CHICAGO (January 13, 2023) – A woman who suffered a serious leg injury when she was struck and dragged by a CTA bus in downtown Chicago has received a $20 million settlement for her injuries. According to the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter, the settlement is the highest settlement with the CTA ever reported.
On August 2, 2019, 59-year-old Diane Schachner was walking toward the intersection of Fairbanks Court and Ontario Street in Chicago. As she crossed the street, a CTA bus turned left from Ontario Street onto Fairbanks Court.
Unfortunately, the bus driver failed to notice Diane walking just outside the marked crosswalk and continued to drive the bus into the intersection. Before she could react, Diane was hit by the bus and knocked to the ground, striking her head on the pavement. Diane was then dragged underneath the bus for 27 feet before it came to a stop on her right leg. She remained fully alert while trapped beneath the bus with her leg pinned to the pavement for nearly 30 minutes until rescue personnel were able to physically hoist the bus and free her.
Diane was transported to a nearby hospital, where it was determined that she sustained a severe crush and degloving injury to her right lower leg, and fractures to her ankle. Diane has undergone multiple procedures on her right leg to date. To this day, she suffers from residual pain and PTSD.
In September of 2019, Diane and her husband, Tom Schachner, filed a lawsuit through their attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard claiming the CTA and the driver were negligent in failing to yield to pedestrians, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and failing to exercise due caution, among other claims. The CTA denied liability and vigorously defended the lawsuit for over three years, claiming that Diane was at fault and in the bus driver’s “blind spot.”
On Friday, January 13, 2023, the Chicago Transit Authority approved a $20 million settlement reached by both parties during a December 2022 mediation.
“Diane’s life has been upended by this incident. While she has worked hard towards recovery, she will never regain anything close to her physical capabilities pre-injury. We are pleased that we have achieved this result on behalf of a wonderful client who has demonstrated immense courage and resilience in the face of a life-altering event,” Plaintiff’s attorney Patrick A. Salvi said.
The Schachners were also represented by attorneys Lance D. Northcutt, Heidi L. Wickstrom and Jaclyn J. Kurth of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard.
Mrs. Schachner is not available for interviews, but please reach out if you would like to speak with attorney Patrick A. Salvi. For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
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