Effingham, IL (July 20, 2020) – Early Saturday morning, July 18, a collision outside of Effingham required assistance from emergency response units. According to reports from the Illinois State Police (ISP), the accident took place just south of the city on Interstate 57. The accident reportedly involved a single Greyhound bus.
According to local reports, the air conditioning system on the bus was malfunctioning. The bus driver was reportedly in the process of opening the bus windows when the vehicle rolled over into a nearby ditch. Officials from the Effingham Fire Department were called to the scene of the crash at around 1:30 a.m. There were reported injuries at the scene of the crash, and the bus also sustained damage in the accident.
When emergency units arrived, all the passengers were standing on the highway shoulder. There was a small fire near the bus caused by the vehicle’s exhaust system. Three passengers on the bus suffered injuries in the crash. At the time of the accident, there were 31 people on board the bus. Another bus was called to the scene to transport the passengers to a gas station so they could board another Greyhound.
No updates on the conditions of the injured parties have been provided. An investigation into the crash is being conducted by both ISP and the Effingham Police Department (EPD).
Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.
Transit Bus Crashes in Illinois
According to a report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 2012, an estimated 700 million passengers ride on buses each year. In 2009, 250 bus passengers were killed in collisions, and another 20,000 sustained injuries that same year. The NTSB reported that bus accidents were responsible for 1,315 fatalities and nearly 3,500 injuries from 2000 to 2007. These figures include those on the bus as well as pedestrians and other drivers.
Transit accident victims often find themselves struggling to learn their rights in time to protect them after an accident. Generally, most people do not have a complete understanding of state laws, insurance policies, or what procedures to follow after being injured in a crash. Luckily, you do not have to pursue a personal injury claim on your own. An experienced Illinois personal injury attorney can help you pursue a claim and recover compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.
With a combined experience of more than a century in personal injury law, Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd. has the knowledge and drive to achieve results for those injured due to the negligence of others. Our Illinois bus accident attorneys are dedicated to helping people restore their lives after they have suffered serious accidents. If you have been injured in an Illinois bus crash, we encourage you to contact our law firm today at 877-930-2551. You can rest assured that your case is in good hands.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local Chicago and broader Illinois community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. You should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation. The photographs depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
