back on February 25, 2010 at the intersection of State Street and Lake Street in the Loop.

Our client was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at the time of the accident. The defendant, a CTA bus driver, was moving northbound on State Street and then took a right turn to headed eastbound on Lake. As the bus driver made the turn she failed to observe our client in the crosswalk and struck the pedestrian.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident. The CTA driver was ticketed for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. She later pled guilty in traffic court was placed on court supervision.

Immediately after the accident the plaintiff started experiencing left leg pain. The next morning she went to the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. X-rays were taken she was diagnosed with a fracture of her left fibula. The fracture was later confirmed with an MRI scan in March of 2010 that was ordered by a physician at Northwestern Center for Orthopedics.

At the time of our client's last appointment on March 28, 2010, her pain and discomfort has greatly improved and her fracture was well-heeled.

The claim settled without filing a lawsuit, saving our client the expense of litigation.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident or bus crash, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Contact us online or call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer now.

Somewhere in the metro area, a Chicago Transit Authority bus accident happened today. And yesterday. And tomorrow. In fact, the system is averaging an accident a day -- more than nine of the other largest bus systems in the United States, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Our Chicago injury lawyers have often reported on the large number of CTA bus accidents occurring in and around the Chicago area. Just last week we reported that a Chicago bus accident sent nine people to the hospital. We are also about to file a lawsuit on behalf of a pedestrian that was struck in a crosswalk by a CTA bus.

Now, the Federal Transit Administration reports that accidents are occurring about one per day, although drivers are logging more miles between accidents. On average, an accident occurred for every 34,566 trips, an improvement of about 9 percent over 2008. The CTA said it is not satisfied with the accident tally, but attributed the improvement to a focus on defensive-driving and the presence of new technology, including 18 bus simulators deployed at CTA garages.

Drivers must be recertified every two years and are required to attend a retraining course if they are involved in accidents or are ticketed for moving violations. Despite those efforts, the CTA has been in the middle of the pack in collision rates among large bus companies.

Last year there were 271 reportable collisions involving CTA buses. In 2008, a total of 303 reportable collisions were reported. A reportable collision is defined as one resulting in $25,000 or more in property damage or a crash that sends one or more people to the hospital. Thus, safety advocates report that many more collisions go unreported.

A total of 521 people were injured in accidents last year, including 270 bus passengers, 122 bus drivers, 90 occupants of other vehicles, 29 pedestrians and 10 cyclists.

The Chicagoist article is available here.

The CBS 2 report is available here.

Continue reading "CTA bus accidents occurring once a day on average " »

Nine people were hospitalized after a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus accident on Friday morning, ABC 7 News reported.

Police say the accident happened when a car rear-ended the bus at Roosevelt and Central Park. Five ambulances were called to the scene shortly after 8 a.m. Nine passengers were injured when the No. 12 Roosevelt CTA bus was rear-ended by a car while at a stop on South Central Park.

Our Chicago accident attorneys continue to report on frequent accidents involving buses in Chicago and the surrounding area. Several serious accidents have occurred in the last several months, involving multiple victims.

-In July, the No. 53 Pulaski bus was involved in a crash near Chicago Avenue. Nine people were transported to area hospitals.

-In June, 11 people were sent to area hospitals and 12 others refused treatment after a CTA bus was involved in an accident with a car at the six-corner intersection of Milwaukee, Damen and North Avenues in the Wicker Park neighborhood.

-In May, seven people were hurt in a bus accident on North Pulaski on the Northwest Side of Chicago. A separate accident sent a dozen people to the hospital when a CTA bus crashed into a building in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

-In April, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family of a 53-year-old man who was run over by a CTA bus.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that 3,932 bus accidents occurred in 2008, killing six motorists and injuring 626. A total of 2,445 Illinois school bus accidents killed six other motorists and injured 349.

The Chicago News Center report is available here.

My FOX Chicago's report is available here.

Nine people were injured in a Chicago bus accident Monday afternoon on the West Side, FOX News reported.

The No. 53 Pulaski Chicago Transit Authority bus was southbound on Pulaski near Chicago Avenue when a northbound vehicle weaved into the southbound lanes, according to a CTA spokesperson, who said the bus driver was unable to avoid the crash.

Nine people were taken to area hospitals. The injured included the bus driver and eight passengers. The Breaking News Center reported that the accident involved an SUV.

As we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, a significant number of accidents involving CTA buses have been reported in recent months.

-Eleven people were sent to the hospital in late June after a CTA bus and a car collided in Wicker Park.

-In April, the family of a man run over by a CTA bus filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

-Two serious CTA bus accidents occurred in May: A bus accident on the Northwest Side injured seven riders and 12 others were hurt when a bus crashed into a building.

Bus passengers choose public transportation for many reasons: To save money, for convenience or because they do not want to deal with the cost and responsibility of owning a vehicle and driving in the metro area. Passengers have a right to expect safe transportation. Chicago mass transit accidents, including bus accidents, subway accidents and train accidents can be complicated cases and we recommend that you contact a Chicago injury attorney if injured in this type of accident.

Almost 4,000 Illinois bus accidents were reported in 2008 -- killing six people and injuring more than 600, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois school bus accidents killed six people and injured 349 that year.

Eleven people were hospitalized after a Chicago bus accident on Thursday night, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The crash involved a Chicago Transit Authority bus and a car; it occurred in the Wicker Park neighborhood shortly before 8 p.m. Chicago police said the crash happened at the six-corner intersection of Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues.

Eleven people were transported to area hospitals, according to the Chicago fire department, while another 12 people refused treatment at the scene.

The Sun-Times reported that five ambulances responded to the scene.

Our Chicago injury lawyers continue to report a significant number of accidents involving CTA buses. In April, the family of a man run over by a CTA bus filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. In May, a CTA bus accident injured seven on the Northwest Side and 12 others were injured when a CTA bus crashed into a building.

Bus accidents frequently involve serious injury to passengers. And motorists face as much danger in an accident with a bus as they might in an accident with a semi or other large commercial vehicle.

In 2008, nearly 4,000 Illinois busing accidents occurred, killing six people and injuring 626, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. An additional 2,445 Illinois school bus accidents claimed the lives of six motorists and injured 349.

The family of a man killed in a Chicago bus accident last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chicago Transit Authority.

The suit claims that the 53-year-old Justine Street man was exiting a No. 9 Ashland bus March 18 when it pulled away from the West Harrison street bus stop before he was safely on the curb, according to FOX News.

However, the Chicago Breaking News Center reports the victim was trying to catch the bus when he fell.

The man fell under the bus and was fatally run over by the rear tires, according to the suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

A CTA spokeswoman said the driver had been removed from service following the accident, which is standard procedure. She said preliminary indications are that the bus was proceeding toward a green light when the man fell and was struck.

The lawsuit claims the driver failed to check the mirrors before pulling away, failed to make sure the victim was safely on the curb and failed to stop the bus after the man fell. The man's sister is named in the suit, which is seeking more than $50,000 from the CTA.

The victim is survived by four sisters and a brother, according to the suit.

The widow of a pedestrian killed in a Chicago bus accident has filed a civil lawsuit against the driver and bus company, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The 63-year-old South Holland man was killed Feb. 23 when a Megabus struck him in a crosswalk on the Near West Side.

The victim's wife filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court last week against the discount interstate bus company and the driver, claiming negligence led to the Chicago pedestrian death.

Police reported the bus was traveling west on Adams Street and was turning south onto Desplaines Street when it struck the victim in the crosswalk. The lawsuit contends that the driver's failure to yield the right of way, along with five other violations, led to the victim being struck and killed.

He was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, shortly after the 5 p.m. accident, according to the Sun-Times.

The 45-year-old Sauk Village bus driver was charged with reckless driving and not giving the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the victim's widow and the couple's two sons.

In 2008, a total of 135 pedestrians were killed and 5,423 were injured in Illinois pedestrian accidents, the vast majority of which occurred in the Chicago area, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Two dozen people were injured in separate Chicago traffic accidents Sunday afternoon.

Eleven people, including 7 children, were injured Sunday afternoon in a Chicago traffic accident when two vans collided on the South Side, WBBM News reported.

The accident happened shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday at South Racine Avenue and West 68th St.

Seven children were transported to area hospitals in serious condition. Four adults were also taken to the hospital in serious-to-critical condition.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Thirteen people were injured in a Chicago bus accident involving a semi, the Breaking News Center reported.

The accident involving the Chicago Transit authority bus happened late Sunday afternoon on the West Side and left on person critically injured. Rescue personnel were called to the intersection of Loomis Street and Cermak Road at 4:45 p.m.

One woman was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital.

Two were transported to Mount Sanai in fair to serious condtion; and two were taken in good condition to the University of Chicago Hospital. The driver of the semi was also injured but refused medical treatment.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the semi rear-ended the bus before crashing into a minvan.

Cause of the crash remains under investigation.

One person was critically injured in a Chicago bus accident involving the congressional campaign bus of Republican Robert Dold, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Dold was not aboard the bus when it crashed in Glenview late on Friday, January 29th. He was the eventual winner for the nomination in Illinois' 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Chicago's northern suburbs to the Wisconsin border.

Glenview police reported that the bus was eastbound when a westbound BMW turned into its path. The driver of the BMW was taken to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge. Cause of the Illinois bus accident remains under investigation.

The bus is rented to the campaign and was returning home for the night. No one from the campaign was involved in the accident, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

While initial reports are that the car turned in front of the bus, and perhaps caused the accident, commercial buses and bus drivers are heavily regulated because of the danger an accident poses to other motorists. Getting into an accident with a bus can be as serious as being involved in a Chicago trucking accident.

Statistics on Illinois school bus accidents in 2008 show that 2,418 crashes claimed six lives and injured 341 people. All six deaths occurred outside the bus, including three occupants of other vehicles, and three pedestrians.

A total of 136 large trucks and 12 buses were involved in fatal crashes in Illinois during 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another 3,337 were injured in Illinois trucking accidents while 963 were injured in accidents involving buses in Illinois.

The federal government issued tough new federal guidelines this week, making texting illegal for all commercial truck and bus drivers.

As the Chicago bus accident lawyers and the Illinois trucking accident attorneys at Abels & Annes reported last fall, the new ban is the outcome of a federal distracted driving summit.

The prohibition is effective immediately, according to CNN. While new Illinois state law already prohibits texting for all drivers, the federal ban targeting commercial truck and bus drivers in important because of the large numbers of out-of-state commercial drivers on Illinois roads.

In 2008, fatal Illinois trucking accidents claimed 136 lives, making Illinois one of the deadliest states in the nation for semi accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles face fines of up to $2,750.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a driver's eyes are off the road for 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting and texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get into an accident.

Continue reading "Federal texting ban could reduce Illinois trucking accidents, Chicago bus accidents " »

As children go back to school after the holidays, motorists are cautioned to watch for stopped or turning school buses, children waiting at bus stops and pedestrians in crosswalks.

The Chicago bus accident attorneys and Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes have published safe winter driving tips on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog.

Chicago school bus accidents can be caused by either a negligent bus driver or oncoming drivers. Not only is there a serious risk of injured children, but passengers in vehicles involved in an accident with a school bus often suffer very serious injuries, similar to those injured in Chicago trucking accidents.

More than 2,400 Illinois school bus accidents killed 6 people and injured 341 last year, according to statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The vast majority of Illinois school bus accidents occur in urban areas, including Chicago. A total of 2,158 city school bus accidents occurred in 2008, compared to 260 that happened in rural areas.

IDOT reports three people in other vehicles were killed in accidents with Illinois school buses last year, while one school-aged and two other pedestrians were also killed.

Illinois State Police offer a brochure on school bus safety, available by clicking here.

Police report the majority of children injured or killed in school bus accidents are outside the bus and are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the red flashing light. Illegally passing a school bus comes with a three-month license suspension -- a subsequent offense with a one-year suspension and a mandatory minimum fine of $500.

Continue reading "Winter Chicago school bus accidents a concern as kids head back to classes" »

A Chicago train accident at a crossing occurred Monday morning when the inbound Metra train on the Rock Island line hit a sport utility vehicle, causing long train and traffic delays, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The No. 406 train originating in Joliet hit the SUV at 111th and Hale Avenue at about 7 a.m. Metra police were investigating.

While no one on the train was reported injured, Chicago train accidents at crossings can cause serious injury to motorists and can be caused by a number of factors, including malfunctioning crossing gates and warning lights.

The weekend began with another Chicago public transit accident -- The Chicago bus accident involved a Chicago Transit Authority bus and a school bus, according to the News Center.

The CTA bus with 50 passengers collided with the Stockton/Michigan school bus with half-a-dozen students aboard. The accident occurred at about 8 a.m. Friday at Oak Street and Michigan as the CTA bus was southbound on Michigan after it exited Lake Shore Drive.

The bus was trying to avoid other vehicles involved in a prior accident when it collided with the school bus.

Problems were also reported on the Kennedy Expressway, where a trio of Chicago car accidents included a rollover crash on the inbound Kennedy near Lawrence Avenue and a pair of crashes on the inbound Kennedy near Randolph Street downtown.

On Friday, a fatal semi accident involving a Chicago trucker occurred when the driver jackknifed into a van carrying disabled adults near Springfield, Ohio, claiming four lives, according to media reports.

A 62-year-old woman died Wednesday and 9 people were hospitalized after a van rear-ended a Chicago Transit Authority bus in a South Side Chatham neighborhood.

The Chicago bus accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the CTA southbound No. 4 Cottage Grove bus was stopped at 83rd Street and Cottage Grove, where it was rear-ended by the van at about 4:40 p.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The woman, a van passenger, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office reported.

A Chicago fire media affairs spokesman reported 10 people were injured -- three were hospitalized in critical condition while seven others were reported in stable condition. Victims were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Jackson Park Hospital, Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park and South Shore Hospital.

Police reported that five of the injured were occupants inside the van.

The Chicago Breaking News Center reported the van belonged to an adult day care center and the van's driver was issued multiple citations.

The Chicago Transit Authority reports an average of 26.5 million monthly rides this year, or about 1 million boarding per day. The Cottage Grove bus is the busiest in the system, with about 22,000 riders per day.

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes remind motorists that over 400,000 children head back to the city's 666 schools over the next month.

The Chicago Public School's first day of classes for most students is September 8th, and Track E students already started this week. Most of the suburban schools start in the coming weeks of August.

The start of the school year puts school buses back on the road, kids at bus stops and crosswalks, school zones where children are likely to be in the roadway and kids walking or bicycling to school.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced last week a $13 million initiative to encourage more children to walk or ride their bikes to school. The federal Safe Routes to School program includes 171 funding projects, from sidewalk repair to equipment for police and crossing guards.

“With Illinois ranked fourth in the nation for childhood obesity rates, providing children with a safe and secure means of walking to school is an important tool to improve the health of our children," Quinn said.

The program is designed to:

Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation option

Facilitate projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools

School Bus Safety

The Illinois State Police have issued a pamphlet for motorists regarding school bus safety.

"The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are injured outside the bus," state police report. "Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm."

Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus displaying red warning lights face a mandatory three-month license suspension for a first offense and a one-year mandatory suspension of subequent offenses.

School Zone Safety

A new law makes it illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone unless it is equipped with a hands-free device.

Back-to-School Safety

The federal government also offers back-to-school safety tips for parents, students and educators on topics ranging from playground safety to alcohol and drug abuse.

An Illinois bus accident has claimed the lives of two young men after the double-decker open-air bus they were riding in passed beneath an overpass.

Justin Sleezer of Yorkville and Cameron Chana of Clarendon Hills were killed when their heads struck the Interstate Highway 57 overpass on Illinois Highway 16 in Mattoon. Fifty passengers, mostly students from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, were returning on the rented bus from a day of boating at Lake Shelbyville, about 200 miles South of Chicago.

Many on the bus were members of Sigma Pi fraternity, however a fraternity member told the Chicago Tribune the trip was not organized by the house.

Witnesses indicated the two young men killed were among the tallest in the group, although it is unclear whether they were standing or sitting on the top deck of the bus when it passed beneath the overpass. Passengers said the driver never told those on the upper deck to sit down or warned them of other safety precautions.

The bus driver took the victims to Lincoln Health Medical Center in Mattoon and they were later transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana where they were pronounced dead.

Mattoon Police Chief David Griffith said the investigation is ongoing and police are looking at whether any regulations were violated.

While it has not been reported if any Illinois accident lawyers are involved in the case yet, the families of the victims may have a strong wrongful death claim against the bus company.

In Corona, New Mexico at least fifty people were injured and two were killed when a tour bus rolled over late friday night, according to the Associated Press. The two fatalities were adults, and a nine year old minor had to be airlifted to a hospital. Fifteen other injured were taken by ambualnce to an Albuquerque hospital. Some of the injuries were critical.

The bus was reportedly traveling northbound on U.S. 54 north of Corona when the driver lost control of the bus while in a construction zone. The bus hit a median and flipped. The roads were icy and snowy at the time.

The bus was in route to El Paso, Texas. The accident closed the highway for around 7 hours.

Being a passenger in a bus accident can be a very scary experience. You are typically not seat belted, and all you can really do is hold on tight and hope for the best. Like the New Mexico accident, injuries from the same event can range from mild to critical to fatal.

If you have been involved in a Chicago area bus accident, contact our office for a free consultation.

In Eilat, Israel, at least twenty six Russians were killed on Tuesday when a bus crashed down a steep ravine, according to several news outlets, including the Associated Press. There were 60 passengers on the bus who had all just arrived from St. Petersburg, Russia.

The bus reportedly crashed when it passed by another bus at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone, lost control, broke through a guard rail and rolled down a steep hill. Many passengers were thrown from the bus as it rolled.

24 people were reportedly died at the scene, and 2 more past away later at Eilat's hospital. Several more are at the hospital in critical condition. Forty ambulances and six Israeli military helicopters rushed to the accident site.

This traffic accident is the most deadly in the history of Israel. Before this crash, only 406 people had had lost their lives in traffic accidents in all of Israel this year.

In Lostant, Illinois several students were injured Wednesday night when a chartered bus was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a truck, according to the Associated Press. The accident happened on an icy highway in northern central Illinois. At least 36 people were sent to hospitals.

The truck vs. bus accident happened on Interstate 39 when the tractor-trailer jackknifed in in front of a bus carrying students and the two vehicles impacted. The students were taken to three different area hospitals. Thirteen students were taken to St. Margaret's Hospital in Spring Valley and twenty-three students were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

The bus was returning from Chicago and all the students were from Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois. Dunlap is a small town located on Illinois 91 in Peoria County, Illinois, with a population of around 1,000.

The interstate was shut down until the vehicles were cleared from the road.

In Chicago, Illinois a CTA bus crash has injured several people this morning, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The accident involved a bus and two vehicles and over 20 people were injured. The collision took place on the Near West Side near Roosevelt Road and Blue Island Avenue.

One person is in critical condition. More than 12 ambulances were on stand by.

According to a Chicago Transit Authority representative, a bus was stopped at an intersection when it was hit from the rear by another vehicle.

From an injury lawyers view, the passengers on the bus can make an injury claim against the driver that hit the bus. However, an insurance problem could develop because there were so many injured passengers. The question is whether the driver has a big enough insurance policy to cover the accident. If there is not enough coverage, the passengers can look to make uninsured or underinsured motorist claims against their own auto polices.

Insurance coverage issues can get complicated fast in this type of accident. Passengers should contact a Chicago Area injury lawyer for help in handling their claims.

In LaSalle County, Illinois it is being reported that there were no serious injuries to the 22 children or the 2 drivers involved in Tuesday's school bus vs. truck accident, according to the Daily Chronicle. The accident happened near the intersection of 42nd and Hoxey Roads in Northville Township. All parties involved were treated and released from area hospitals by yesterday afternoon.

The students on the bus were from Serena High School. They were taken to Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich and Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center in Ottawa.

The bus vs. truck accident is being investigated by the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department. The driver of the truck has reportedly been ticketed with failure to yield at a stop/yield intersection.

Continue reading "LaSalle County, Illinois School Bus Accident Results In No Serious Injuries" »

CNN is reporting that a school bus has collided with a van in LaSalle County, Illinois. Video has been shown on the network of the bus on its side. They are reporting that 15 children were on board at the time of the school bus crash. No details have been reported of what caused the crash or the severity of the injuries.

Most of the students were taken to area hospitals in LaSalle and DeKalb Counties, according to CBS News. An emergency services box alarm was used after the accident that automatically sent fifteen ambulances to the crash site as a precaution.

In Chicago, Illinois nine people were injured yesterday when two cars collided and then they both hit a Chicago Transit Authority Bus, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident happened on the South Side at the intersection of 63rd and Artesian.

Chicago Fire Department officials stated that eight of the injured were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. The driver of the CTA bus was one of the persons injured.

It has not been reported which of the car drivers caused the accident. Once the Chicago Police Department determines who was at fault, the passengers on the bus will be able to pursue an injury claim against that person's insurance company.

The driver of the CTA bus actually has two cases. There is the case against the at fault party, and there is also a workers' compensation case, as the driver was injured on the job.

In west suburban Downers Grove, Illinois several passengers were injured yesterday when a PACE bus was rear ended by a school bus. The accident took place at the intersection of 63rd and Woodward. The Pace bus was stopped at a red light for southbound Woodward traffic when the school bus failed to stop and hit the PACE bus. Over ten passengers on the PACE bus were injured and taken to area hospitals such as Hinsdale Hospital, Edwards Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. has agreed to represent one of the injured PACE bus passengers in a claim against the school bus company. Our client was taken to Hinsdale Hospital with back and neck injuries. She is still complaining of severe pain and plans on seeking follow up treatment with a physician in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

A Chicago truck driver who caused a rear end collision on a tollway in 2003 that resulted in the death of eight women was sentenced to four years in prison this past Thursday for reckless homiside, according to the Northwest Herald and several other news sources. The truck crash occurred in October, 2003, near the Marengo-Hampshire toll plaza on Interstate 90 in McHenry County, Illinois. The truck, driven by a 54 year old driver, struck a 25-seat bus in which the eight women were passengers from behind as the bus slowed for traffic.

At trial in November, 2007 McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather found the driver guilty of eight counts of reckless homicide and also failing to maintain his truck’s brakes. Crash scene investigators testified that the truck was at least going 60 mph when it collided with the bus. The accident also occurred in a 45-mph construction zone.

The eight women killed were from the Chicago area and were returning from a day-trip at a Rockford garden. The driver was taken into custody after sentencing, as he had been out of custody on a $40,000 bond. He will only have to serve 18 months of his 4 year sentence if he receives crdeit for good behavior.

In Chicago, Illinois a bus vs. pedestrian accident has resulted in a fatality. A pedestrian who was walking west on on Cermak Road crossing Wabash Avenue was struck and killed by a tour bus at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. The victim was Winston Yu, 54, of the 2200 block of South Princeton Avenue. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

A 65-year-old man from Maywood was driving the bus at the time of the pedestrian accident and he was issued a ticket for a traffic violation, according to the Chicago Police Department. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the collision. The accident is being investigated by the Chicago Police Department's Major Accidents Investigation Unit.

Continue reading "In Chicago, Illinois Bus Hits and Kills Pedestrian In Chinatown" »

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of a Chicago Area woman who died from injuries sustained in a November 25, 2007 Arkansas bus crash, according to the Times-Herald of Forrest City, Arkansas. The bus was traveling from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month in Brownsville, Texas by Alfonso Macias Sr., the husband of Maria del Carmen Fuentes Macias of Plano, Illinois. She past away in a Memphis , Tennessee hospital on December 16, 2007 from injuries sustained in the bus crash. The lawsuit lists Dallas based Tornado Bus Co. and the driver of the bus as defendants.

Earlier this month the bus driver was arrested by the Arkansas State Police and charged with 4 counts of Reckless Homicide after toxicology reports from Tapia showed evidence of amphetamine use at the time of the bus crash.

Raul Lopez of West Chicago, Illinois was also on the bus and died at the accident site. They were on a Tornado Bus Co. bus with 45 other people. The fatal motor vehicle collision happened on a rainy night on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas when the bus crossed a median, hit a pickup truck, and then hit a larger commercial truck. Lopez, another passenger, and the driver of the pickup truck died on the scene.

Another Chicago area man, Marcos Valencia, of south suburban Crete, Illinois was also seriously injured in the bus crash. He was taken to a Memphis hospital for surgery.

A 59 year old Chicago resident was killed in a pedestrian accident after she was hit by a CTA bus on Monday afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ludwika Szynalik of the 3300 block of North Natchez was struck on West Addison Street near her home. She reportedly was a passenger of the bus. The 152 Addison bus was westbound at the time of the accident.

The bus accident victim was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and was pronounced dead later in the evening. The bus driver was ticketed, but it has not been reported what the ticket was for. No details have been released as to what caused the accident. A Chicago Police Department major accident investigation is underway. The fact that the driver was ticketed is a strong indication that a wrongful death claim may be investigated.

Personal injury lawyers always have to be careful when pursuing claims against the CTA. There is a one year statute of limitations and a six month CTA notice requirement. If involved in a CTA accident, it is best to hire an accident lawyer as soon as possible so they have adequate time to comply with the six month notice provision and the shortened statute of limitations.

Continue reading "Chicago Illinois Wrongful Death Accident - CTA Bus Hits and Kills Pedestrian" »

A Chicago Area woman has died from injuries sustained in a November 25, 2007 Arkansas bus crash, according to the Chicago Sun Times. She is the second Fox Valley resident to die as a result of the wrongful death bus crash in route from Chicago to Dallas, Texas.

Arkansas State Police have reported that Maria Del Carmen Fuentes past away on Saturday in a Memphis, Tennessee hospital. Raul Lopez of West Chicago, Illinois was also on the bus and died at the accident site. They were on a Tornado Bus Co. bus with 45 other people.

The fatal motor vehicle collision happened in the rain on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas around 10 pm on a Sunday night when the bus crossed a median, hit a pickup truck, and then hit a larger commercial truck. Lopez, another passenger, and the driver of the pickup truck died on the scene.

Raul Lopez was a father of 4, grandfather of 5, and worked in manufacturing. His mother lives in Mexico, and he usually drove there, but no one was available to make the trip with him. Lopez thought his vision was not good enough to drive at night, so he took the bus.

Another Chicago area man, Marcos Valencia, of south suburban Crete, Illinois was also seriously injured in the bus crash. He was taken to a Memphis hospital for surgery.

2 separate Greyhound buses traveling between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis have crashed in Indiana. People were injured in both bus accidents.

A Greyhound bus traveling to Chicago, Illinois from Indianapolis has collided with a pick up truck on Snowy Interstate 65, according to the Indystar website. Two people were injured and taken to a hospital in Boone County, Indiana. The Boone County Sheriff's Department reported that the highway was slippery after several inches of snow fell. The Northbound lanes on I-65 were briefly closed after the accident. There were 38 passengers on the bus. It has not determined which driver caused the accident. There were several accidents in the same area of Indiana this morning, most likely due to snow and ice conditions.

Earlier in the morning another Greyhound bus on Interstate 65 traveling from Chicago to Indy was involved in an accident outside Lafayette, Indiana. 23 passengers were injured an taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital and Home Hospital in Lafayette, according to CBS News. Indiana State Police report the bus spun out of control, no other vehicles have been reported to be involved.

Indystar.com also reported that the Boone County Sheriff said "every time you have the first or second snowfall of the year, people just forget how to drive". From my experience as a personal injury lawyer, the sheriff is absolutely right.

A Chicago area resident has died in a bus accident in Arkansas. He was traveling to visit his mother when a bus he was a passenger on collided with a pickup truck and an 18 wheeler, according to Chicago SunTimes.com. Raul Lopez, 58, was on a Tornado Bus Co. bus that was traveling from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas. He was 1 of 47 people on the bus.

The motor vehicle collision happened in the rain on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas around 10 pm on Sunday night when the bus crossed a median, hit the pickup, and then hit the larger truck. Lopez, another passenger, and the driver of the pickup truck died in the crash. Arkansas State Police are still investigating the crash, which seriously injured several more people.

Lopez was a father of 4, grandfather of 5, and worked in manufacturing. His mother lives in Mexico, and he usually drove there, but no one was available to make the trip with him. Lopez thought his vision was not good enough to drive at night, so he took the bus.

Another Chicago area man, Marcos Valencia, of south suburban Crete, Illinois was also seriously injured in the bus crash. He was taken to a Memphis hospital for surgery was was still in critical condition as of Monday.

Click here to read entire story.