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August 27, 2014 |

UNDER THE LAW OF NEGLIGENCE, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR YOUR BUS ACCIDENT INJURIES

When you are hurt in a bus accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages to help compensate for your injuries. Traveling by bus is believed to be a safe way to get to your destination, but a recent Chicago bus collision shows that buses are susceptible to many of the same vulnerabilities that cars face. A vehicle accident can be a confusing experience, leaving many accident victims unsure as to how to proceed. If you’ve been injured in an Illinois bus accident, you should talk to a personal injury attorney with experience in auto accidents.

On the afternoon of August 20, at least 13 people were injured in a collision that occurred in Chicago. According to news reports, a CTA bus was stopped near 71st and Paxton when a red two-door coupe rear-ended the bus. Although the car was tiny compared to the bus, the car’s driver and nine bus passengers were taken to local hospitals. A bus passenger can get a false sense of security because of the sheer size of the bus, but this incident illustrates how vulnerable buses can be.

Since the bus was struck while stopped, it is strongly suggested that the driver of the red two-door coupe may have been negligent. However, it is important to note that an investigation is still underway, and there may have been other factors that contributed to the accident. In cases where bus passengers are injured due to a driver’s negligence, passengers may be entitled to collect damages to help pay for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

When suing for negligence, an accident victim must show that a driver breached his or her duty to drive safely, and that this breach of duty caused actual damages to the victim. Since we all have a duty to follow the rules of the road, a breach of duty is often demonstrated by proving a violation of local traffic laws or the Illinois Vehicle Code. Any number of safety violations may indicate negligence. A driver might travel at an unsafe speed, fail to leave reasonable room to stop, fail to obey a traffic signal or stop sign, or even drive while intoxicated.

In a negligence claim, the accident victim also has the burden of proof in showing that someone’s negligent acts led to damages. Medical bills and proof of lost income are crucial in determining the extent to which an accident victim has been harmed, but merely presenting a stack of expenses is not enough. The evidence must be presented in an organized manner that clearly explains the victim’s damages. Persuasive arguments must prove that these medical bills and other expenses were reasonable and that they resulted from injuries caused by the negligent driver’s actions. This often requires supporting evidence in the form of expert medical testimony, police reports, and accident scene investigations. An experienced personal injury attorney can help navigate the complexities of your accident injury claim.

A bus collision can quickly lead to financial hardship due to significant medical bills and lost wages. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. There are time limits for filing a negligence lawsuit in Illinois, so it is important to talk to an attorney as soon as possible. Personal injury claims call for skilled representation. When you are injured in a public transportation accident, contact Cavanagh Sorich Law Group.

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