Recovering from a bus accident is not a small task. Full recovery may include numerous doctor’s appointments and medical bills, all while you may be unable to work while you recover. At H&P Law, our Laughlin personal injury lawyer knows that the specifics of each case are highly dependent on the individual.
We strive to provide comprehensive care for each case and have a strong track record for recovering maximum compensation both in negotiations and when cases are taken to trial. Reach out to our Laughlin bus accident lawyer so that we may help relieve some of the burden of recovering from your accident.
Laughlin Bus Accidents
Car accidents are a daily occurrence in Laughlin and Nevada, and though bus accidents may be less commonplace, they are no less deadly. In fact, there are many ways that a bus accident may result in a higher rate of severe injuries and fatalities than a typical car accident beyond the fact that there are frequently more people involved.
Some of these are similar to the risk factors of larger passenger vehicle or truck accidents, and some of them are unique to bus accidents.
Mass of a Bus
One of the biggest causes of increased fatalities of busses is the simple difference in mass to that of a standard passenger vehicle. According to the Nevada Minimum School Bus Standards & Specifications, the base weight of a bus can be about 20,000 lbs, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has a federal maximum weight of 80,000 lbs. These weight limits make a bus the heaviest vehicle in most scenarios, which means the passengers of a bus may fare better but also that the bus poses a much larger threat to anyone and anything else it collides with.
Roll Risk
Growing up, we all hear that larger cars like SUVs are more likely to roll over in a collision. Due to the height and center of gravity, among other factors, busses see similar increased risks. PubMed explains that rollover crashes result in higher fatality counts in part because of the type of force exerted on the vehicle and body as well as the fact that there are multiple impacts in such an accident.
Lack of Seatbelts
In most buses, there are no seatbelts, and while the construction of the seats and bus structure happens with this in mind, it still poses a higher risk of injury. In a passenger vehicle, the seatbelt helps distribute the force of the accident throughout the strongest parts of your body while keeping you in a safer position and inside the car. Without being restrained in the event of a bus accident, you may be thrown around the bus or hit by others who have been jostled.
Benefits of a Laughlin Bus Accident Attorney
Calling an attorney after a bus accident may feel a bit like being ‘sue happy,’ but bringing in a bus accident attorney in Laughlin simply levels the playing field. After all, the insurance company has an attorney who works for them to protect their assets, and you deserve someone who works to protect yours. They may do this in some of the following ways:
- Experience with insurance companies and their tactics
- Negotiation on your behalf
- Handles all communication with opposing parties
- Handles legal paperwork submission
- Tries your case in court
- Strategically building and presenting your case
This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of how an attorney can help you, our Laughlin bus accident attorney may have many tools to help bolster the strength of your case. While you do your research on how to choose a good personal injury lawyer, make sure you consider the case results of the firms you are looking at and ask them about strategies they use that may help you.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
The injuries sustained in a bus accident can be serious, if not fatal. While those who occupy the bus may have a better chance of getting away unscathed, anyone who is hit by the bus risks sustaining significant injury. Some of those commonly seen are:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Crush injuries
It is important to your case that any injuries you have sustained in a bus accident are documented by your medical care team and shared with your Laughlin bus accident attorney. Your injuries are the focal point of any strong personal injury case. Proper documentation can mean the difference between securing the maximum compensation available and the first lowball offer from the insurance company.
Laughlin Bus Accident Damages
Damages in a personal injury case essentially refer to the cost or injury resulting from the accident. This may be monetary losses or injury, or it could be more subjective injuries based on the inconvenience or impact on your quality of life. Some of the more common damages we see in bus accident cases may include:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Lost wages
- Disfigurement
- Loss of earning potential
The point of damages is to provide resources and support that will bring your quality of life after the accident as close to or back to what it was prior to the accident. Monetary or economic damages can be easily calculated by reviewing bills and invoices, while the non-economic, more subjective damages may require more support to establish their validity.
Frequently, an attorney will bring in witnesses to speak about the victim’s experience following the accident in order to provide this support.
Schedule Your Consultation with Our Bus Accident Attorney in Laughlin
Managing a personal injury case can be overwhelming, particularly when you are also trying to recover from a major life event and injury. At H&P Law, we know this is a difficult time and endeavor to treat each client with the compassion and understanding they deserve. So get in touch with our experienced attorneys today to have someone on your side dedicated to getting justice.
When you call us for your initial consultation, it is free. In this time together, our team will ask questions about your case and expectations to determine if it is a good fit. This initial conversation will allow our bus accident lawyer in Laughlin to assess your case and help you understand what resources we may be able to provide you.
