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Getting injured in a bus crash as a rider, pedestrian, or motorist can leave you with medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and insurance claims. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being hit by a bus, a Chicago bus accident lawyer could help you file a claim for compensation.
Some frequent causes of bus accidents include driving under the influence, speeding, negligence, unsafe turns, and distracted driving. Bus accidents also happen because of bad hiring practices, inexperienced bus drivers, and negligent bus maintenance and repair. An experienced personal injury attorney can assist you in the aftermath of a bus accident.
Under state law, the statute of limitations for bus crashes involving private carriers is two years. This law allows someone injured in a bus accident to file a claim up to two years after the date of the accident.
The law differs when the bus crash involves a public transit system, such as the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). For an accident involving a public carrier, the injured party has only one year to pursue their claim.
The best thing to do in the aftermath of a bus wreck is to call a Chicago bus accident attorney, who can help you navigate the legal process and ensure you take the right actions to facilitate the best possible outcome. These actions could include conducting an extensive investigation of the bus crash, gathering evidence such as accident reports and photographs, and consulting with experts to establish causation, fault, and liability.
One of the most confusing aspects of filing a claim after a bus crash is determining who is at fault. A qualified Chicago bus accident lawyer can help an injured person make this determination, identifying whether the bus driver, bus company, bus repair company, or other party is to blame.
When a public carrier such as CTA is responsible for a death resulting from a bus accident, the victim’s family is entitled to pursue a claim under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/).
Dealing with public bus crashes can be particularly difficult, considering the number of individuals, government agencies, companies, and laws that might be involved. Whether the cause was negligence of regulations, poorly maintained buses, boarding or exiting problems, or something else, a top Chicago bus wreck lawyer will assemble the facts required to file the correct claim.
Under the state’s Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/), public or common carriers are held to a heightened standard of care for their passengers from the moment they enter a bus until they exit. Heightened duty also applies to passengers standing in line, intentional acts by the bus driver, and, in some cases, , actions by fellow passengers.
Due to the factors and parties involved, getting in a bus wreck in Chicago can leave an injured person confused about which laws apply. Anyone hurt in a bus crash should retain the services of an experienced Chicago bus accident lawyer who knows which laws apply and could maximize their odds of recovery.
When you are hurt in a bus accident, you do not want to navigate the legal and insurance process on your own. A lawyer at Nozicka Law could help you take the right steps to achieve the maximum compensation you deserve.
Give yourself a little peace of mind by calling a qualified Chicago bus accident lawyer today to schedule a consultation.