Bus accidents are still too prevalent in Las Vegas. They continue to cause devastating bodily injuries that have long-term physical, emotional, and financial effects. If you or a loved one is currently recovering from injuries from a bus hitting you, schedule a free consultation with a bus accident lawyer in Las Vegas to determine what your next steps should be
It’s time to think about getting legal help to win a settlement. We’re here to help you at Pacific West Injury Law. We help victims pursue compensation for any type of bus accident, including accidents with shuttle buses, school and charter buses, tour buses, and public transportation.
Statistics show bus accidents happen more often than they should here in Las Vegas. Some of these accidents occur with tour buses, city buses, and other times with school buses.
Establishing that the bus driver or another party was at fault for your injuries can strengthen your claim for financial compensation. A bus accident lawyer in Las Vegas can help investigate the circumstances of the case and make the argument in court or settlement proceedings.
We can help you establish proof that your accident occurred due to one of the following:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Mechanical defects
Distracted Driving
Bus accidents tend to cause significant damage due to the large size of the vehicle. It’s easy for a driver to become confused on the road if a passenger is talking too much or music is playing too loud.
Any scenario like this can change lives in an instant. Once the bus hits you in a crosswalk or while in your vehicle, the resulting injuries can change your life irreparably.
Once we start investigating your accident, we’ll find out what distracted the bus driver. This usually requires interviewing witnesses on the bus, including any security camera footage. Fortunately, many city buses in Las Vegas have security cameras, something available only in the last few years.
Drunk Driving Or Drug Use
One of the worst bus accident scenarios is drunk driving. Once in a while, we find out the negligent bus driver was intoxicated or under the influence of a legal or illegal drug.
Evidence of this comes in toxicology reports after the accident occurs. You have a right to sue for punitive damages later against the driver for their egregious actions.
Punitive damages are always sought to send an extra message for neglecting a duty of care. All bus drivers need to adhere to their duty of care since they have the potential to cause significant harm to a large number of people, should they neglect their responsibilities.
Mechanical Defects
On occasion, it’s the bus itself to blame rather than the driver. The company that manufactures the bus may have put in defective brakes. Alternatively, the maintenance crew responsible for keeping the bus in good working order could have failed to check for mechanical issues.
When this happens, it’s possible to sue the company responsible for the bus. Perhaps the driver is also partially to blame for not noticing a problem.
Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state where maybe more than one person is responsible for an accident. It’s possible to still receive compensation from those responsible as long as your own comparative negligence doesn’t go beyond 51%.
What To Do Following Your Bus Accident
Your first step is to take time for yourself to recover from your injuries. If possible, collect evidence regarding your injuries, such as photographs, documentation from medical professionals, and any medical bills you receive. Next, it’s time to think about seeking legal help. Never try to deal with legal matters related to your bus accident by yourself.
Consult with a Las Vegas bus accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your rights and start filing a motion to pursue compensation. You may be contacted by insurance representatives or other representatives of the party responsible for the accident.
Take care not to sign any documents or waivers they give you or even answer their questions without a bus accident attorney in Las Vegas by your side. As soon as you give us the go-ahead to represent you, we’ll get to work finding the evidence to prove your case and visit the accident scene.
Collect Evidence At The Scene
Numerous scenarios can lead to a bus accident. What kind of evidence should you gather to prove the bus driver caused your injuries? It starts with us interviewing witnesses who saw what happened. Maybe the accident occurred on a city bus you rode on. We’ll interview witnesses to see what the driver did to make you possibly fall over and cause physical harm.
For intersection accidents, we’ll also interview witnesses, including gathering available footage they captured on their smartphones. With mobile devices so prevalent, the chances of someone capturing what happened are all the greater.
Traffic camera footage is also sought. Fortunately, Las Vegas has numerous traffic cameras set up at intersections and along roadways throughout the city.
Gather Your Medical Bills
To tell the full story about your injuries, your medical bills and records are also gathered. We’ll place those in safekeeping to present to the defendant’s insurance adjuster. It’s also important to keep these records on file in the event you decide to take your case to a trial. Medical records don’t lie, and the details behind what you face now and will face in the future are all in print.
Your future is possibly in doubt due to your injuries, including your ability to ever work again. All of this is critical proof when attempting to win a sizable settlement. We invite you to look at our case results on our website to get an idea of what we’ve done for others. Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of people win millions of dollars in settlements.
All cases are different, however. Your bus accident case may have numerous variables that make your final settlement more or less than what’s typical. Never expect a certain amount while still staying positive for the best results.
Recoverable Damages After A Bus Accident
Depending on your injuries following a bus accident and the liability of the parties involved, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover any losses you suffered as a result of your accident that impacted your finances. Common economic damages include:
- Medical expenses (short-term and long-term)
- Loss of income
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage, such as damage to your vehicle
- Modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate a permanent or temporary disability
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are far more varied. Any losses you suffered that did not directly affect your finances fall into this category. Non-economic damages typically account for the largest part of a compensation payout due to the fact that most of these damages are irreplaceable. Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and other disfigurements
- Decreased quality of life
- Mental anguish
One thing you can count on is us working tirelessly for you to gain justice for your injuries.
You ultimately decide what settlement offer you want to take as insurance negotiations take place. Afterward, we might be able to help you seek punitive damages against the bus driver for their egregious actions.
Statute Of Limitations For Filing A Bus Accident Lawsuit In Las Vegas
The statute of limitations in Nevada is only two years for most personal injury incidents, so time is of the essence. If you don’t get your lawsuit filed in time, you could lose your right to recover compensation for your damages. However, you must understand that several exceptions apply to this rule about when you can file a lawsuit.
Depending on the particulars of your case, you may still be able to file a lawsuit even if the two-year time limit has passed. Alternatively, you could find that you actually have far less than two years to file. This latter scenario is especially likely if the bus is owned by a government entity.
To ensure that you meet all deadlines and protect your right to recover damages, it is critical that you hire a Las Vegas bus accident attorney shortly after your crash. An experienced attorney can identify if any special circumstances apply to your case and meet all deadlines.
Get Legal Help Now With A Las Vegas Bus Accident Attorney
Contact our attorneys at Pacific West Injury Law immediately if you’ve been injured in a bus accident. It is critical to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, and insurance companies may also deny your claim if you wait too long.
It’s time to take action to get your life back to normalcy and keep yourself above water financially. Schedule a free consultation with one of our Las Vegas bus accident lawyers today to investigate your options.