Taking Action After an Accident with a Public Transit Vehicle

 Posted on February 13, 2023 in Car Accident

Generally speaking, the transit system in Illinois works fairly well. City buses, trains, and other government vehicles help get people where they need to go in addition to carrying city employees about their business. However, the people operating these vehicles are subject to the same flaws as anyone else, and careless or negligent behavior on their part can lead to serious accidents with civilians. If you have been involved in an accident with a government vehicle, whether it was an accident on public transit or a car crash with a government car, make sure you speak to an Illinois personal injury attorney right away. 

Who Can Recover Compensation in a Public Transit Accident? 

Because so many people ride public transit, the risk of being involved in an accident or seeing someone else involved in an accident is quite high. Examples of people who have successfully recovered damages in public transit accidents include: 

• People injured by fighting, gang activity, or other unlawful behavior on a train or a bus

• Pedestrians hit by a train or a bus 

• Bystanders injured when a train goes off the rails or a bus swerves off the road

• Witnesses who suffered serious mental trauma after seeing an avoidable accident 

• Transit employees harmed while working on train tracks or roads 

• Passengers injured while getting on or off public transit 

• Passengers of vehicles struck by public transit or other government vehicles 

These accidents can easily subject those involved to catastrophic physical injuries and mental trauma. Broken bones, amputations, critical brain injuries, internal bleeding, and even death have occurred. In the event of a wrongful death of a loved one, you may be able to sue on their behalf. 

Lawsuits Against the Government Have Strict Requirements

Lawsuits against government entities and employees in Illinois have more difficult requirements than lawsuits against other civilians. You only have a year from the date of the accident to begin legal action against the state, meaning there is much less time to gather evidence of the accident, its causes, and your injuries. 

You will still need to prove the same elements in any other personal injury lawsuit, including: 

• That the state of Illinois owed you a duty of care

• That the state breached that duty (by negligence, carelessness, etc.)

• That the breach of duty caused your injuries 

A personal injury attorney can help you prove these claims and provide evidence backing up your arguments. Whether your case settles out of court or proceeds to trial, we are here to fight for fair compensation for your injuries and losses. 

Contact a Schaumburg, IL Public Transit Personal Injury Lawyer

Taking legal action after an accident involving a city bus, train, or other government vehicle is a complex business with strict requirements. Get the help you need to handle your case effectively from the Palatine, IL public transit personal injury attorneys with Newland & Newland, LLP. Call our offices today at 847-797-8000. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2062&ChapterID=58&SeqStart=8900000&SeqEnd=9200000