A partial CTA train derailment in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood sent seven passengers to area hospitals.
CTA Train Derailment Near 47th Street Station
The CTA train derailment took place at around 11:05 a.m. on June 6, 2019. There were thirty people heading southbound on the “L” train when it partially derailed north of the 47th Street Green Line Station.
Five ambulances were called to the scene. After emergency responders conducted a sweep of the train to identify those passengers who were most seriously hurt. Seven passengers had to be helped down a ladder to waiting ambulances because the train had not stopped near the station, according to the Chicago Fire Department. The injured passengers were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
The remaining 23 passengers refused treatment and were extricated from the train with the help of about 80 firefighters who had been called to the scene of the CTA train derailment.
According to the CTA’s chief transit officer, it was not yet clear how fast the train had been traveling when it derailed. While some track maintenance work was being conducted near the area, it was uncertain whether that work played any role in the CTA train derailment.
The Challenge of Public Transportation Injury Cases
Chicago residents take more than 500 million public transportation rides each year. With so many trips being taken, the risk of injury can be significant. Trains may derail, buses may crash, and commuters may slip and fall in train and bus stations.
Since they are paid to transport the public, buses and trains are classified as “common carriers” under Illinois law. As common carriers, these vehicles are subject to a higher duty of care for their passengers’ safety. Because of this, bus drivers and train operators are expected to be more cautious than regular drivers. Failure to exercise this higher duty of care could constitute negligence on their part, and those who get injured because of this negligence may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the CTA, Metra, or another company operating the common carrier.
However, obtaining fair compensation for a public transportation accident can prove especially challenging. In certain cases, there may be multiple potential causes for an accident, including defective traffic and train signals, poorly maintained tracks, operator distraction, equipment failure, and overloaded buses and trains. Sometimes an outside driver may be partially or even entirely at fault for the accident. In such circumstances, it might be unclear whether to go after the at-fault driver, the common carrier, or some combination of both.
A personal injury attorney with experience in public transportation accidents can promptly initiate a detailed investigation to figure out exactly what happened in a CTA train derailment or another similar incident. Only by determining the cause of a public transportation accident can the plaintiff properly identify the responsible party. Identifying all the parties who are at fault in a timely manner is crucial. Plaintiffs who fail to bring their claims forward within the time specified by law may find themselves forever barred from obtaining fair compensation for their injuries.
Illinois Public Transportation Accident Attorneys
Because of the difficulties involved in pursuing a personal injury claim involving a common carrier, injured parties should consider retaining an experienced attorney to help them obtain the justice they deserve, such as the Illinois public transportation accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
With over $2 billion recovered for our clients and more than four decades in the business, GWC is one of the premier Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois.
If you have been wrongfully injured, in a CTA train derailment or in some other way, please contact GWC today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. Call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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