contact us today (775) 789-4944 contact us today (775) 789-4944Whether it is through the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for Washoe County or one of the many commercial transportation services that operate in the area, traveling by bus is generally one of the safest ways to get to, from, and around Reno. As you may have unfortunately learned, though, “generally” is not the same as “always,” and when accidents involving public or private buses do occur, they very often have serious consequences for everyone involved.
If you were recently injured due to negligence by a bus driver, their employer, or anyone else involved in the regular operation of a bus line, you may have grounds for civil litigation which a capable personal injury attorney from our firm could help you pursue. You deserve to be compensated fairly any time someone else harms you through their own misconduct, and guidance from a Reno bus accident lawyer could be vital to making sure that happens in a situation like this.
While every person who drives a motor vehicle on public Nevada roads has a “duty of care” requiring them to obey traffic laws and pay attention to surrounding obstacles and people while driving, bus drivers in particular also have a duty to drive in a way that does not cause injury to their passengers. This means that if someone were to get hurt while onboard a bus by falling out of their seat after their driver unexpectedly slammed on their brakes, they might have grounds to file suit over their injuries just like they would if they had gotten hurt because their bus driver ran a red light and collided with another car.
It is worth noting as well that it is often possible to hold private bus companies—and sometimes public transportation agencies like the RTC—“vicariously liable” for misconduct by one of their employees, which can allow for greater financial recovery than a claim filed solely against an individual bus driver. Among other things, a Reno bus accident attorney could provide vital assistance with identifying every person who played a role in causing a particular injury and taking proactive legal action against all of them.
A person injured due to a bus driver or bus company’s negligence can incorporate both economic and non-economic damages into an ensuing lawsuit or settlement demand, including:
While there are no “caps” on total recovery prescribed by state law for civil claims against private bus companies or employees, no public employee in Nevada may be held liable for more than $200,000 of economic damages for negligence they engaged in while performing job-related duties. In both scenarios, support from a skilled lawyer can be essential to maximizing available compensation following a bus crash in Reno.
Statistically rare or not, bus crashes can and do cause serious injuries to far too many Reno residents every single year. Fortunately, if you can prove that you were only hurt in an incident like this because of another person’s misconduct, you may be able to hold them financially liable for your losses rather than having to pay for all of them yourself.
A conversation with a Reno bus accident lawyer could provide answers to important questions and put you on the right track toward comprehensive civil recovery. Call today to set up a meeting.