CTA Bus Crashes Cost Taxpayers $16 Million

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Bus Accident Injury

Earlier this year, an investigation by the Chicago-Sun Times found that in the past two years, Chicago Transit Authority buses were involved in more than 500 accidents. More than 1,000 people were injured and five people were killed as a result of the crashes.

The accidents are expensive as well — costing taxpayers a whopping $16 million in the form of lawsuit settlements and legal fees. During 2015 and 2016, there were 380 lawsuits filed against the CTA.

Recently, the CTA admitted fault for a 2015 crash in which a CTA bus ran a red light and hit a pedestrian. The pedestrian died in the accident. Because the CTA admitted fault, the agency will likely have to pay a settlement in the wrongful death case.

Compared to other public buses in other cities, the CTA’s accident rate is high. For example, the transit agency in Los Angeles logged more driving miles than the CTA. However, the L.A. agency had about only 100 bus collisions over a two-year period.

What Causes the Accidents?

There are several reasons as to why these bus accidents occur. Long driving schedules and driver fatigue are some of the most common causes of bus crashes. As was the case in the accident that killed Aimee Coath, driver negligence plays a significant role in accidents. Sometimes, drivers are intoxicated or do not properly adhere to the laws of the road.

However, in Chicago, transit bus accidents are also in large part caused by the lack of experience some drivers may have.

Drivers who have been with the CTA the longest are allowed first choice in the routes they will drive. Veteran drivers are more likely to choose routes that are less congested and easier to navigate — leaving novice drivers with trickier, more traffic heavy routes.

Pedestrians can also cause accidents. In cities, people are often in a rush or distracted by their phones. Pedestrians often run “do not walk” signals at busy intersections, and because it is more difficult for buses to brake due to their weight, they may be unable to stop if a distracted or hurried pedestrian is in the crosswalk when he or she is not supposed to be.

Contact a Lake County Personal Injury Lawyer Today

A transit bus accident can cause severe injuries. In order to properly treat the injuries, you may need to pay hefty medical expenses. Our reputable Lake County personal injury attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP assist clients with filing injury claims against both individual drivers and transit agencies. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 847-622-3303.

Source:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs-cta-bus-crashes-2-year-toll-5-dead-1000-hurt-16m/