In Las Vegas, bus accidents occur on a regular basis. Whether it is a personal injury accident involving children being involved or a larger-scale commercial bus crash with passengers from out of the area, these incidents can be disruptive and shake up an entire community.
If you or a loved one were hurt, contact a Las Vegas bus accident lawyer at Shook & Stone. Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyer has experience seeking compensation for those injured in these types of crashes. We have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients since our founding as a firm in 1997.
Determining Liability After a Bus Accident
Bus accidents can be challenging. For victims, it is critical to determine who is at fault and what rights you have to seek action against those parties. It may be the city, a private company, or a combination of factors that you must navigate to determine who should pay for your losses.
Police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction can help demonstrate fault. Ultimately, the insurance company will decide on fault, but we can fight back when needed.
If you are at fault in any way, or those who are at fault are not taking accountability, you need a bus accident attorney in Las Vegas ready to fight for you. This can be challenging, especially if you have to face insurance companies. We have the experience to make it possible, so you do not have to deal with adjusters constantly calling.
Common Injuries in a Bus Accident
As a skilled Las Vegas bus accident lawyer, we have seen many victims suffer serious injuries. Complex injuries are another of the most common challenges in these cases. Victims may suffer hard-to-prove injuries or those with long-term implications for health and well-being.
A bus accident, even when it is relatively minor and involves an individual vehicle, can have lasting effects on the passengers involved in that collision. Always make sure to consider how some injuries take time to develop. Make sure to seek medical attention always.
Because of the size of these vehicles and the number of people they can carry, there are more opportunities for a catastrophic outcome than other types of accidents. Speak with a Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyer today. Common injuries include:
Broken Bones & Fractures
Some of the most common injuries in a bus accident involve broken bones and fractures. This is where there are breaks or cracks in the bone that can compromise its strength over time. Depending on the size of the break or fracture, it may require surgery to repair, and if there’s nerve damage, it could be diagnosed as a complex injury that causes even more pain to the accident victim.
Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can happen in a variety of ways during a commute on a public transport bus, a school bus, or a charter bus accident. For example, passengers may be thrown forward or sideways, hitting their head on a hard surface such as the floor, the ceiling, a seat, or another passenger. Loose objects inside the bus may also strike them.
In severe bus accidents, passengers may be ejected from the bus, hit by other vehicles, or thrown off bridges, which can result in significant head injuries. As many buses do not have seat belts, injuries may be more severe. A Las Vegas traumatic brain injury lawyer can assist with your case.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can happen to bus accident victims in various ways. The most common cause of spinal cord injuries in bus accidents is a sudden and forceful impact on the spine, such as a violent jolt, a brutal hit, or a sudden stop.
Bus accident victims can suffer spinal cord injuries if they are launched forward or backward, if their body is twisted or compressed, or if they are thrown from the vehicle. A Las Vegas spinal cord injury lawyer can answer your questions about compensation.
Mental Anguish
Bus accidents can cause mental anguish for the victims due to the experience of witnessing the accident and seeing others suffer injury as a result of the crash. They may suffer injuries themselves that change their quality of life, and this has an effect on their mental health.
At times, the emotional distress is related to the financial hardships that the bus accident causes due to medical bills or property damage. Worst-case scenario, the emotional trauma involves the loss of a loved one in these tragic bus accidents. If a spouse is lost in a bus accident, loss of companionship can contribute to post-accident depression.
The Importance of Evidence Collection in These Cases
A skilled bus accident lawyer in Las Vegas can make the difference between having to deal with these injuries for life and getting compensation from the party responsible. However, to do so, your attorney must be able to prove your losses comprehensively with evidence. Evidence in these cases may include:
- Statements from all involved, including witnesses
- Bus video footage, including dash cam footage
- Medical reports that indicate injuries and losses
- Photos you take after an accident to show what occurred
- Traffic camera footage
- Driver medical and training records
- Bus maintenance and repair records
Your Las Vegas bus accident lawyer from our firm will be aggressive in seeking all evidence available to seek fair compensation for you. We are aggressive with the objective of holding those who hurt you accountable. If there is any question of fault or your right to compensation, do not settle your case until you speak to us. We will fight to protect your rights at all times so you can focus on recovery.
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Statute of Limitations on Bus Accidents in Nevada
Nevada NRS Chapter 11 outlines the statute of limitations for an auto accident injury lawsuit. You must file a lawsuit within two years of the date you were injured or within two years of the last medical care that you received. If you fail to file a claim within two years, you can lose out on recovering compensation for your injury, as the judge will likely throw out your case.
The clock starts running the minute you suffer an injury. This is why you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your case. An attorney understands the deadlines that must be met and how to complete the paperwork correctly.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
When it comes to accidents involving buses, the biggest fear is often mechanical failure. It is not uncommon for qualified drivers to lose control or cause an accident due to a mechanical defect. This is more common on older buses, but reports of newer buses with mechanical issues can also occur.
Unfortunately, school bus drivers are not immune to this happening and can also be involved in an accident due to a mechanical failure, which causes injuries to passengers. Common defects that our Las Vegas defective product lawyer has seen include the following:
- Tire Blowout: There are several factors that can cause bus tire blowouts, which can be dangerous or even deadly for passengers and others on the road. Common carriers are held to a higher standard for vehicle maintenance, and regular maintenance checks should prevent some accidents.
- Overinflation or Underinflation of the Tires: When a bus tire is over- or underinflated, it can lead to excessive wear and tear, which can cause the tire to blow out. A blowout could lead to severe injuries for bus passengers.
- Tire Defects: Defective tires can cause a bus tire blowout. This can happen if the tire has a manufacturing defect, such as a weakness in the tire construction or a puncture in the tire sidewall.
- Overloading the Bus: When the bus is overloaded, it can put extra stress on the tires, increasing the risk of a blowout.
- Rough Road Conditions: When a bus drives over rough or uneven road surfaces, the tires can wear out more quickly.
- Old or Worn-Out Tires: Over time, tires can become worn out, especially if they are not properly maintained or if they are used in bad weather conditions.
- Driving at High Speeds: This will potentially increase the strain on tires, which may result in a higher risk of a blowout occurring.
- Axle Failure: While not as common as blowouts, axle failures are still possible when it comes to buses. When there’s a mechanical issue with the axle, there’s a risk of it failing and causing the bus to lose control.
- Brakes Fail: Most modern buses have some sort of braking system in place that is automated or controlled by the driver. However, to ensure maximum safety, they should still be inspected for defects before the first trip on a given day. When the brakes fail, it can cause a collision because the driver loses control or has to apply the emergency brake, which is not ideal when other vehicles are around.
- Distracted Bus Driver: Distracted bus drivers are a common cause of accidents, and there are major consequences for this. They can be caused by the driver’s personal use of devices like cell phones, loud talking with passengers, or other actions that distract them from the road.
Mechanical problems are most likely to occur between maintenance checks or when new parts have been installed, and they haven’t had time to break in. It is important for bus companies to properly maintain their vehicles and regularly inspect tires to avoid tire blowouts and other accidents.
This is why drivers need to be vigilant about their cars and report any problems immediately. Then, talk to a Las Vegas distracted driving accident lawyer.
Wrongful Death and Bus Accidents in Las Vegas
Accidents involving buses can be devastating, especially when they involve children. These accidents can completely change the lives of an entire family and leave them with a lifetime of debt from medical bills or lost wages due to time spent off work recovering from their injuries. Financial compensation can be sought with the proper representation. Punitive damages may even be available in some instances to punish the negligent party. The loss of a loved one in a bus crash can be devastating as well.
No one wants to be injured in an accident, and no family should have to deal with the pain of a bus wreck that takes away their ability to provide for themselves. Our bus accident attorneys, who have extensive experience, will help you seek compensation for your losses, whether you reside in Las Vegas or another area. A Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer can fight for you after the loss of a loved one.
The school bus accident lawyers and bus accident lawyers at Shook & Stone are always available to help victims of bus accidents and their families seek compensation for their losses. Each accident is different, depending on factors such as severity and location, which means that filing for compensation can be handled in many diverse ways.
Some cases may not need to go through mediation or arbitration at all if they are clear-cut. Financial recovery is still possible in those cases, however, through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Set Up a Free Consultation with a Las Vegas Bus Accident Attorney Now
Call today before you make a decision about your case and learn how a bus accident lawyer in Las Vegas can help with the process. Shook & Stone has been helping victims of accidents for over 20 years. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients through settlements or jury verdicts in bus accident cases throughout the region.
Our firm takes on all types of bus and public transport accidents, such as Greyhound, Megabus, Las Vegas Monorail, taxis, or limousines. Contact us today to speak with a Nevada bus accident lawyer and discuss your legal options for pursuing justice and compensation.
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