Las Vegas Bus Accident Lawyer
Shook & Stone - Nevada Bus Accident Injury Lawyers
Personal Injury
Bus Accident Injury in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, bus accidents occur on a regular basis. Whether it is some form of 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 quite disruptive and shake up an entire community.
The following is intended to give readers some basic information concerning just how common bus accidents are in Nevada and when someone is likely to want to obtain the services of a qualified attorney.
Tourism and Bus Accidents in Nevada
Bus accidents in Nevada are most commonly focused on when a large bus transport is involved. Bus wrecks can happen when tourists come to town and cause an accident that hurts other travelers who are from out of the area, especially in major cities like Las Vegas or Laughlin.
Sometimes these buses carry passengers back and forth between casinos along the Strip, while other times they are tourists in a tour bus who are simply caught up in a rush hour accident on the interstate.
These incidents can be confusing because of time zones and language barriers, but both of these issues can be solved easily by consulting with an attorney who is well-versed in handling these accidents involving out-of-state clients.
If you are injured and you are from out-of-state and don’t live in the state of Nevada.
A personal injury lawyer from Nevada will still need to assist you to get a claim or lawsuit going. If you have a lawyer from another state, you could actually use both lawyers to work on your case in what is called a co-counsel arrangement.
This is especially useful when you want the expertise of a licensed bus accident injury attorney in Nevada, but feel comfortable with your own attorney.
Our Bus Accident Injury Attorneys help out-of-state clients file claims for compensation in Nevada when they have been involved in an accident, whether the driver was local or not.
Whether tourists were hit by a bus on their way to see a show or locals hit another vehicle while they are driving to work, a lawyer could help them seek compensation for their injuries.
Common Injuries in a Bus Accident
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. Because of the size of these vehicles and the number of people they can carry, there are more opportunities at a catastrophic outcome than other types of accidents, but this does not mean it is common.
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 takes even more time to heal.
- Brain Injury - While head injuries are fairly common in most types of accidents, they can be even more severe when the bus accident involves a larger vehicle. This is because while a car driver colliding with another car may at least feel like there's more space between them and their passenger, a bus driver has less room to maneuver and will often hit other vehicles directly next to the passengers. This can cause significant head and brain injuries that may result in permanent disability, including cognitive impairment or loss of capacity.
- Restricted mobility - Restricted mobility is another possible outcome from a bus crash, especially when those on board are not adequately fastened into their seats. If there is a sudden stop or impact to the side of the bus, those that are not fastened in properly can be thrown around the vehicle resulting in an injury like a broken bone or nerve damage.
Statue of Limitations on Bus Accidents in Nevada
Nevada has a statute of limitations when it comes to filing 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 have received. This means that if after one year, you still need medical care than you should also count one year.
Mechanical Failure as a Cause of a Bus Accident
When it comes to accidents involving buses, the biggest fear is often mechanical failure. It is not uncommon for bus drivers to lose control or cause an accident due to a mechanical defect in the vehicle. This is more common on older vehicles, but reports of newer buses with mechanical issues are not uncommon either.
Common problems that can cause bus accidents include:
- Tire blowout - Tire blowouts and other types of tire failure are one of the most common causes for a bus crash because they result in a loss of control of the vehicle. This can happen due to a defect in the tire itself or if the driver is driving too fast for conditions like wet surfaces, accumulating snow or ice on the road and more.
- 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, in order to be as safe as possible, 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.
- Seat belt issues - Seat belts should always be worn during travel in a bus because they may be able to reduce some of the harm that would otherwise occur if there was an accident. However, if there's a problem with the seat belt and it doesn't work properly, passengers in that area won't be protected from harm.
- Distracted Bus Driver - Distracted bus drivers are a common reason for accidents. They can be caused by the driver's personal use of devices like cell phones or loud talking with passengers or other actions that prevent them from paying attention to the road. These distractions cause an increase risk of collision because it can lead to loss of control and they cannot react quickly enough when there is a problem like a tire blowout or other emergency.
- Restraint Failure - Restraint failures are not limited to seat belts either. They can also occur with restraining bars and other safety devices on the bus. If any of these devices fail during an accident, it can increase the risk of injury due to greater instability in the vehicle. Passengers may be thrown around in different directions or suffer from blunt force trauma.
When a person uses these devices improperly, they can also make injuries worse than they would otherwise be. In some cases, improper use of safety restraints is a crime and subject to penalties due to injury caused to others in the vehicle.
Bus Accident Statistics for Nevada – Governor’s Office of Highway Safety – https://www.oglethorpe.org/
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Highway Safety compiled statistics for bus accidents in the state for 2010-2013 that show some good and bad news regarding bus safety:
- About 4% of all traffic accident fatalities in Nevada are a result from bus accidents each year on average.
Bus accidents in the state have dropped 11% from 2010-2013 compared to previous years. This is good news since bus safety is always a concern for drivers and passengers alike.
The number of fatalities due to bus accidents has decreased by 29% over the same period of time while injuries are down 10%. There were 186 fatalities, 333 major injuries and 564 non-incapacitating injuries in 2013 due to bus accidents.
Distracted driving was the cause of 213 crashes out of 1,640 traffic accident fatalities in Nevada from 2009-2013. This is a huge problem for bus safety at any time but it becomes even worse during the summer when school buses are being used as part of the transportation system.
Alcohol was involved in about 1,000 of these fatal crashes while speeding was responsible for another 1,000 deaths. Fatigue is also a major factor in traffic accidents when it comes to bus accidents and almost 20% of fatalities were related to “drowsy driving” in 2013.
Bus accident injury attorneys in Las Vegas are always available to help injured victims and their families seek compensation for their losses. Handling these cases successfully often requires legal assistance from an attorney that has experience in personal injury law. Call us today before you make a decision about your case and learn how we can help with the process.
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. An experienced attorney could help you seek compensation for your loss whether it involves out-of-state clients or not.
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. If you were hurt in a bus accident caused by another driver, you need to contact an attorney at Shook & Stone who will help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation that you deserve.
If you or a loved one is injured due to the negligence of another individual, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. 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.
If you are looking for information concerning bus accident injury attorney in Nevada, please feel free to contact Shook & Stone by calling (702) 570-0000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Bus Accident Frequently Asked Questions
The bus accident attorneys at Shook & Stone have recovered over $750 Million for our clients since 1997. We are one of the best car accident law firms in the Valley and our ratings speak for themselves.
Our attorneys at Shook & Stone work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no out-of-pocket costs to hire our firm and we only collect a fee if we win your case.
The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In Nevada, the general rule is that you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
If you are involved in a bus accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, even if you do not think you are injured. It is important to have a complete understanding of your injuries and how they will affect your life going forward. Once you have sought medical attention, you should contact an experienced bus accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
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