A recent Belmont Cragin bus accident sent the driver and five of the bus’s passengers to hospitals in the Chicago area with injuries.
Belmont Cragin Bus Accident Involving Tow Truck
The Belmont Cragin bus accident took place at Fullerton Ave. and Laramie Ave., just before 8:00 a.m. on June 26, 2020. At that time, a CTA No. 74 bus was traveling eastbound on Fullerton Avenue.
According to a statement by the CTA, a tow truck driver heading in the opposite direction “lost control,” forcing the bus driver to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision. As a result, the bus crashed into Galileo Optical Boutique at 5159 W. Fullerton Ave.
Six people were hospitalized in the Belmont Cragin bus accident – five passengers and the driver. Two of the victims were transported to Oak Park’s West Suburban Medical Center, one was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and two others went to Community First Hospital. The Chicago Fire Department could not provide details about any of their conditions.
A spokesperson said the Chicago Police Department was “still waiting for the traffic crash report to be finalized” before releasing additional information about the Belmont Cragin bus accident.
Challenges Posed by Public Transportation Accidents
People in the Chicago area take over 500 million public transportation rides annually. With so many trips per year, there is a heightened potential for accidental injury, whether from a bus or train crash, a derailment, or a slip-and-fall at a station.
But while they may be common, public transportation accidents can pose unique challenges compared to similar incidents between private parties. In addition to the usual difficulties of establishing fault, municipal entities such as the CTA have certain protections under the law that are not available to the average citizen, including an abbreviated “Statute of Limitations,” the term for the time in which an injured plaintiff has to file suit or otherwise resolve a claim.
With certain exceptions, the Statute of Limitations for personal injury cases involving municipal entities is one year, as opposed to two years for other similar lawsuits. If an injured person fails to file a lawsuit or resolve a claim against a municipal entity within one year, that person may be forever barred from obtaining compensation.
This shorter Statute of Limitations period can significantly hinder one’s ability to conduct a proper investigation, which can be especially important in public transportation accidents. In these types of incidents, there could be multiple causes, including overloaded trains and buses, distracted operators, defective train and bus signals, mechanical failure, or dilapidated tracks. In certain situations, an outside party could be at least partially responsible, as the CTA is claiming about the tow truck driver in the case of the Belmont Cragin bus accident. This can make it difficult for the plaintiff to decide whether to pursue the outside party, the municipal entity, or a combination of both.
Turn to GWC’s Public Transportation Accident Attorneys
Given the complicated nature of public transportation accidents, many victims over the years have turned to the knowledgeable Chicago public transportation accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers to help make a difference.
GWC can promptly initiate a detailed investigation into the root causes of a public transportation accident and identify all of the entities that may be at fault. This can allow our firm to pursue the appropriate defendants within the time allotted by law and maximize the amount of compensation. And with over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients, we think our record of success speaks for itself.
So if you have been wrongfully injured, contact GWC today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Chicago car accident lawyers. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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