$50 Million Bartlett School Bus Injury Settlement

Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC, working with co-counsel as part of the legal team representing a teenage girl who suffered catastrophic and permanent injuries after being run over by a school bus at Bartlett High School, recently helped secure a $50 million settlement on her behalf.

Our client was 14 years old when the accident occurred. After falling beside a moving school bus in the school's afternoon pickup area, she was run over by its right rear tire. She survived devastating injuries that required more than 40 surgical procedures and left her with permanent disabilities and extensive lifetime care needs.

Families facing similarly serious injuries can learn more about legal claims involving school bus accidents involving children. Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC can also be reached at (312) 243-9922 to discuss a potential claim.

$50 Million Settlement Reached Before Trial

The lawsuit was pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County and had already been scheduled for trial.

Before trial began, the parties participated in mediation and reached a settlement agreement that was in the best interests of our young client.

The School District U-46 Board of Education subsequently approved the $50 million resolution.

How the Bartlett High School Accident Occurred

The accident occurred as school buses were arriving at Bartlett High School to pick up students at the end of the school day. The lawsuit alleged that students routinely entered the bus lane and ran alongside approaching buses before the vehicles had stopped.

As the school bus involved in this case entered the pickup area, a number of students were moving near its right side. Our client was among them. She fell to the pavement beside the vehicle, and the bus's right rear tire passed over her body.

The crushing forces involved when a pedestrian is struck by a large vehicle can cause profound injuries. Our attorneys also represent people injured in serious pedestrian accidents throughout Chicago and Illinois.

Claims Against the School Bus Driver and School District U-46

A lawsuit was filed on our client's behalf by her father and named both the school bus driver and School District U-46 as defendants. Different legal theories were asserted against the driver and the district.

The complaint alleged ordinary negligence against the driver. Among other claims, it alleged that he failed to exercise appropriate care while approaching an area where students were congregating near the moving bus and failed to adequately respond to the danger created by students approaching or moving alongside the vehicle before it stopped.

The lawsuit separately alleged willful and wanton misconduct against School District U-46. Among the allegations were that the district failed to adequately instruct, observe, supervise, and discipline students concerning safe distances from moving school buses and permitted an unsafe pattern of conduct to continue in the pickup area.

Catastrophic Injuries and More Than 40 Surgical Procedures

Our client suffered crushing pelvic trauma together with extensive damage to the muscles, tissues, blood vessels, and gastrointestinal structures in the lower portion of her body.

Her injuries included a rectal avulsion and severe gastrointestinal damage. As a result, she will require a colostomy for the remainder of her life. She also went into cardiac arrest following the accident before emergency personnel were able to stabilize her.

She additionally suffered a Morel-Lavallée lesion, sometimes described as an internal degloving injury. The trauma severely damaged the blood supply to the gluteal region, causing tissue death and requiring repeated surgical removal of damaged tissue.

Our client ultimately underwent approximately 42 debridement procedures and was left without functional gluteal muscles.

Although she can take some steps with the assistance of a walker, she cannot walk independently and primarily uses a wheelchair. She is expected to require 24-hour assistance for the remainder of her life. Injuries of this magnitude are among the life-changing conditions involved in catastrophic injury claims.

A Recovery Addressing Decades of Future Needs

Our client was only 14 years old when she was injured. Evaluating the consequences of the accident therefore required looking far beyond the medical expenses associated with her initial hospitalization and surgeries.

Her permanent disabilities are expected to create substantial needs throughout her lifetime, including continuing medical treatment, personal assistance, rehabilitation, mobility equipment, ostomy supplies, and other forms of care related to her injuries.

Cases involving permanently injured children present particularly important questions concerning future health, mobility, independence, education, employment, and personal-care needs. Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC represents families in serious child injury cases not only in Chicago, but throughout Illinois and all across the country.

The $50 million settlement provides significant financial resources to help meet the extraordinary needs resulting from our client's permanent injuries. Although a monetary recovery cannot reverse what happened to her, it can help provide for treatment, assistance, equipment, supplies, rehabilitation, and other needs that may continue for decades.

Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC and Co-Counsel Help Secure the Settlement

Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC was part of the legal team that represented our client and helped secure the $50 million settlement for her and her family.

The recovery joins other significant verdicts and settlements obtained for injured clients represented by Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC and affiliated counsel.

Contact Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC After a Serious School Bus Injury

A catastrophic school bus injury can permanently alter a child's future and may raise questions concerning the conduct of the driver, student supervision, school transportation procedures, responsible government entities, and other parties involved in the transportation system.

If your child suffered a serious or permanent injury involving a school bus, contact Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC at (312) 243-9922 to discuss what occurred and the legal options that may be available. You may also contact our office online for a confidential case evaluation.