There have been a number of CTA-related incidents the past few months, from a toddler in a stroller being dragged by a CTA train, to a CTA bus accident that sent 10 people to the hospital, to another CTA bus hitting a house, causing the house to be torn down for safety reasons.

Train and bus accidents can be serious, and sometimes fatal.  In Illinois, such accidents may fall under the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/) and the Illinois Metropolitan Transit Authority Act (70 ILCS 3605/). The experienced Chicago injury lawyers of Passen Law can help you navigate the law, as well as  conduct a thorough factual investigation, so you can recover damages entitled under the law.

The CTA falls under both Acts, and is subject to changes in the Illinois Metropolitan Transit Authority Act that took effect June 1, 2009.  The most significant change is the repeal of Section 41, which eliminates the six-month notice requirement that had hampered many legitimate claims. The repeal applies to all “causes of action that accrue on or after” June 1, 2009.  However, the one-year statute of limitations still applies, which is why it is critical to contact a top public transportation accident lawyer as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident, contact Passen Law Group today at (312) 527-4500 for a free consultation.

Bus safety is a concern not just with CTA buses, but also other public transportation buses, including school buses.  A separate Chicago Tribune story last week reported that there are nearly 2,000 school buses currently operating across the country with serious safety violations despite government and manufacture knowledge of defective parts.  Those injured in a bus accident involving safety violations or product defects may have a viable cause of action against the bus company, manufacturer or driver, and should contact an experienced bus accident attorney regarding your rights.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the governing body for motor vehicles in the US, has known about the defects for eight years. The Tribune reports that it has taken eight years to track down the companies responsible for the defective parts.

Defective parts can cause serious, if not fatal, injuries. Defective parts that cause serious injuries fall into the category of product liability, or the area of law that holds manufacturers, distributors and retailers responsible for errors in design, manufacturing or marketing of a product.  An experienced personal injury lawyer understands state as well as federal product liability law, and can help you identify all responsible parties.

The defective parts bus parts may include:
•    Seat backs that fail strength requirements
•    Weak seatbelt anchors
•    Wheelchair lifts

There are federal standards for bus parts, and the minimum standards must be met in order to ensure the safety of children riding school buses.  Seats on school buses, for example, provide what is called compartmentalization. The NHTSA defines compartmentalization in the “Highway Safety Program Guide No. 17” (March 2009) as “a protective envelope of strong, closely spaced seats that have energy-absorbing padded seat backs that help distribute and reduce crash forces.”  Seat backs that fail federal strength requirements create weak compartmentalization, which can cause serious injury to children in the event of an accident.

Failure of the NHTSA to track down and follow up with the companies is disconcerting, and it is frightening that the bus companies noted in the Tribune report, U.S. Bus and Transportation Collaborative Inc., have been lax in their mandatory reporting requirements and recall of parts they know to be defective. Such willful negligence should not be tolerated.

For a free consultation with a top Chicago bus accident injury lawyer, call Passen Law Group at (312) 527-4500.

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 Law Group at (312) 527-4500.