Chicago Pace Bus Accident Attorney

When you’re taking a bus to the grocery store or going home after a long day of work, the last thing you want to think about is getting into an accident. The suburbs of Chicago are bustling with cars, buses, and people, which makes accidents easy to occur. If you’ve been in a bus accident, you need an experienced Chicago Pace Bus accident lawyer standing by your side to help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. Our personal injury team at Thomas Law Office is ready to help.

Suburban Bus Ridership

According to a Pace 2022 annual report, there are ten divisions that Pace buses are associated with, nine that Pace uses internally and one comprised of external contractors. Covering roughly 3,677 square miles, Pace Suburban Bus is one of the largest bus services in North America.

Pace has 2,882 modes of transportation available to suburban riders, including fixed-route buses, Park-n-Rides, paratransit vehicles, Dial-a-Ride services, on-demand services, and vanpools. Approximately 127,000 people ride Pace buses each day in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties.

Pace Bus Crash Statistics

Although widely considered one of the best-run transit systems in the country, Pace buses still have accidents. The company goal is less than five accidents per 100,000 revenue miles, and in 2022, the average number of Pace accidents was 2.95, although the exact number of accidents was unavailable.

A notable recent accident involving a Pace paratransit bus occurred in August 2021. The bus driver, known by the company to have sleep apnea, fell asleep behind the wheel, causing the bus to collide with a tree near Lexington and Lockwood in Austin, a suburb of Chicago. A disabled elderly woman, the sole passenger, died from her injuries at the hospital. In March 2023, her family was awarded a $13 million settlement from Pace.

What Causes Bus Accidents

Driver error is always at the top of any vehicle accident list, whether due to distractions, lack of sleep, or anything in between. Bus accidents can be far more devastating due to the high number of passengers riding a bus at any given time and can also cause catastrophic damage to any smaller vehicles and passengers. Accidents involving Pace buses are generally caused by the following:

• Driver fatigue
• Driver inexperience
• Inadequate driver training
• Driver intoxication
• Inadequate bus maintenance

If you or a loved one were in an accident involving a Chicago Pace bus, regardless of the cause, you can seek compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained. A team of expert bus attorneys is available to discuss your case, at no cost to you.

What To Do in the Aftermath of a Pace Bus Crash

Immediately after any accident, there can be panic and confusion, and it can be difficult to keep a level head and remember important details. If you’re in a Pace bus accident, try to follow these steps:

• Get to safety
• Call the police
• Take pictures or video for evidence
• Get the contact information of others involved
• Seek medical attention
• Contact an attorney

Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, you might not remember to do all of these, and that’s okay. At the very least, make sure you’re out of further harm’s way and contact an experienced Chicago Pace bus attorney. Even if you were unable to gather any evidence or contact information yourself, your attorney can work for you to contact Pace and the police and help you with your accident.

Common Bus Crash Injuries

Any vehicle accident can cause immense injuries, but a bus crash can be exponentially more dangerous, primarily due to the fact that most buses don’t have seatbelts and usually carry a large number of riders at any point during a trip. Severe injuries are more likely to occur, and some typical bus crash injuries can include:

• Cuts and bruises
• Spinal injury
• Fractured or broken bones
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Death

These injuries don’t just apply to the passengers of the bus but to other drivers and occupants of any other involved vehicles as well. Buses are the largest type of vehicle besides semi-trucks on the road, and the results of a crash between a bus and a smaller car can be devastating.

Possible Types of Legal Action After a Pace Bus Crash

After being in an accident involving a Chicago Pace bus, you can work with your Thomas Law Office attorney to pursue claims against one or more of these:

• The bus manufacturer: If the accident can be attributed to a defective bus component, you and your lawyer can pursue a product liability
• The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority: Special restrictions may apply to a claim against a Pace driver or faulty bus, but a claim can be made if this was the cause.
• A third party: This would be another driver or a pedestrian who caused the accident.

Since Pace drivers are usually employees and not independent contractors, in the event of a bus accident,  you have the option of suing their employer.

Help Is a Phone Call Away—Talk With a Chicago Pace Bus Accident Lawyer

There are many different legal avenues available if you or a loved one has been involved in a Pace bus crash. Once you contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, an expert lawyer will be in your corner to fight for the compensation you deserve. Because, after all, in the aftermath of an accident, you have a lot to worry about, so talk to our office today and let us help you.