Numerous buses drive on Nevada roads, including school, shuttle, city, and tourist buses. Most people prefer using buses because they consider them reliable and safe. Buses are a cost-effective and convenient form of transport. They are also the best for public transportation and long-distance. Sadly, buses are typically not as safe a means of transport as people think. Most accidents that occur in Nevada involve buses. Each year, bus accidents occur, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

If you are involved in a bus accident in Las Vegas, the attorneys at Dallas Horton & Associates can help you pursue compensation for the damages you sustain.

Statistics Of Fatal Bus Accident In Nevada

Many fatal bus crashes in Nevada usually involve buses and large trucks. For example, in 2015, there were 25 fatal accidents involving buses and trucks. This is according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics. This number went up compared to 15 fatal bus accidents documented in 2014. Some bus crashes involve collisions with regular cars, but many include collisions with large trucks.

FMCSA also released new statistics on the rates of bus accidents and fatalities in 2019, which show the prevalence of large truck and bus crashes in various states in the United States. Fatal accidents involving large trucks and buses in 2019 were 2734. According to a January 2020 report, 3,087 individuals died in bus accidents. An additional 60,818 individuals sustained injuries in crashes involving large trucks and buses. Regular vehicles that were destroyed or wrecked in crashes involving buses were 122,331.

Nevada is not among the worst states in terms of bus crashes. However, significant bus crashes, deaths, and injuries are recorded yearly. A 2019 preliminary report indicates two fatal and 125 non-fatal bus crashes. The report also reveals that two individuals died in Nevada’s fatal mine bus accident on August 24, 2019. The crash involved a bus transporting mineworkers and a track-trailer carrying one person. One mine bus passenger and the driver of the truck lost their lives during the crash. The crash happened when the tractor-trailer passed over the opposite lane and collided with the bus transporting 20 miners. This occurred on a Saturday morning in northeastern Nevada. All the other passengers on the bus were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Five passengers on the bus were in a critical medical state because of the severe injuries suffered in the bus crash.

Three school bus crashes happened in southwest Las Vegas Valley on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Fortunately, all the buses had no students when the accident occurred. The crashes happened because of the morning rush, where two members of staff sustained injuries. These accidents happened at 7 a.m., and the buses were on a stretch on 215 Beltway. There were injuries after one of the buses overturned on the side. A staff member and the bus driver suffered injuries in this bus crash. The second bus accident occurred within a four-mile distance near the westbound Decatur Boulevard exit. This accident involved a school bus and several cars, but no injuries or fatalities.

Another bus accident occurred west of the Interstate 15 & 215 connectors. This accident involved a school bus and another car, but no injuries or fatalities occurred. Investigators claimed no evidence that rain contributed to the school bus accidents. However, they alleged that most accidents occur in Las Vegas Valley during the rainy season.

A motorcycle rider lost his life in an accident involving a school bus in Sparks, Nevada, on August 28, 2018. He hit a school bus when it was turning left. The bus driver did not sustain any injury, and no students were on the bus. The motorcycle rider died on the spot. The accident happened when the school bus finished the route after dropping the students. The deceased was an aged man who was unidentified.

The Nevada Governor Sandoval signed a law in 2017 that ordered all new school buses to be installed with safety belts. The law was passed after several schoolchildren sustained injuries in school accidents in 2017 in Las Vegas. This law ordered all schools to install safety belts in their new buses, effective July 1, 2019. According to this law, the school buses should have a harness belt to ensure the students are safe.

Those advocating for safety belts in all school buses claim that a passenger wearing a safety belt will likely not sustain severe injuries or die when an accident occurs. However, some individuals criticize the safety of belts in buses. Some people allege that school buses are safer without safety belts. Others claim that students cannot unbuckle the safety belts during an accident and could end up trapped in the school buses.

One man lost his life in a bus accident in Central Las Vegas on October 27, 2019. A bus caused an accident involving seven vehicles on a Sunday morning. The crash happened at 7.54 a.m. near Tropicana Avenue & Rainbow Boulevard, as outlined by the Metropolitan Police Department.

A woman lost her life in January 2020 in downtown Las Vegas after being knocked by an RTC bus. The crash happened at 11.45 p.m. Wednesday at South Main Street and East Bonneville Avenue. The left front of the bus hit the lady when she was crossing on a marked crosswalk. She passed on after going to the hospital because of the blunt-force injuries resulting from the bus crash.

According to the above statistics, bus crashes are common in Nevada. Most counties in Nevada record at least one major car fatality each year. The death rate per million individuals is less than the national average. Due to strict traffic laws, the number of bus accidents in Nevada has been reduced drastically. The conviction of negligent bus drivers has also contributed to this. Buses transport many people, and in case of an accident, many individuals are likely to die or sustain injuries.

The Major Causes Of Bus Accidents In Nevada

It is important to consider your safety when choosing a form of public transport. This is one of the reasons why people like traveling by bus in Nevada. However, at least 170 buses are involved in crashes daily in the United States. As a result, 60,000 buses are involved in traffic crashes every year. Some crashes lead to deaths and fatal injuries, but the majority of them involve non-fatal injuries. The number of bus crashes in Nevada is less than one percent of all traffic crashes. However, the buses’ passenger capacity is higher than the other vehicles. Therefore, massive personal injuries and property damage are experienced when a bus crash happens.

People in the United States often prefer to travel by bus. They claim it is a relatively safer mode of transport. Sadly, immense property loss and casualties experienced during a bus crash contradict this claim. There is a surge in bus crashes, and there is no indication that this trend will change. The economic and social effects of bus crashes continue to become more serious. The National Transit Database carried out this research. Fortunately, scholars and society are keenly following bus accidents and their effects. The bus safety study will soon solve the leading causes of bus crashes in Nevada.

It is important to establish the cause of the bus crash when you sustain injuries in a bus crash. This will make it easier for you to identify the liable party and file a personal injury case. The following are the common causes of bus accidents in Nevada:

  • Bus drivers violating driving laws
  • Distracted bus drivers
  • Poor bus maintenance
  • Faulty or defective bus components
  • Fatigued bus drivers
  • Impaired driving or driver intoxication

Bus Drivers Violating Driving Laws

Bus accidents in Nevada are often caused by drivers who fail to observe traffic laws. For example, a bus driver can cause an accident if he/she fails to observe a right-of-way to pedestrians or other motorists. In 2020, Nevada saw a surge in sidewalk accidents & fatalities. A bus crash can happen in parking areas when a bus driver drives onto walkways and fails to park within the marked spaces. Many pedestrians have lost their lives because of being hit by bus drivers. There is always a great impact because of the large size of the bus.

Distracted Bus Drivers

It is easy for a bus driver to cause an accident if he/she engages in distracted driving. Various factors can cause driver distraction. For example, a bus driver can cause an accident if he/she eats while driving simultaneously. Texting, calling, and operating a mobile phone while driving can prevent a driver from focusing. The driver can be less attentive and cause an accident if he/she manages the vehicle radio while driving. The driver could be guilty if an accident happens because of distracted driving.

Poor Bus Maintenance

Maintenance of buses lies solely on bus companies. Bus companies must ensure that their buses are in good condition. The bus company will be responsible if the accident happens because of poor bus maintenance. Sometimes, the bus maintenance company can carry out routine maintenance on a bus but fails to realize an apparent mechanical problem. In this case, the bus maintenance company will be liable in case of an accident.

Faulty or Defective Bus Components

A bus manufacturer can be liable if a crash happens because of faulty or defective bus components. Bus manufacturers have a duty to ensure that they only release safe products for use, including buses. A manufacturer should warn the users if a product has a possible risk.

Fatigued Bus Drivers

Fatigued bus drivers also play a significant role in bus crashes. Many bus drivers, particularly those operating tour buses, drive long before resting. In this case, a driver can cause an accident because of falling asleep while behind the wheel.

Impaired Driving or Driver Intoxication

The Centers for Disease Control reveal that over 28% of all fatal accidents in Nevada are caused by impaired driving. Therefore, intoxication or impaired driving is the major cause of bus crashes. For example, alcohol consumption is high in Las Vegas because of the many pleasures the city provides. Some bus drivers drink and operate buses despite the efforts to stop this vice. Your personal injury attorney can assist you in pursuing compensation if you or a loved one suffers injuries in an impaired driver’s crash.

Bus Stops

Bus stops are also black spots for bus accidents in Nevada. There are 3,300 bus stops in Nevada, according to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). Only 1,690 of these bus stops have shelters, while only 1,205 have met the safety requirements. The good news is that RTC has used at least $18.3 million to promote pedestrian and rider safety at bus stations.

In Southern Nevada. RTC participates in activities like pushing shelters 5 feet from the curb and buying new shelters. However, the lack of right-of-way, especially on private property, is the major challenge that RTC faces while engaging in this exercise.

Shelters at the bus stops usually offer comfort to the passengers while waiting for their ride. Shelters and bus stops should not pose a danger to passengers. Setting shelters safe from the highway can significantly prevent bus stop accidents. RTC has put in place crucial measures to stop drivers from passing on the sidewalks in Nevada. Setting up bollards is one of the measures RTC has taken. However, it is challenging to implement this measure on each street. Therefore, bus crashes continue because drivers fail to observe traffic rules.

Other factors that often contribute to bus accidents include:

  • Driving at high speed
  • Poor or defective road conditions
  • Poor weather conditions

Types Of Bus Accidents

The following are the common bus accidents in Nevada:

Motorcoach Accidents

Millions of tourists visit Las Vegas yearly because it is a haven for gamblers. Most tourists use private motor coach tours to visit the city. Tour buses transport many tourists because of their large sizes. Because of their weight and size, these buses require special skills to navigate and make safe turns. There is a high risk of suffering injuries in a tour motorcoach because of the regular collisions of these buses with trucks.

Metro Bus Accidents

City bus or metro bus crashes are common in Nevada. These accidents usually happen when buses collide with trucks or other cars or hit pedestrians. After your involvement in a bus crash, identifying the people or entities involved is the first step in pursuing compensation. Your personal injury attorney can assist you in investigating all the facts linked to the crash and help you pursue your deserved compensation. You should petition the city of Las Vegas for accidents involving RTC or commercial buses.

However, it is important to understand the process before filing a case against the government. Your attorney can assist you in filing a notice of claim for damages against the city. Seeking the services of a skilled attorney is important because he/she will help you manage the aspects of your cases well. An attorney will also help you establish the parties negligent in the bus accident. Negligent parties can be employees, departments, and other negligent parties. You must file a personal injury case under Nevada law, NRS 11.010. The statute of limitations for this exercise is two years from the date the crash happened. Your personal injury attorney will handle the complicated aspects of your claim while you concentrate on healing.

School Bus Accidents

Nevada has the largest school districts with many schools and students. School bus rides are a popular form of transportation for most students. Sadly, many school bus accidents happen every year, causing both fatal and minor injuries. You should consult a personal injury attorney immediately if you or your child sustains injuries in a school bus accident. The attorney will represent you in court and help you fight for compensation for all your injuries.

Determining The At-Fault Party In a Bus Accident

You should establish the liable party for the accident after sustaining injuries in a bus accident. This will later help you pursue your deserved compensation. The following can be responsible for your injuries in a bus accident:

  • Municipal entities
  • Tour bus company
  • The bus driver

A government or city agency could be responsible for the accident involving school buses or RTC. Consult a competent personal injury attorney when filing a lawsuit against a government agency. Lawsuits against government agencies are usually complicated, with strict deadlines for filing them.

A tour bus company can be responsible if a bus accident happens because of mechanical failure or poor maintenance.

The bus driver can be responsible if an accident happens because of their negligence or mistake. For example, the driver will be guilty if the accident occurs because of driving while intoxicated, distracted driving, traffic violations, or fatigue.

Injuries You Can Suffer In A Bus Accident

Unlike other types of accidents, bus crashes in Nevada are rare. However, injuries can be catastrophic when buses cause accidents. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report reveals 13 severe intercity and 73 catastrophic school bus accidents in 2017.

The following are the common injuries you can suffer in a bus accident:

Internal injuries

You can suffer internal injuries when your body absorbs the impact and forces of a bus accident. The common internal injuries you can suffer are:

  • Liver lacerations
  • Punctured lungs
  • Kidney damage
  • Internal hemorrhaging

If you fail to seek prompt medical attention, internal injuries can become fatal.

Cuts And Lacerations

During a bus accident, you can suffer injuries because of glass smashes. Sharp metal benches can also inflict severe cuts on you during an accident. Lacerations and deep cuts can cause tissue damage and excessive blood loss. You could face devastating effects if the cuts become infected. An infected cut or laceration can be deadly if left untreated.

Broken Bones

You are likely to suffer broken bones in a bus accident because of the impact. This can happen because most buses have no safety belts like private vehicles. You can collide with the walls of the bus or fall on the floor when the bus collides with other vehicles or objects. In this case, you can suffer fractures ranging from broken bones to complicated crushing injuries. You will be required to undergo extensive surgery if you suffer broken bones. Sometimes, this can cause permanent disability.

Spinal Cord And Head Injuries

Many bus crashes involve severe trauma and extreme forces. The forces can cause your head to smash into the bus seat or whip violently. Some people can suffer blunt force trauma during a bus accident. This trauma usually causes spinal cord injuries, whiplash, and severe traumatic brain injuries.

Psychological Injuries

A skilled personal injury attorney knows that bus accident victims often suffer psychological injuries. Victims of traumatic events can develop various psychological disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be seriously debilitating for years or decades if left unattended. This can affect your quality of life in the future.

The Damages You Can Recover In A Bus Accident

The damages you can recover in a bus accident will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and the liable party. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can calculate your case’s value and file a compensation claim. Some of the damages that you can recover include the following:

  • Medical expenses for the costs incurred in seeking treatment for the injuries you sustain in the accident
  • Compensation for the pain and suffering associated with the accident
  • Emotional distress
  • Lost wages for the time spent out of work due to the injuries sustained in the bus accident
  • Lost earning capacity of you cannot be able to resume work because of the injuries you suffered in the accident
  • You can also file a wrongful death claim if your loved one dies in a bus accident
  • The court can also award you punitive damages if the liable party was extremely reckless

Find a Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

From the statistics, it is evident that bus accidents are common in Nevada. If you are involved in an accident, your first step should be to contact an experienced attorney to help you file a claim to seek compensation. Dallas Horton & Associates has compassionate personal injury attorneys who can help you file a claim to seek damages. Call us at 702-820-5917 to speak to one of our Las Vegas attorneys.