.svg)
Motor Vehicle Accidents 
Train accident at Chicago airport injures more than 30
Call: (312) 609-0400
or fill out the Contact Form
On behalf of Strom & Associates, Ltd. posted in Mass Transit Accidents on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
A horrific mass transit accident in Chicago is being blamed on train operator fatigue. The March 24 accident injured more than 30 passengers, according to reports, though none of the wounds appeared to be life-threatening. Initial reports show that the train crashed through a barrier at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, sending the rail cars onto an escalator at that facility.
Authorities say that the train operator may have been suffering from severe fatigue when she crashed through the end-of-the-line barrier at the airport. That incident occurred at about 3 a.m., according to union representatives. It appears that the driver may have dozed off at the helm of the train, causing the vehicle to plummet off the tracks and into the building.
Investigators are evaluating several aspects of the crash, as they believe the train may have been traveling at excessive speeds when the wreck occurred. Further, it is not clear whether required safety measures were working at the time of the accident. Investigators have left the train where it is, saying that the train's position provides important keys about the mass transit accident. Authorities are also reviewing video data from the train's outward-facing camera system.
The National Transportation Safety Board is involved in the investigation. Chicago transit officials have also pledged that the mass transit accident will be considered a top priority for the foreseeable future. It is not clear when the airport station will reopen.
Distracted or drowsy drivers can cause serious problems on the road, but they may also cause public transportation accidents on Chicago's rails. Passengers who have suffered injury in such a mass transit accident may be eligible for financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and a variety of other civil claims. An Illinois attorney may provide additional information about victims' legal rights and options.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, "Focus in CTA crash falls on operator fatigue, braking system" Peter Nickeas, Lolly Bowean, Richard Wronski and Kim Geiger, Mar. 25, 2014
Call: (312) 609-0400
or fill out the Contact Form
About the Author
As a personal injury attorney I have seen firsthand how car accidents can be life-changing. The journey to recovery is both physically and emotionally challenging. While I am here to help you fight for your rights, it is equally as important to me that you receive the best possible care. Today, I am highlighting some of […]
Imagine waking up with a toothache. Out of nowhere, you get a call from a dentist offering to give you a root canal. Would you see that dentist? Of course you wouldn’t. You would be suspicious and perhaps even a bit irritated. What if you were in a car accident, and immediately after, you start […]
Whether you’re a driver, a cyclist, or both, you have a responsibility to act in accordance with laws that are meant to keep us all safe. In Chicago, there’s an undeclared war between drivers and cyclists. Drivers are mad cyclists don’t stop at stop signs. Cyclists are mad drivers speed past too close to them. In […]