Generally speaking, school buses are a safe method of transportation for school-aged children. Indeed, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports shows that children are 8 times safer riding to school in a school bus, as opposed to in a car with their parents. Still, school bus accidents and other bus crashes involving the CTA, Pace, Greyhound or private bus companies nonetheless occur, often with devastating results. To speak with a Chicago school bus accident lawyer, call Passen & Powell at (312) 527-4500 for a free consultation.
According to the NHTSA, there are an average of 140 deaths a year as a result of school transportation-related crashes. And since 1996, there have been 159 deaths of children under the age of 19 from such school bus accidents. The NHTSA defines such a crash as “a crash which involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus body vehicle, or a non-school bus functioning as a school bus, transporting children to or from school or school-related activities.” School-related activities include field trips and school-sponsored sporting events, such as soccer or football games.
Fatal school bus accidents can have many causes, and involve many different individuals and entities — including the bus driver and drivers of other vehicles, vehicle owners, employers of drivers, insurance companies, and others. It is critical to speak with a top Chicago bus crash attorney to identify all responsible individuals and entities, and protect your child’s rights. An experienced lawyer will investigate the accident, and identify potential bus bus safety regulation violations or product defects, which contributed to causing the crash.
In the state of Illinois, school bus safety requirements are regulated by Title 92 of the Illinois Administrative Code. In addition to providing the appropriate sections of the Illinois Vehicle Code, it also spells out specific state and federal requirements for bus manufacturers. Along with the Administrative Code and the Vehicle Code, there are Public Acts issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation applicable to school bus operation and public safety. For a free consultation with the best Chicago bus accident lawyers regarding an injury to yourself or to your child, call Passen & Powell at (312) 527-4500.