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Las Vegas Bus Accidents
Accidents that involve commercial buses often result in serious, or even fatal injuries to passengers, motorists and pedestrians. If you are injured in a commercial bus accident in Nevada, you need a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas who can help you file a personal injury claim and receive fair damages for your injuries.
Federal and State laws regulate most common carriers like commercial buses, railway trains, subway trains, and taxis to a high duty of care or obligation to their passengers. These laws are strictly enforced to protect the safety of passengers on common carriers. Commercial bus companies must take precautions to avoid accidents and injuries to passengers. Commercial buses must uphold a duty of care that includes:
- Making entries and exits safe for passengers
- Providing adequate security for passengers
- Hiring qualified drivers to operate the buses
- Maintaining bus engines, motors, and mechanical parts
- Monitoring and correcting problems
When a commercial bus accident occurs, many people commonly believe that the bus company is automatically financially liable for the accident and passenger injuries, but this isn’t true. At Blackburn Wirth, we represent personal injury victims of commercial bus accidents in Las Vegas and surrounding areas. We know that you need a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas who can defend your rights and help you collect damages for your injuries.
Common Causes of Commercial Bus Accidents
- Collisions – Collisions with other vehicles and solid objects like guardrails, highway signs, highway structural elements, and bridge abutments often result from the bus driver’s negligence. Instances of driver negligence include failing to observe traffic signals, speeding, improper bus maintenance, drowsy driving, distracted driving, and drunk driving.
- Hazardous Conditions – Commercial buses must be properly maintained and regularly serviced to prevent accidents. Large buses must take precautions to avoid dangerous situations that may cause injuries to passengers. They should know when to de-ice entryways and exits and mop up wet floors that could cause slip and fall accidents and injuries.
- Passenger Actions – It’s difficult for commercial bus companies to protect passengers against criminal acts, but they must make every reasonable attempt to ensure criminal acts will not occur. This includes appropriate security measures like surveillance cameras and background checks for all bus personnel.
Common Injuries in Commercial Bus Accidents
In Nevada, a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas sees a variety of injuries that are common in commercial bus accidents. The attorneys at Blackburn Wirth are aware that commercial buses are large and heavy and are often equipped to carry up to 100 passengers. When accidents occur, injuries often result from people getting jolted or thrown out of their seats. We see common injuries that include:
- Bruises, cuts and abrasions
- Sprained and torn ligaments
- Fractures and broken bones
- Back injuries and herniated disks
- Severed limbs
- Whiplash
- Concussions and head trauma
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Death
School bus accidents also happen with regularity. Fortunately, advances in school-bus safety have reduced the number and severity of children injured in these accidents. Still, children and drivers continue to suffer from negligent drivers.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Personal injuries claims fall under civil law, and in civil law the accused is always presumed innocent until proven guilty. If you’re injured in a commercial bus accident in Nevada, you need a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas who can help you prove fault against the carrier and win your case.
In many personal injury cases involving commercial buses, the bus driver may not be at fault. Perhaps a motorist cut the bus driver off, and the bus driver had to veer off the road to avoid a collision. Fault might be put on the motorist, rather than the bus driver. According to Nevada accident laws, fault must be proven in any accident. The fault of the bus driver or the bus company must be proved in order for them to be held liable for damages, and they always have the opportunity to defend themselves in court.
Nevada laws set a time limit or “statue of limitations,” of two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in state court. Generally speaking, you have two years after the date of an accident to file your case in Nevada’s civil court system. It’s important to pay close attention to this law. If you file your lawsuit after the two-year deadline has passed, a Nevada court will most likely refuse to hear your case.
