Las Vegas residents from all walks of life ride the bus, from kids to working professionals to seniors. Las Vegas buses are safe to ride, but that doesn’t always guarantee an accident won’t happen.
Due to their size and weight, buses can cause unimaginable harm in accidents.
Bus accidents can be devastating because of the number of passengers inside a bus. Most buses are not equipped with seat belts or airbags.
In Nevada, ‘Bus’ means any motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for transporting persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, which is designed and used for transporting persons for compensation.
A bus company that transports passengers in exchange for money must use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, provide everything necessary, and exercise reasonable skill. If the bus company fails to act reasonably, given its duty of care, it will be found to have breached it and liable for damages.
Types Of Buses Involved In Las Vegas Accidents
Bus accident claims in Las Vegas may involve RTC buses, school buses, regional carriers (Greyhound, Megabus, etc.), passenger vans, shuttle buses, microbuses, sleeper motorcoaches, and charter and tour buses.
Shuttle buses are especially common in Las Vegas. They are an efficient and economical mode of transportation for tourists to travel between high-traffic areas, such as airports, casinos, hotels, stadiums, and other attractions.
Liability In A Las Vegas Bus Accident
Lawsuits involving bus accidents are incredibly complex because they involve the potential liability of several parties, such as the bus driver, the bus management company, manufacturers of bus equipment, government agencies responsible for public transportation, other drivers, and even passengers.
When multiple parties may be found to be at fault for an accident, Nevada’s comparative fault laws come into play in determining each party’s degree of responsibility and corresponding level of liability.
In a joint study conducted by the University Of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the Nevada State Health Department, the driver errors that contributed most frequently to accidents in Nevada are failure to yield the right of way, improper driving, following too closely, failure to keep in lane, or excess speed.
Various types of evidence may be admissible in Nevada bus accident cases to help determine degrees of fault. Relevant evidence includes surveillance video footage, photographs of the damage, accident scene, and road conditions, the vehicles’ GPS records, medical records, weather reports, and testimony of eyewitnesses.
In many instances, other drivers may contribute to a bus accident by distracting a bus driver, passing a bus when there is insufficient space, driving in the blind spot of a bus, driving too closely behind a bus, braking without warning in front of a bus, and underestimating a bus’s speed while making a left turn.
Statute Of Limitations And Caps on Damages In Bus Accident Claims Against Government Entities In Nevada
A personal injury claim brought against the state of Nevada must be filed within two years of the date of injury. If the claim is not filed within two years, it will be denied by both the state and the courts.
In Nevada, the statute of limitations is the same regardless of whether you sue the government or a private entity/ individual.
Those bus drivers who are government employees acting in the course of their job are liable for only up to $200,000 if they are at fault in a bus accident in Las Vegas.
Pacific West Injury Law – Our Attorneys Bring Experience, Award-winning Legal Skills, And Comprehensive Legal Counsel To The Table.
Insurance companies know how to coerce injury victims into settling for less. It’s what they do for a living.
Experienced personal injury attorneys can present compelling evidence to negotiate for higher settlements. They may also earn leverage by threatening to take legal action on behalf of their clients.
At Pacific West injury law, we handle every aspect of your case, from investigating the accident to unraveling evidence to preparing your lawsuit and representing you in court.
If you or a family member was injured in a bus accident in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas, you need an experienced Las Vegas bus accident lawyer who can be your best friend in times of trouble.
The experienced team of lawyers at our Las Vegas personal injury law firm understands how to build a strong case that will help you secure maximum compensation.
Contact us immediately to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.