Have you suffered injuries in a bus crash? Do you have concerns about whether you will be expected to cover the costs? When you have a top-rated Las Vegas bus accident lawyer at H&P Law with 60+ years of experience on your side, you do not have to worry.
With an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer working on your case, the liable party will be compelled to compensate you in full for your damages. Do not get stuck paying for these expenses when another party’s negligence is the cause of your injuries. Our firm can make them pay.
Buses Can Be More Dangerous than Other Types of Motor Vehicles
When you are ready to take back control of your life, do not hesitate. Contact a personal injury lawyer to request a free, no-obligation consultation today. When you do, you can learn more about how Las Vegas bus accident claims work, who could be responsible for your damages, and how to calculate the value of your claim.
The federal government, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), defines a bus as any vehicle that carries nine or more people. Because of their high carrying capacity and large mass, buses can be particularly dangerous if they are involved in an accident, which is especially true because many buses do not have seatbelts, airbags, or other safety features that can be found in smaller vehicles. There are several factors that make buses more dangerous than other vehicles, including:
- They are long and heavy, which means they take longer to get moving and have much longer stopping distances than smaller vehicles.
- They are tall and top-heavy, making them easier to tip or roll over in an accident.
- They carry a lot more people than smaller vehicles, so if a bus is involved in a crash, there are a lot more people who could potentially be injured.
- Buses carry many standing passengers, and those who are sitting probably do not have seatbelts.
- Buses stop frequently alongside busy roads, increasing the risk of people who are getting on and off the bus.
Buses Are Common Carriers
Buses fall into a special category of transportation, like trains and airplanes, called common carriers. That means they provide transportation to any paying member of the public. More importantly, it means their drivers owe a higher standard of care to their passengers than private carriers.
That makes the legal standard easier to meet in a case against a bus company. Private drivers are expected to exercise reasonable care when driving. Yet, bus drivers are expected to go above and beyond what is reasonable and extend the utmost care to their passengers. This means bus riders should never be put in a position where they have to seek the advice of a Las Vegas bus accident attorney.
Buses Can Also Be Safer Modes of Transportation
However, buses are not inherently dangerous. In fact, they may often be considered some of the safest modes of transportation. Some of these same factors make buses safer in other respects:
- Because of the massive size of the bus, its occupants are less likely to get injured than people in a vehicle struck by the bus.
- Because of the bus’ height, bus passengers are less at risk of getting injured from a direct hit by another vehicle.
- Bus drivers receive special training that motor vehicle drivers don’t get.
Liability in Las Vegas Bus Accidents
Your bus accident lawyer in Las Vegas, NV, will be responsible for figuring out who to sue for your damages. In most bus accident claims, negligent bus drivers and motorists are found liable due to negligent driving. Defective motor vehicle parts and malfunctioning bus equipment have also been found to cause collisions, but they are not the only parties who can be found liable.
Government Bus Accident Claims
Many buses are privately run, but others are public, like school buses or public transit, as provided by the Regional Transportation Commission. Because the government enjoys constitutionally protected sovereign immunity under NRS §41, lawsuits against the government require special steps to get over the sovereign immunity. The statute of limitations in these cases (the timeline to file a case) is often shorter, and there are obstacles to overcome before you can file.
What to Do After a Las Vegas Bus Accident
Were you a passenger on a bus when it was in an accident? Were you involved with a bus in an accident? Whether in another vehicle or a pedestrian or cyclist, follow these simple directions:
- Get to a position of safety, and if you are in a position to do so, help others do the same. Call 9-1-1 and your Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyer if there are injuries – do not count on anyone else to call.
- Listen to the bus driver and follow their directions. If you are in a vehicle that was in an accident with a bus, get out of the road and out of the way of other automobiles.
- If you are in a position to do so, collect names and contact information for any witnesses to the bus accident. Start with the witnesses outside the bus, as they are going to leave first and be the hardest to locate.
- Take photographs of the scene from as many angles as possible. Be safe as you do this.
- Give your statement to the police, and get the officer’s name, department, and badge number. Make sure they incorporate your statement into the report.
- See a doctor, even if you are not transported by ambulance and even if you do not think you are injured. Better safe than sorry.
Do not talk to any insurance adjusters or the defense without your bus accident lawyer present. Call your Las Vegas truck accident lawyer at H&P Law immediately. We can meet you at the accident scene, in your hospital room, or through a virtual consultation to get started as soon as possible.
Get Help from a Bus Accident Attorney in Las Vegas, NV, Today
A dedicated Las Vegas bus accident lawyer at H&P Law will get a police report for you and pursue your case at no cost to you. There is no reason you should need to deal with the ramifications of someone else’s negligence while they get away with it. Find out how much you could be awarded and how to move forward with your claim when you contact our office to request a 100% free consultation through our convenient contact form or by phone.
