Reno Bus Accident Lawyers

Bus accidents can have multiple causes. Driver error, such as failure to yield right of way or improper turning, is one potential cause.
But the conditions of the bus itself can also cause an accident. Companies that own and operate the buses are responsible for maintaining them in a safe condition. Buses should be inspected regularly, and anything requiring attention or repair should be addressed. If maintenance or poor repair has caused or contributed to an accident, such as poor brakes or blown tires, the company responsible for maintenance, repair, and inspection is responsible in the event of an accident.
Bus drivers also must be properly trained and licensed. In Nevada, they need to have a commercial driver’s license, which requires certain types of testing and training. If they are not properly licensed, the company that hired them may be at fault. If a bus accident occurs because of a faulty or defective part or component, the manufacturer or repair facility may be to blame.

Other parties can also be responsible for accidents involving a bus. Driver error on the part of other vehicles can cause bus crashes. Even pedestrians may partially bear responsibility for being hit by a bus, counterintuitive as that may seem. In Nevada, pedestrians are legally required to give right-of-way to vehicles in areas other than crosswalks and intersections, although drivers also need to give due care to pedestrians.
Finally, Nevada as a whole has a high proportion of accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol (roughly a third of all types of fatal traffic accidents). Alcohol or other substances may play a role in bus accidents as well, and if so, the consumer of the substances may bear whole or partial responsibility.
Because responsibility in a bus accident can be complex, it is sometimes necessary to investigate the causes of an accident. Police reports, witness statements, bus company and other records, surveillance footage, and forensic analysis of the crash scene can all be used in an investigation.

If you’re in a bus accident in Reno, move to safety as soon as you can.
If anyone needs emergency medical attention, call 911 or ask a bystander to call.
Stay on the scene until first responders arrive. It’s against the law to leave the scene of an accident in Nevada. Answer police officers’ questions, and take EMTs’ advice about whether you should go to the emergency room.
Collect contact and insurance information from the bus driver and any other driver involved in the crash. If bystanders witnessed the accident, get their names and contact information, too.

If you have a smartphone and can do so safely, take pictures of the accident scene, including vehicles, road conditions, the surrounding area, and any signs of how the accident occurred (such as damaged sidewalks, damaged stop signs, skid marks).
Once law enforcement indicates that you can leave, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Either go to an emergency room or your doctor. Don’t neglect this step, even if you don’t feel injured; only a doctor can diagnose thoroughly whether you have any injuries after an accident.
Follow all medical advice and keep all records of medical treatment. It’s important for your recovery, and it’s also excellent evidence if you need to seek compensation.

It’s only natural for victims of any vehicle accident to wonder if they can receive compensation for injuries—perhaps particularly so for victims of bus accidents. Buses are much larger than other vehicles on the road, which increases the chance that a collision, whether with another vehicle or a pedestrian, will cause severe injury or death.
To receive compensation for a bus accident, a lawyer representing you must prove that:

• Another party bears at least partial responsibility for the accident;
• The accident stemmed from that party’s violation of a duty of care, which is a basic obligation not to engage in unreasonably dangerous actions that put another person in harm’s way; and
• You suffered injuries resulting from the accident those actions caused.

Armed with this evidence, your lawyer may seek compensation on your behalf by demanding payment from the at-fault party’s liability insurance carrier and/or by filing a Reno bus accident lawsuit in civil court. There is no guarantee these efforts will succeed. However, by hiring an experienced Reno bus accident injury attorney, you can give yourself the strongest possible chance of achieving a favorable financial outcome in your case.

Yes. As long as your injuries stem from an accident someone else caused, you can seek compensation for time off work resulting from the accident.
You may also have the right to seek compensation for:

• Medical bills, both current and future for emergency treatment, ambulance transportation, surgery, hospitalization, assistive devices, diagnostic tests, prescription medication, and more
• Wages lost from work, both current and future if the accident, treatment, or recuperation time caused you to need time off from work
• The lifetime value of earnings if your injuries disable you from pursuing past employment
• Property damage for personal property damaged in the accident, such as a car or other personal property
• Pain and suffering for emotional, mental, and physical pain and suffering

Again, we caution that there is no guarantee of recovering compensation. However, putting your case in the hands of an experienced Reno bus accident injury lawyer gives you the best chance of success.

Depending on the circumstances, individuals injured in bus accidents are eligible to receive compensation for medical bills, rehabilitative therapy, and loss of wages from work. They may also receive compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.

Yes you can. If you were walking down the sidewalk or across the street and were struck by a bus, you are absolutely entitled to compensation. An accidental injury attorney near you in Reno will help you file a claim against the bus company for your injuries. Bus companies carry hefty insurance policies for these types of occasions. Be sure to have a lawyer represent you through the process to ensure you receive the highest possible settlement!

Bus accidents often require investigation to determine their cause. Typically, law enforcement will conduct the first investigation of the causes of a Reno bus accident. After the investigation, police issue an accident report detailing their findings. Experienced lawyers for Reno bus accident victims will often use that report as the jumping-off point for their own examination of the causes of an accident.
Lawyers do not necessarily accept the police report’s findings. Often, a more thorough investigation will turn up other facts and evidence pointing to additional or less-obvious causes of the accident.

For that reason, skilled attorneys often do their own digging, sometimes aided by a professional accident investigator they hire, to uncover evidence that sheds light on an accident’s causes. For example, a lawyer and investigator may conduct a thorough inspection of the bus to assess whether mechanical issues contributed to a crash. Or, they may subpoena cell phone or GPS data to determine if driver distraction played a role.
Lawyers analyze the evidence to identify all parties who may have a legal liability to a Reno bus accident victim so that they can pursue those parties for compensation on their client’s behalf.

If you are riding on a city bus and are injured by another passenger, you are eligible to file a claim against the bus company, provided the situation was a result of the bus driver acting in error, negligence, or reckless behavior. If the bus driver can be cleared of any responsibility, you may be able to file a claim against the passenger that caused you harm. Be sure to consult with a lawyer first to learn what your legal options are.