Buses are a common sight on the streets, but what is not common is the surprise of being in an accident with one. A bus crash can alter your life in ways you were not prepared for. When it does, a Sparks bus accident lawyer is here to help you pursue much-deserved compensation from the liable party.
Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers has over 150 years of combined experience to bring to your bus accident case. We see ourselves as your law firm for life, which means we will give you the same detailed attention now as we will once your case settles.
Consult with a Sparks personal injury lawyer to gain more clarity on how the legal process will work for your case.
A Sparks Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help in Several Ways
The legal world is complicated, which is why a professional like a Sparks bus accident attorney is such a valuable resource. You are not entitled to damage recovery simply because you were hurt.
There are numerous frustrating hoops to jump through before reaching your desired destination. Your lawyer is your key to a smoother path there.
Bus accident cases often come down to the evidence collected. There may be a lot to look for depending on your situation, and missing key evidence can be one of the top mistakes made after an accident. We will leave no stone unturned in our search for proof of your losses and the other party’s negligence.
Let us speak on your behalf when it comes time to negotiate for a settlement or fight for a good verdict. The defense team will employ known tactics, and the insurers will attempt to avoid paying out what they should in any way they can.
An experienced attorney knows how to combat these attempts to devalue your claim, making it a less stressful pathway to success.
Potential Reasons for Bus Accidents
Buses can have accidents just like any other vehicle on the road, and for any number of reasons. Buses present some unique factors that we will examine as we delve into your case. In addition to these, we will need to examine who can be held liable.
Driver Fatigue
Passenger-carrying vehicles, such as buses, must comply with 49 CFR 395.5, which outlines the time limits for operating a bus without a break. This becomes especially pertinent for long-distance buses, such as Greyhound and charter buses, or local transit buses trying to stay on schedule.
Skirting Regulations
The regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) exist to promote safe driving practices for all kinds of commercial vehicles, including buses. Companies, agencies, and drivers can generally follow these regulations, but even a single instance of non-compliance can lead to an accident.
Unkempt Maintenance
Buses require regular maintenance to keep up with the high volume of use they receive. If buses are not kept up with, they can catch the driver off guard and cause a catastrophe on the road. The drivers and companies must ensure that the buses are in working order before operation.
Substance Abuse
According to NRS § 484C.120, commercial drivers can only have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04%, versus regular drivers’ limit of 0.08% BAC. Just because bus drivers are held to higher standards than most regular drivers does not mean they cannot also abuse alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
Distracting Passenger Behavior
Sometimes, bus passengers can become unruly in unexpected and unpredictable ways. While many bus drivers receive training to deal with these situations, risky situations can still happen and cause destruction. In such cases, we may consider suing the passenger instead of the bus driver or bus company if they both did all they could to prevent the passenger’s behavior.
Nuances Involved In Bus Accidents
Bus crash victims will need a bus accident lawyer in Sparks from Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers to successfully file their claim and receive the money they need. An attorney will determine liability, compile evidence, and argue your case in a trial or negotiate for a settlement.
Liability becomes complicated when multiple parties may be considered for fault, including the bus driver, the bus company, the government, other passengers, or even the manufacturer. All of these will require evidence to support our claims, such as videos, photos, witness testimony, and medical records, to convey the severity of your injuries.
While Nevada is not a no-fault state, the at-fault party’s insurance will still try to fight your claims. They may try to get ahead of us and get you to settle for something less than what we would argue for. Make sure to talk with us first so that you don’t end up with less than you deserve.
Free Consultation We’ll help you win the benefits you need to get your life back.
Bus Accident Damages That May Apply to Your Case
Once we have worked on understanding Nevada fault law to determine who we will hold accountable, we must determine the damages we will argue for. There could be just one of these or more than is listed here, but talks with your bus accident lawyer should clear things up for you:
- Medical bills: You deserve compensation for the expensive medical bills that pile up after an accident.
- Pain and suffering: It can be hard to put a monetary value on the daily pain you go through, but we have the experience to find a figure that you can be happy with.
- Lost work wages: Being too injured to work should not mean you miss out on wages you would have otherwise regularly earned.
- Property damage: Things you own that were damaged in the wreck can be claimed.
- Punitive damages: If you believe there was an extreme case of malice that caused your accident, we may be able to consider punitive damages.
Wrongful death suits can also arise from bus accidents. If you need to file for a loved one who died because of someone’s negligence, get a lawyer to help out.
Do not let yourself be unsure about what to do or if you qualify when a lawyer is ready to talk to you for free.
Let Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers Help You with Your Bus Accident Claim
The window of time for you to file a claim could close before you know it, since you only have two years from the date of the accident to file. The bus accident attorney in Sparks at Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers is here to help with your bus accident in Sparks so you can get your life back on course.
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