Taking the bus is one of the most popular ways to travel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada is the major public bus system in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It has almost 4,000 stops and transports close to 180,000 riders daily. Las Vegas is also home to thousands of school, shuttle, tour, party and charter buses.
If you or a loved one were injured in a bus accident in Las Vegas, you have rights. The lawyers at Koch & Brim, LLP can help you understand and defend them. Discuss your bus accident injury claim with our local lawyers today. Contact our Las Vegas bus accident attorneys for a free initial consultation.
Why Choose Koch & Brim, LLP?
- Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers have over 42 years of experience in Clark County and throughout Southern Nevada. We know how to get the job done.
- Our law firm gives each and every client personal attention from an attorney – not a staff member. We will plan your legal strategy according to your specific needs.
- Our law firm is small enough to offer one-on-one care from our lawyers, but large enough to handle the most complex bus accident and personal injury cases.
- Our Las Vegas bus accident lawyers offer free consultations and work for clients on a contingency fee basis. You will have no fees unless we win your case.
How a Las Vegas Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help
Hiring an experienced an Las Vegas bus accident lawyer can help you in many ways as an injured crash victim. With an attorney, you have someone you can trust in your corner during insurance claim negotiations. While an insurance company may put its bottom line above your recovery, it will have no choice but to handle your claim fairly if you hire a lawyer. Your lawyer can take over claim negotiations or take your bus accident case to trial in Clark County, if necessary, to pursue maximum financial compensation. It is especially important to hire an attorney if you have a serious or catastrophic injury.
How Long You Have to File a Bus Accident Injury Claim in Las Vegas
A law called the statute of limitations in Nevada places a strict time limit on your ability to file a personal injury claim for a Las Vegas bus accident. The statute of limitations is two years from the date that an injury occurs. An exception known as the discovery rule could toll, or pause, the statutory clock until the date that you discovered or reasonably should have discovered your injury using due diligence in the event of delayed or hidden injury symptoms.
While many states impose significantly shorter filing deadlines on claims against government agencies, Nevada does not. If you wish to file a tort claim against the government for an accident involving a public bus in Las Vegas, you will have two years from the date of the accident. If you are interested in pursuing a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in a fatal bus crash in Nevada, you will have two years from his or her date of death – whether or not this is the same as the date of the crash.
It is critical not to wait too long to file a Las Vegas bus accident claim. If you miss the statute of limitations, you will most likely give up your right to seek financial compensation forever. The court only grants exceptions in very limited circumstances. This is why it is important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your crash.
What to Do After a Bus Accident
It is important to know what steps to take after being involved in a bus accident in Las Vegas. Doing or saying the wrong thing could inadvertently hurt your personal injury claim later. An insurance company will be looking for any reason to deny your claim and save itself money on your payout. Take the following actions after a bus accident to protect yourself as much as possible:
- Check for injuries. Remain calm and try to determine if you have been injured in the accident. Keep in mind, however, that your adrenaline may be masking pain and other injury symptoms in the first hour or more after the crash.
- Call 911. Although it is a driver’s legal responsibility to report the accident to law enforcement, you can also make the call as a passenger. Calling 911 yourself is the fastest and most effective way to get the help that you need.
- Talk to the police. When a law enforcement officer arrives, give him or her your version of events. Do not admit fault for the bus accident and do not talk about your injuries until you have seen a doctor. Write down your police report number to obtain a copy later.
- Document evidence at the scene. If you are able to do so, collect evidence at the scene, such as taking pictures of the bus accident and speaking to eyewitnesses. Write down a detailed description of what happened in the bus accident while it is still fresh in your memory.
- Go to the hospital. Do not delay medical care after a bus accident, even if you initially feel fine. Get professionally checked by a doctor immediately. If you are diagnosed with an injury, request copies of your medical records as proof of injury for an insurance claim.
- File your claim. Contact one or more insurance companies to file a claim. This may include your car insurance company or the bus company’s insurance provider. Contact an attorney for assistance, as these claims can involve complex legal issues.
Throughout the claims process, be careful who you discuss the bus accident with. Do not go into detail about the crash with your friends or post about it on social media. Limit what you say to insurance claims adjusters, as well. Do not accept an insurance settlement from a bus company or another party until you have spoken to an attorney. The insurance company may try to take advantage of you if you are unrepresented.
Common Injuries From a Las Vegas Bus Accident
Bus accidents can be minor to catastrophic, but all pose a risk of serious injury to bus passengers. Buses do not have the same occupant safety equipment as passenger cars, such as seat belts and airbags. While some buses, such as school buses, are designed to minimize impact injuries to occupants in an accident, bus collisions can still be catastrophic, meaning they inflict life-changing injuries on victims. The injuries involved in bus accidents can include:
- Bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries and whiplash
- Muscle, ligament and tendon injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Severe burns
- Crush injuries
- Internal injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disabilities
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Wrongful death
The lawyers at Koch & Brim, LLP have the knowledge and experience to handle a bus accident case involving any type of injury diagnosis. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury or someone you know passed away in a fatal bus accident in Las Vegas, we can help. We will use highly qualified medical experts and other resources to help support your bus accident injury claim.
What Causes Bus Accidents in Las Vegas?
Before you can recover compensation for a bus accident in Nevada, you must identify the at-fault party. Nevada uses a tort-based system, meaning the driver or party responsible for causing the accident will also be responsible for paying for damages. You or your Las Vegas bus accident attorney will need to determine the cause of your bus accident before you can file a claim.
- Negligent bus driver
- Speeding
- Weaving through traffic
- Texting while driving
- Operating under the influence
- Bus company negligence
- Poor bus driver training
- Inadequate bus maintenance
- Bus equipment defect or breakdown
- Negligent third-party driver
These are some of the most common causes of Las Vegas bus accidents. Whether you were a bus rider, a third-party driver, a bicyclist or a pedestrian, you could have serious injuries from a bus accident. Work with the attorneys at Koch & Brim, LLP to learn the cause of the collision and determine liability.
Who Is Liable for a Las Vegas Bus Accident?
Bus accident cases are unique compared to typical Las Vegas car accidents. Rather than holding the at-fault driver responsible, you could hold the bus company liable based on the doctrine of vicarious liability. This doctrine holds employers responsible for the negligence of their employees. A bus company in Las Vegas could be liable if it or one of its drivers caused your crash. On a bus such as a Greyhound, the company will be liable. On a school bus, the private school or the county will be liable. On a public bus such as the RTC, the government will be liable. Determining the correct defendant in your case may take help from a bus accident attorney in Las Vegas.
What Compensation Is Available?
Once your lawyer determines fault, he or she can demand maximum compensation on your behalf. Compensation for a bus accident could include both economic and noneconomic damages. An award could cover losses such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Disability benefits
- Property losses
- Lost income
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Death benefits
- Punitive damages, in rare cases
There is no such thing as an “average” bus accident settlement. Every case is unique. An insurance company may try to diminish your payout if you aren’t careful. Discuss the value of your bus accident case with our attorneys today.
Contact Our Las Vegas Bus Accident Lawyers 24/7
At Koch & Brim, LLP, we are passionate about protecting the injured. Our Las Vegas bus accident lawyers are here for survivors and loved ones involved in these disasters. We will work directly with you as our client to pursue maximum financial recovery on your behalf. Start your case with a free consultation. Request yours online or by calling (702) 410-6034 24/7.