Bus Accident Liability Claims
Las Vegas, Nevada
Suing for a bus accident
If you got hurt in a bus accident, ended up in a hospital, and lost income after the accident, call us at 702-432-1000 to speak directly with a bus accident attorney.
We can help you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries and other damages.
We represent clients in Las Vegas and Nevada.
We also represent many tourists injured in a bus accident while visiting Las Vegas.
The bus accident statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bus accidents are responsible for about three hundred fatalities yearly.
Where do bus accidents often happen?
In the past years, several bus crashes happened on the I-15, the main freeway leading in and out of Las Vegas. Accidents often occur in downtown Las Vegas, especially near bus stops.
Bus accident definition
A bus accident is a type of traffic collision that involves:
- A motor vehicle,
- A pedestrian,
- A stationary object (such as trees, electric poles, or guardrails), or
- An animal.
Although bus safety has dramatically improved in recent decades, bus accidents remain relatively common and can cause severe personal injuries and even death.
Bus accidents we handle
Attorneys at Heshmati & Associates handle all types of bus accident claims in Las Vegas and Nevada, including:
- School buses,
- Private tour buses,
- City buses,
- Charter buses,
- Shuttle buses,
- Intercity buses (e.g., Greyhound, Megabus, FlixBus).
Causes of bus accidents
Bus accidents happen for several reasons. Still, usually, it is a driver's error that leads to bus accidents.
Other factors contributing to bus accidents, especially tour bus or long-distance bus accidents, include:
- Driver fatigue,
- Reckless driving,
- Illegal or unsafe turns,
- Dangerous road conditions,
- Maintenance failures,
- Inadequate bus driver training.
In 2021, a Las Vegas tour bus got into an accident where two people were seriously injured and one person killed because the bus driver was speeding and had little experience driving the bus.
In 2022, a Henderson city bus collided with an SUV because the SUV driver had a medical episode and lost control of the SUV.
Bus accident laws
The laws regulating bus accidents are complex and depend on several factors:
- The company operating the bus,
- The location of the crash, and
- Where the bus is registered.
Investigating a bus accident is lengthy and costly and requires an extensive understanding of local, state, and federal laws.
Collecting the evidence
Special rules involve collecting evidence after the bus accident.
Unlike car accidents, where the driver collects evidence and files liability claims to the insurance company, the company that operates the bus takes over the investigation. It inevitably creates a conflict of interest because the bus company will try to minimize the liability and, even better, release its liability from the accident.
In 2022, the RTC of Southern Nevada installed interior and exterior cameras on each bus and provided Metro police access to the live stream.
The duty of care and bus accident liability claims
The laws of the United States stipulate that all people have the legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid injuries to other people. This legal duty is known as the "duty of care."
The duty of care applies to all motor collision cases, including bus accidents. If, for example, a bus driver causes the bus to crash because he was using his cell phone while driving, injured passengers have the right to sue the driver, even though he did not intend to cause injuries to the passengers.
In addition, bus companies, similar to trains, light rail, airplanes, or airport shuttle companies, are considered common carriers. They have a legal responsibility to show a higher duty of care since they offer their services for a fee. As a result, they are liable for the passenger's injuries, even if the bus company proved that they were only "slightly at fault."
What to do if you get injured
There are four steps to follow after the bus accident in Las Vegas:
1. Collect as much information as possible about the accident. Accurately record the exact location, date, time, bus description (bus number, operating company, route, etc.), and accident circumstances.
2. Document in detail your injuries. Record pain levels, location of pain, and sources of bleeding. Take pictures and record videos of your injuries.
3. If you end up in a hospital, save all hospital records.
4. Contact a bus accident attorney in Las Vegas or Nevada. Do not rely on the bus company investigators to "take care of everything."
We invite you to call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.
Who is liable?
Establishing liability is the most challenging part of a bus accident. Below is a short list of parties that could be found liable:
- Bus drivers,
- The driver of another motor vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck),
- Managers/supervisors at the bus company,
- The bus company itself,
- The manufacturer of the bus,
- Bus maintenance company,
- The city government can also be liable when public buses are involved.
In Nevada, the party liable for the accident is financially responsible for all damages.
How much can you get from a bus accident settlement?
The bus accident victims may be entitled to get compensated to cover their:
- Medical bills (past, present, future),
- Lost salary, wages, and tips,
- Loss of future earnings,
- Rehabilitation,
- Pain and suffering,
- PTSD treatment,
- Wrongful death.
Some bus accidents result in permanent disability and require long-term care.
Issues/challenges of bus accident liability claims
Even when the bus driver is found at fault, filing a claim can be challenging because of the complicated laws and the massive bureaucracy bus companies (private or public) have. When the accident involves a public bus (such as a school bus or a city transit bus), the problem becomes even more complicated as the passenger has to file a claim against a government body.
Cap on damages
If the Clark County government is operating the vehicle - there is usually a $100,000 cap on damages per bus accident. However, the "public" buses (e.g., the CAT bus) operate by private entities and are required to carry commercial policies, much like taxis and other transport businesses. The commercial policy in Las Vegas can cover over $1,000,000 per bus accident.
If you were partially at fault
Nevada uses the rule of modified comparative negligence. The plaintiff could collect compensation from all other at-fault parties if the plaintiff were less than 51% responsible for the accident.
It applies to bus accident lawsuits.
A bus accident attorney can help
If you have been in a bus accident, ended up in a hospital, and missed time at work, you need an experienced bus accident attorney to represent you.
We invite you to call us to discuss your accident.
We will gather the evidence, identify responsible parties, work with experts, negotiate with the insurance companies, or, if necessary, aggressively defend your case in court.
To speak with a bus accident attorney, call us at 702-432-1000.
Our office takes all bus accident claims on a contingency basis, which means - there are no fees or costs unless we get monetary compensation for you.
We represent clients in Las Vegas and Nevada.
We also serve tourists who got injured while vacationing in Las Vegas or Nevada.
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Last updated on January 30, 2024.
