If you were injured while riding or using public transportation in Chicago, you may have questions about what happened and who may be responsible for your injuries.
A car accident attorney in Chicago will fight for your rights and pursue compensation for the injuries you have received.
Call Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC at (312) 701-0090 or message us online to arrange a free consultation.
Experience Handling Transit-Related Injury Claims
- We bring decades of personal injury experience to public transportation claims and understand the shorter deadlines and operator-specific procedures that may apply.
- You receive direct attorney involvement and clear explanations about your options, deadlines, and potential challenges.
- We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so attorney fees depend on recovering compensation for you.
What Types of Public Transportation Accidents Cause Injuries?
Chicago residents and visitors rely on a network of public transportation services, including CTA buses and trains, Metra, Pace, and other passenger carriers. Injuries can occur in a variety of situations, such as while riding inside a vehicle, during a collision, or when boarding or exiting the transit system. Common accident scenarios include:
- A bus driver brakes suddenly, causing a standing passenger to fall.
- A bus collides with a car, truck, cyclist, pedestrian, or fixed object.
- Train doors close on a passenger or open at an unsafe time.
- A passenger falls while boarding or exiting a bus or train.
- Broken steps, damaged handrails, poor lighting, or slippery floors cause a fall.
- Defective tracks, signals, brakes, doors, or other equipment contribute to an incident.
- Inadequate security allows a foreseeable assault to occur at a station or transit facility.
The location of the accident affects the legal analysis. An injury inside a moving train may involve different duties and evidence than a fall on a station staircase or an accident involving a privately operated shuttle.
Who May Be Responsible for a Transit Injury?
Responsibility for a transit injury may involve one or more of the following:
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) or other public transportation agencies (such as Metra or Pace): If an employee operates a vehicle carelessly or if unsafe equipment contributes to an injury.
- Vehicle operators or drivers: For negligent actions such as speeding, distracted operation, failing to follow safety procedures, or making unsafe stops or movements.
- Maintenance or repair contractors: For negligent or defective repairs.
- Equipment or parts manufacturers: If a faulty component or design contributed to the incident.
- Third-party drivers who collide with a bus or train
Various records and evidence can help determine what happened and who may be responsible, such as surveillance or onboard video footage, vehicle inspection and maintenance reports, operator schedules and training records, witness statements, and more.
Illinois Laws That Apply to Public Transportation Claims
Common Carrier Duty
Illinois courts hold common carriers to a heightened duty while passengers board, ride, and exit their vehicles. In McNerney v. Allamuradov, the court described the duty as using the “highest degree of care consistent with the mode of conveyance.” This heightened duty may apply while you are boarding, riding, or exiting a bus or train.
Shorter Deadline for Public Entities
Public transportation claims do not all follow the same filing deadline. A lawsuit against the CTA generally must begin within one year under 70 ILCS 3605/41, which states that an action must be filed “within one year from the date the cause of action accrued.”
Different statutes may apply depending on the operator—for example, Metra commuter rail claims may involve provisions under the Regional Transportation Authority Act, Pace suburban bus claims may follow separate notice or filing rules, and private bus companies, rideshare drivers, or maintenance contractors are typically governed by Illinois’ general two-year personal injury statute of limitations. Identifying the operator and responsible parties early helps determine the correct deadline.
Governmental Immunities
The Tort Immunity Act protects public entities and employees from liability in certain situations, but does not apply to the CTA when it operates as a common carrier. Other transportation agencies and public entities may raise different statutory defenses depending on the accident and location. Private carriers, contractors, manufacturers, and negligent drivers may also face responsibility under separate legal rules.
Why Legal Representation is Critical
Transit authorities may control the surveillance footage, internal reports, operator records, and maintenance documents needed to prove your claim. These materials can become unavailable without swift legal action.
A Chicago personal injury lawyer can identify who operated or maintained the vehicle or property, preserve evidence, and determine which filing deadline applies. We handle communications with transportation agencies, insurers, and other responsible parties while you focus on your recovery.
Start Your Chicago Transit Injury Claim Today
Speak with Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC at (312) 701-0090 or reach us online to discuss your transit accident during a free consultation.