Bus Accident Attorney in Chicago, IL

Bus Accident Attorney in Chicago and Illinois. If you or a loved one has been injured in a devastating bus accident, take control of your recovery by calling the Chicago-based Illinois bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or by contacting us online.

Bus accidents almost never receive the same attention as plane or train crashes, even though they can often be equally as dangerous and deadly, and have just as devastating an effect on Chicago and Illinois residents and families. The Illinois Department of Transportation states that in 2019 there were 4,316 bus accidents, 846 of which resulted in personal injury or death. If you or a loved one has been injured because a bus company or driver did not follow the rules, the experienced and knowledgeable Chicago and Illinois bus accident attorneys at Burger Law are here to help.

Our bus accident attorney team has over 20 years of experience fighting for the injured in Chicago and throughout Illinois. To date have won our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. We know the physical, financial and emotional pain you are experiencing right now and will stand by your side throughout your entire legal process. While insurance agencies for large bus companies or government entities may think they can offer a Chicago or Illinois resident a minimal settlement and get away with it, they have come to fear the tenacious and talented bus accident attorneys of Burger Law. We aggressively pursue every option in your case from start to finish. Our bus accident attorney team has dedicated their lives to standing up to bullies and will not rest until we get you the full compensation you are owed. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, call your trusted Burger Law injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and to start on the road to recovery.

If you were injured in a Chicago or Illinois bus accident because of someone else's negligent behavior, find out how much your claim may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

What Will a Chicago, IL Bus Accident Attorney Do For Me?

For most Chicago and Illinois residents, the legal process is complex and confusing. The last thing you want in these difficult times is to spend your energy on wondering how to proceed and who you can really trust. When you hire Burger Law’s dedicated and experienced bus accident attorney team, we take charge of your entire case right away and do not let up until you get the compensation you are owed. We handle every aspect of your case, including:

• Documentation
• Litigation
• Communication
• Providing you with expert, sincere and heartfelt counsel
• Gathering evidence
• Working with experts to corroborate your claim
• Proving negligence
• Demanding fair settlement
• Taking the fight to trial when the insurance company does not want to give you a fair offer

We know that you are feeling vulnerable in this difficult time, and you need to focus your energy on you or your loved one’s recovery. You may be wondering how you are going to pay for the mountain of medical costs coming your way, and how you are going to afford taking the necessary time off work. No matter how severe your injuries are or the extent to which they have impacted your life, the Chicago and Illinois bus accident attorney team at Burger Law will dedicate themselves to ensuring your future is protected and all your medical and financial needs related to your injury are taken care of. The devastating financial and emotional impact of a bus accident injury is sudden, and it should not impede you from feeling secure about you and your family’s future. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, contact your Burger Law bus accident attorney today to take the first step towards justice.

Common Causes of Bus Accident Injuries | Chicago, IL Bus Accident Attorney

Bus accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, and the impact they have on the passengers and others injured can range from minor to severe. In order to hold the liable party accountable, your Illinois bus accident attorney in Chicago will first determine the cause of the accident to find out who is responsible for the negligent or reckless behavior that caused your injuries. In our two decades as trusted Chicago bus accident lawyers we have seen every type of motor vehicle and bus accident case. Below are some of the most common causes of bus accidents that the bus accident attorney of Burger Law has seen:

• Driver Age and Experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that novice drivers under the age of 25, as well as more experienced drivers over the age of 55 were more likely to be driving when a bus accident occurred.
• Driver Behavior. While the same study found that only 4 percent of bus accidents were caused by a serious offense such as the driver being intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan found that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had been cited with driving errors, such as speeding or being drowsy, or distracted driving.
• Driver Fatigue. Many bus drivers, especially those that work for commercial bus lines such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, develop fatigue and can become drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have rules about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how frequently they have to take break, those rules are often not enforced or followed.
• Road Conditions. Given buses’ size and the difficulty in maneuvering them, icy roads or construction areas can be especially hazardous for bus passengers.
• Negligence by the Bus Company. Bus companies are regulated, but not nearly as much as other many industries. A 2011 study by the National Transportation Safety Board found that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has only 878 personnel responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 motor carriers, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors often can not keep up with the amount of inspections required, and some bus companies may not properly maintain their vehicles, causing them to be less safe. Additionally, bus companies need to make sure that their drivers are properly trained and are not overworked.
• Dangerous Roads. Faults in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. Some commons examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Faulty or missing traffic signals
  • Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Excessive grades

The longer the dangerous condition has been on the Chicago or Illinois road, the better chance you have of holding the negligent parties responsible. The liable party may be local government, or a third party whom the government paid to repair the issue but either did not do so in a timely fashion or did not adequately repair it.

Once we determine the cause of your accident, our bus accident attorney will move swiftly to hold the negligent parties responsible and get you the full compensation you are owed. You should not have to sit and wonder who is to blame for these tragic circumstances and if they will ever take responsibility for their actions. Let Burger Law deliver you justice and security. Call our accomplished and dedicated bus accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT to start the process of making you whole again.

Types of Bus Accidents | Chicago, IL Bus Accident Attorney

Buses are always large, and when they crash they often cause significant injury to their passengers and others on the road. When that happens because of somebody's negligence, that person needs to be held accountable. The experienced and knowledgeable Chicago and Illinois bus accident attorneys at Burger Law have seen every type of case and know how to get you justice and a full financial recovery. Below are some of the most common types of bus accidents.

School Bus Accidents

School bus accidents are the most common type of bus accident in Illinois. Nationally, school bus accidents account for 40 percent of all fatal bus crashes. There are many parties who may be at fault if your child was injured on their way to or from school:

• The bus driver. Driver error is the leading cause of bus accidents. Speeding, driving while intoxicated, not following the rules of the road and distracted driving are examples of a school bus driver being reckless or negligent and therefore responsible for the accident.
• The School District. A school district may be found negligent if they did not cancel school in poor weather, if they did not perform a proper background check when hiring the bus driver or a variety of other things. We trust school districts with the safety of our kids, and when they break that trust you need a tenacious and talented bus accident attorney like those at Burger Law to hold them accountable.
• The Bus Company. The company that owns the bus has an obligation to regularly inspect the bus and properly maintain it to ensure its safety for our children. If they neglect their duty and your child is harmed because of it, they owe you and your child damages.
• The Bus Manufacturer. As with any motor vehicle, a defective part that the manufacturer knew about and did not recall is an example of product liability. If faulty parts were the cause of your child’s school bus accident, the manufacturer may be held liable for your child's injuries.

The safety of your child should be paramount to everyone involved, and regardless of the cause of your child’s bus accident, anyone who broke the rules and put them in danger needs to pay. Your compassionate and experienced Burger Law bus accident attorney of Chicago and Illinois will hold the liable parties accountable and make sure you receive the recovery you deserve for your child’s injuries. If your child was injured in a school bus accident because of somebody else’s negligence, call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary consultation and to take the first step in protecting your family’s future.

Public Transportation Bus Accidents

In Illinois, 63 public transportation operators transport 400 million passengers per year. That is a lot of people who could potentially be injured because of government negligence or the reckless actions of a government employee. While it is possible to sue a public or governmental entity, it does require a special procedure that your trusted and knowledgeable bus accident attorney will help you follow. In Illinois, 745 ILCS 10 provides a level of sovereign immunity so that they are not held liable for “operation of government.” Effectively, this means that the burden of proof when suing a municipality or government employee is much higher, and you and your bus accident attorney must demonstrate an “actual or deliberate intention to cause harm” or “utter indifference to or disregard for the safety of others.” This goes far beyond standard negligence, such as a driver failing to check their blind spot. Call your Chicago and Illinois bus accident injury lawyer at (314) 500-HURT to see if you have a case against a government entity.

To make a claim against a government entity in Illinois, you must file a written notice or a lawsuit with the Attorney General and the Clerk of the Court of Claims no later than one year after the date of the injury. If you file a notice first, the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a public transportation accident, there is no time to wait. Call the Illinois and Chicago bus accident lawyers at Burger Law immediately so we can start working on your case without delay.

Common Carrier Bus Accidents

A common carrier is any entity or enterprise that transports passengers or goods for a fee available to the general public. In regards to bus accidents, these are typically private travel companies such as Greyhound that provide transportation services between cities and towns. They have the same obligations any other entity does, such as hiring safe drivers, providing proper training, regularly inspecting and maintaining their bus fleet and not allowing their drivers to become fatigued. If they do not allow their drivers sufficient rest, or do not inspect their vehicles properly or complete necessary repairs, they need to be held responsible for your injuries. Burger Law's Illinois bus accident attorney team in Chicago has spent their lives standing up to big businesses and large corporations who think they do not have to pay you for your injuries.

Accidents Where the Driver is At Fault

While some overseeing entities are negligent in the upkeep of their bus fleet, driver error is still the most common cause of bus accidents that our bus accident attorney sees. You trust a bus driver to view your safety as their number one priority when you board a bus, and when they break that trust and break the rules, you need a tenacious and talented Chicago and Illinois bus accident attorney at Burger Law to hold them accountable and get you justice. A bus driver can be found negligent or reckless if they drive drunk, drive while distracted, do not follow the rules of the road or make improper turns or signals while driving. If you were injured because a bus driver did not take your safety seriously, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT and we will demand that you the maximum compensation you deserve.

Common Injuries in Bus Accidents

Because of the sheer size of buses and the force that the crashes can carry, bus accident injuries are often much more severe than injuries stemming from a standard fender-bender. You may experience anything from a sore-neck for a few days to life changing disabilities and life-threatening injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries Burger Law’s Chicago and Illinois bus accident attorney has seen:

• Whiplash Injuries
• Back, Neck, or Spine Injuries
• Broken Bones
• Lacerations and Deep Cuts
• Internal Injuries
• Head Injuries
• Severe Burns
• Loss of Limb

Whatever injury you sustained in your bus accident, if it occurs because of someone else’s recklessness or carelessness, you should not have to go it alone in your recovery. Burger Law’s compassionate and dedicated bus accident injury team is here for you to make sure all your damages are financially accounted for. Contact us now for a free case evaluation and to start on your road to recovery.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for bus accident injuries and other types of injuries:

• Do I have to Talk to the Insurance Company Before I Talk to a Lawyer?
• How Much to Expect in an Auto Accident Settlement
• What Happens During Litigation?
• Does My Family Have a Wrongful Death Claim?
• What Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for My Case?
• $5 Million Wrongful Death Settlement
• Force Is What Separates Truck Accidents From Car Accidents

What to Do if You Sustained a Bus Accident Injury | Chicago, IL Bus Accident Attorney

In the immediate aftermath of a bus accident, you are likely shocked and afraid, not to mention possibly significantly injured. It can be hard to know what to do or how to proceed. Our Illinois bus accident attorney in Chicago knows what to do in order to make sure you get the medical treatment you need and the best result in your case. Here are the first steps you should take immediately after being injured in a bus accident, if you are able:

• Call 911. While Chicago and Illinois bus drivers are required to call 911 after a bus accident, you should do so yourself as well. Given the amount of passengers on a bus and the force a bus accident carries, it is likely that somebody will need medical attention – if not dozens of people. Render aid to anybody who might need it.
• Get the Driver’s Information. Most bus companies will have a badge, ID number or other identifying information about the driver readily available. At the very least you need to make sure you record the license plate number of the bus so that you will be able to know who was driving.
• Talk to Eyewitnesses. Because there are usually many passengers in a bus accident, finding witnesses should not be difficult and they will likely be very enthusiastic about cooperating. Often, injured passengers in a Chicago or Illinois bus crash will use the same bus accident attorney to file their claim.
• Gather Other Evidence. Pictures are important. Take pictures of all vehicles involved as well as the Chicago or Illinois road and surroundings if it is safe to do so. You can write down anything else you may find significant, such as if the driver appeared drowsy or seemed intoxicated. Even seemingly insignificant details can be invaluable to your bus accident attorney when making your injury claim.
• Call Burger Law. When you hire a Chicago-based Illinois bus accident attorney from Burger Law, we handle all aspects of your case from our initial consultation to when you pick up your settlement check. Our bus accident attorney team demands that you get full compensation for all of your damages.

We know the devastating impact a bus accident injury can have on your life and the lives of your loved ones, and that is why we do not rest until you get the full recovery you deserve. We have seen every type of motor vehicle and bus accident case and will use our experience and expertise to hold the negligent parties accountable. We will make sure that you are fully compensated for all of your damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, call our Chicago-based bus accident attorney team today at (314) 500-HURT to get started on your road to recovery.