CHICAGO (January 24, 2019) – A CTA bus and a car crashed Wednesday afternoon in the Goose Island neighborhood, sending at least 15 people to area hospitals, two of them with serious injuries.
The bus was westbound on Chicago Avenue near Peoria Street when a black Mercedes-Benz sedan traveling eastbound hit a patch of ice. The driver lost control of the car and plowed into a viaduct and then veered into the westbound lanes. The bus operator saw the car and swerved to avoid a head-on collision, but in doing so, ended up hitting a pole, the Chicago Tribune reports. The bus and car never contacted each other.
The two people with the most severe injuries were in the sedan. They were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where the driver was listed in critical condition and the passenger was in “guarded” condition. The remaining 13 patients were in fair to serious condition, the Chicago Fire Department reported.
It wasn’t clear if everyone on the bus was injured or if there were some passengers who made it safely off the bus. Traffic was rerouted in the area following the crash.
CTA Bus Accidents Pose Serious Dangers
Unfortunately, CTA bus accidents remain far too common. A 2016 investigative report determined that a CTA bus is involved in a crash in Chicago once every 36 hours.
While some of those bus crashes were minor, many of them resulted in significant injuries.
If you or your family member was hurt in a CTA wreck, you should consult with an experienced Chicago bus accident attorney who can protect your rights.
Steps to Take After a Bus Accident
Following a serious bus accident in Chicago, it is crucial that injured victims take the appropriate measures to protect their rights and interests. Among other things, all bus accident victims should be sure to:
- Seek Medical Attention: If you were hurt in a CTA bus accident, you need a comprehensive evaluation from a doctor. Your health and safety always come first. Further, you will not be able to take legal action unless you have seen a physician and your injuries have been properly documented.
- Record Relevant Evidence: It is in your best interest to secure as much evidence as possible. Be sure to take pictures of the crash, photographs of your injuries, and get contact information for witnesses.
- Report the CTA Bus Accident in Chicago: Bus accidents should be reported to the appropriate authorities. Do not assume that your crash was properly reported simply because other people were also involved in it.
- Contact a Bus Accident Attorney: Remember, injured victims only have a limited amount of time to file a claim after a Chicago Transit Authority accident. You should speak to an experienced Chicago CTA bus accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision. Your lawyer will make sure that your case is handled properly so that you can focus on your health.
Types of Injuries One Can Suffer in a Bus Accident
A bus accident in Chicago can occur in many different ways — from buses being involved in major multi-vehicle wrecks to pedestrians being struck by negligent bus drivers. The resulting injuries can vary considerably, both in their type and in their severity. Some common examples of injuries that victims may suffer in a CTA bus accident include:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash and other forms of soft-tissue damage
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Cuts/lacerations
Contact Our Bus Accident Lawyers Today
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., our skilled Chicago personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling CTA bus accident claims. If you or your loved one was hurt in a Chicago Transit Authority bus accident, we are here to help. For a free, no-obligation case evaluation, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team today.
