Representing Victims Of Bus Crashes For Decades
Although school districts, municipalities and entities that operate buses must comply with the law and their obligations to keep passengers and the public safe, negligence all too often results in preventable and devastating crashes.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm in an accident involving a passenger carrier vehicle – such as a private, public, charter, or school bus – you may have the right to seek compensation for your losses.
Power Rogers is a national leader in litigating complex accident claims and can explain how we may be able to help in your fight for justice during a free consultation.
Why Choose Power Rogers?
- Over $5 billion in compensation recovered for clients, including $900M more than our closest competitor since 2000.
- Named No. 1 Plaintiff’s Law Firm in most dollars earned 11 years in a row by Chicago Lawyer’s Annual Settlement Survey.
- Record-setting verdicts and settlements, including Illinois’ largest personal injury award to a single family ($100M) in a complex automobile accident case
Power Rogers has recovered millions for victims of commercial vehicle accidents involving trucks, vans, and buses. We have taken on powerful corporations and insurance carriers, the City of Chicago, Megabus, and Chicago Transit Authority, and know how to guide clients through the legal process.
To speak with a Chicago bus accident attorney about your potential case, call or contact us online for a FREE consultation. We serve clients throughout Illinois and beyond.
Are You Able To File A Bus Accident Lawsuit?
If you were injured in a bus accident, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal bus crash, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Victims are able to bring these civil claims when another’s negligence or wrongful act more likely than not caused them harm. You may have a potential claim, for example, if:
- You were injured in a bus crash caused by a negligent bus driver, or lost a loved one in a fatal traffic accident caused by a negligent bus operator.
- A negligent motorist in another vehicle caused or contributed to your bus crash.
- A bus company failed to address a hazardous condition that led to your accident, such as worn brakes or old tires.
Who Is Responsible For Your Bus Accident?
In personal injury lawsuits, victims bring claims against defendants they claim are at fault for causing their accidents, and liable for the resulting damages. The individuals or entities responsible for your bus accident will depend on what occurred in the crash.
Examples of potential defendants:
- Negligent bus drivers or supervisors
- Charter bus / tour bus companies
- School bus operator or school district
- City, county, or state agencies
- Bus owners / bus stop property managers
- Bus manufacturers / bus part manufacturers
- Vehicle maintenance companies
- Other motorists
In some cases, there is more than one party that caused or contributed to a crash. When multiple defendants share responsibility for an accident, victims can name more than one defendant in their lawsuit. If successful, each defendant will be held liable for a portion of the ultimate award or settlement that is equal to their percentage of fault.
Special Considerations In Bus Accident Suits
Some bus accidents may involve special laws or situations that demand the attention of experienced attorneys.
- Public / city bus accidents: When injury suits are brought against the government, such as a City or a government agency like Chicago Transit Authority, special rules and procedures will apply. This includes requirements for filing a Notice of Claim and a shorter time window to file a lawsuit (statute of limitations). In cases involving public buses and government defendants, it is vital victims work immediately with attorneys who have handled these cases before.
- School bus accidents: School districts that operate a school bus involved in a crash can be held liable for victims’ damages caused by negligent bus drivers, failures to adequately maintain the bus, or negligent hiring or training of employees.
- Vicarious liability: When negligent bus drivers cause crashes, claims can be brought against the company or entity that employed them. By law, employers are vicariously liable for damages caused by employees operating within the scope of their job.
- Defective products: Bus accident victims may be able to bring claims under products liability, which can hold manufacturers, distributors, and / or retailers strictly liable for injuries caused by defectively designed or manufactured products. In strict liability cases, victims do not need to prove negligence. However, they must prove a bus or bus component was defective and was a substantial cause of a crash.
- Bus stop accidents: Accidents at bus stops or near a stopped bus require investigation to determine liability. In these cases, the negligence of other parties may be the sole or contributing cause, such as when a motorist passes a school bus with its stop sign displayed, or recklessly veers around a bus into a crosswalk where pedestrians have the right of way.
- Regulatory violations: Like commercial trucks, passenger carriers must comply with state and sometimes federal regulations. When accidents are caused by safety violations, such as failures to properly maintain a bus, the bus operator can be held liable.
What Compensation Will You Be Able To Recover In A Bus Accident Suit?
Personal injury lawsuits are intended to hold defendants financially liable for damages victims suffer as a result of the defendants’ actions. Generally, victims are entitled to compensatory damages such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost future earnings
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Other economic and non-economic damages
Wrongful death lawsuits and accompanying survival actions entitle survivors to similar damages, including:
- Lost financial support
- Loss of value of household services
- Loss of emotional support / loss of consortium
- Medical expenses incurred prior to decedent’s passing
- Funeral expenses
In limited cases, victims may be able to seek punitive damages against defendants who engaged in egregious misconduct or wrongful acts. However, most cases in Illinois do not result in punitive damage awards.
Examples Of Our Case Results
- $39.9 million recovery for the wrongful death of a father and injuries suffered by family members whose vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer.
- $38.25 million recovery for a 24-year-old man who became paralyzed after another motorist struck a tractor-trailer, causing it to jackknife.
- $4.3 million recovery for the family of a victim fatally struck by a CTA bus.
- $3.1 million verdict for family of a victim killed in fatal school bus hit-and-run.
Power Rogers has a winning success record in motor vehicle accident cases. If you were involved in a crash or wish to discuss a crash involving your loved one, our bus accident attorneys are available to clients throughout Chicago, the state of Illinois, and neighboring states.
Contact us for a FREE case review.
