Public Transit Accidents
Many individuals take advantage of the public transit systems that operate in Waukegan, Niles and St. Charles, and other cities throughout the greater Chicago area. Riding the bus is a great way to extend the life of our vehicles while saving on fuel and repair expenses, while at the same time being environmentally friendly. There are literally tens of thousands of individuals that rely on city buses every day and assume that they will be safe when doing so.
Unfortunately, public transit accidents are growing increasingly more common in the Chicago area suburbs. Due to the size and weight of these vehicles, as well as their inability to stop as quickly as other motor vehicles do, the injuries that result in public transit accidents can be very serious or life-threatening. In some cases, the Makarone Law Firm has handled, our personal injury lawyers in Waukegan, Niles and St. Charles have seen clients that are unable to work for long periods of time while they’re recovering from their injuries.
Public transit accidents are often characterized by complex and unique legal issues that you normally wouldn’t see in other types of motor vehicle accidents. In motor vehicle accident cases, the personal injury claim process is relatively straightforward in that the at-fault party’s vehicle insurer handles most of the negotiating and claims resolution. In a public transit accident, the bus passengers probably won’t have coverage for that type of accident. Furthermore, we often see 3rd parties involved in these accidents.
If a 3rd party is the at-fault party (i.e., another vehicle crashes into the bus), a 3rd party claim can be filed with their insurer in order to seek compensation for your damages and injuries including lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and so on. If, on the other hand, the bus operator is deemed at fault, things get considerably more complex. For instance, filing a claim against a municipal entity or school district is more complicated than an auto insurance claim (NOTE: school buses see the most fatalities).
The bottom line is that you’re going to need the experience and expertise of a personal injury lawyer. As one of the top-rated legal practices in the greater Chicago area, the personal injury lawyers in Illinois working at our Makarone Law Firm have years of experience litigating these types of cases for public transit accident victims in Waukegan, Niles and St. Charles. With varying levels of injuries and rightful compensation, we have ensured that they got the highest amount that they were eligible for. Contact us today for more information.
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