There are more than 15,000 bus accidents in the US each year, 1.5% of them fatal. In 2022, Nevada reported 22 bus accidents, 15 of them injury-causing, and two of them fatal. School buses and transit buses are the most common types of bus accidents, and in 2021, there were two fatal school bus accidents.
In August of this year, five people were injured when a transit bus crashed with a car near Las Vegas Boulevard and E. Washington Avenue. Luckily, the injuries were all minor. The occupants of an RTC bus crash in North Las Vegas in March of this year were not quite so lucky – the accident involving a collision between a sedan and a Regional Transportation Commission bus caused several injuries and one fatality.
Las Vegas is home to a large network of public transportation buses that help locals and tourists get around the city. While generally safe, bus accidents can and do happen in Las Vegas. If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, whether you were a passenger, a driver of another vehicle, or a pedestrian, it’s possible that you are due compensation for your injuries.
Here’s an overview of liability and options for seeking compensation after a bus accident in Las Vegas.
Causes of Bus Accidents
There are various factors that can contribute to bus accidents, including: driver error, mechanical failure, poor maintenance, dangerous driving conditions, speeding, and driver fatigue.
Bus drivers may be distracted, drowsy, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent in operating the bus safely, leading to accidents. Cell phone use, adjusting controls, and attending to passengers are some of the distractions that can cause driver errors.
Defective brakes, tires, or other critical components like the engine, transmission, or axles can also cause the bus to malfunction and crash if issues are not promptly repaired. If the transit authority fails to properly inspect and repair buses as per manufacturer service schedules, it leaves them in an unsafe condition prone to accidents.
Buses are also at high risk for crashes in poor weather like rain, snow and fog which reduces visibility and makes the roads slick. Congested traffic with frequent stops and starts increases the chances of collisions, especially rear-end crashes.
Dangerous or defective roads with sharp turns, insufficient lanes, and poor signage further increase bus accident risks. Some of the most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas include:
- Tropicana Ave and Las Vegas Blvd – High traffic volume from tourists and vehicles entering/exiting hotels contribute to the dangers.
- Flamingo Rd and Las Vegas Blvd – Sudden lane changes, jaywalking pedestrians, and congestion create hazards.
- Sahara Ave and Las Vegas Blvd – High speeds and dense traffic interact dangerously here.
- Desert Inn Rd and Las Vegas Blvd – The curved nature of this intersection makes it accident-prone. Poor visibility and unexpected merging vehicles add risk.
- Sahara Ave and Paradise Rd – A major crossing point near the Convention Center and several hotels. High-risk factors are red-light running and uncontrolled left turns.
- Tropicana Ave and Koval Ln – Located near the MGM Grand, a lack of left-turn lanes and signal timing issues contribute to problems.
- Flamingo Rd and Paradise Rd – Another busy intersection near large casinos like Caesar’s Palace. Congestion and crowded pedestrian crosswalks create collision risks.
Excessive speeding makes accidents much more likely by reducing control and increasing stopping distance. Bus driver fatigue caused by lack of sleep, long shifts, and insufficient rest breaks often results in errors that contribute to collisions.
Liability in Bus Accidents
To receive compensation after a bus accident, you must prove negligence on the part of the bus driver or transit authority.
Possible liable parties include the bus driver, transit authority, other drivers, vehicle manufacturers, and government agencies responsible for transportation infrastructure. Specifically, the bus driver may be liable if their actions behind the wheel directly caused the crash.
The transit authority can share liability if lack of safety policies, driver oversight, or proper bus maintenance contributed to the accident.
Other motorists may bear liability if they caused the collision with the bus due to their own negligent driving.
Vehicle manufacturers can share liability if a defective auto part or bus mechanical failure precipitated the crash.
And government agencies can bear liability if poor road design, traffic controls, or other transportation engineering flaws contributed to the accident.
Compensation for Bus Accident Victims
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death damages, and possibly punitive damages meant to punish defendants for egregious misconduct.
This compensation can help cover both present and future costs of medical treatment, reimburse lost wages from missing work, make up for reduced earning capacity from permanent injuries, provide financial damages for physical pain and emotional trauma, compensate families who lost a loved one, and impose financial penalties on defendants who displayed gross negligence.
Seeking Damages from Public Transit Authorities
Although public transportation agencies have some immunity from lawsuits, you may still be able to successfully sue if the transit authority was negligent in areas like bus maintenance or driver training, failed to meet safety standards and procedures, or had a criminally negligent employee like the bus driver.
Most transit agencies have liability insurance policies that can cover accident claim settlements, regardless of immunity protections. An experienced bus accident lawyer from Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys can advise you on options for overcoming immunity hurdles.
Proving Liability in Bus Accidents
To build a strong injury claim after a bus accident, important evidence can include accident reports, bus maintenance records, surveillance footage, witness statements, photographs, and medical reports. Police reports often indicate factors contributing to the crash. Maintenance records may reveal safety oversights or mechanical problems with the bus. Video footage can visually establish what happened. Witness statements provide critical perspectives from those involved and observing. Photographs document the damage, injuries, and conditions. And medical reports help quantify the extent of accident-related injuries.
A bus accident attorney from Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys can help obtain such evidence through requests, subpoenas, reenactments, and expert analysis.
Consult a Lawyer from Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys
Pursuing fair compensation after a bus crash involves legal complexities. An experienced Las Vegas bus accident attorney from Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys can investigate your crash, build your claim, negotiate a settlement or file a lawsuit if warranted. Call us at 800-4THE-WIN (800-484-3946) for your free consultation.
