When a large bus collides with a smaller car or a pedestrian, the results can be devastating. Bus accidents are terrifying, leaving victims with serious, even life-changing, injuries. If you or someone you love has been hurt, you need an experienced Boulder City bus accident lawyer who understands these tough cases. Here at Friedman Injury Law, we recognize how complex and scary this time is. You deserve maximum compensation for your damages, and our job is to fight tirelessly for you. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported an 18% jump in fatal crashes involving trucks and buses in the last year on record, showing just how serious this issue is. We are here to offer the legal guidance you need after a serious bus crash.

Why Bus Accidents Happen in Boulder City

Bus accidents rarely happen without a reason. Often, they are the direct result of someone else’s carelessness or a company’s failure to follow safety rules. We have seen these accidents caused by many different factors. Understanding the cause is the first step in proving who is at fault so we can build a strong claim for you.

Driver Carelessness

The person driving the bus has a massive responsibility. When they fail in that duty, crashes happen. Common types of driver negligence include:

  • Distracted Driving: This might be texting, eating, or anything else that takes the driver’s attention and eyes off the road. It only takes a second for a large bus to cause a major accident.
  • Driving While Tired: Bus routes can be long. When drivers are too drowsy to focus, they make critical errors. Driver fatigue is a leading cause of severe accidents on long bus routes.
  • Driving Too Fast: Speed limits exist for safety. Buses must travel at safe speeds so they can react and brake properly. Speeding prevents this, especially in bad weather or heavy traffic.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Unfortunately, some drivers operate vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol. This is a severe failure of duty.
  • Aggressive Maneuvers: This includes unsafe actions like tailgating, passing, or changing lanes carelessly.

Bus Company Failure

It is not just the driver who can be at fault. The company that owns and runs the bus also has responsibilities to keep people safe. If they fail in these duties, they can be held responsible.

  • Poor Vehicle Upkeep: Buses must be checked and maintained on a regular schedule. Issues with brakes, tires, or other critical parts can lead to a loss of control. If a company skips maintenance, they are being careless.
  • Not Enough Training: Drivers must be properly trained in safely handling these large vehicles. If a bus company hires drivers who are not fully or adequately trained, they put everyone on the road at risk.

Other Parties at Fault

Sometimes, the bus accident is caused by someone who is not the driver or the bus company. This is called third-party negligence. It could be another driver cutting off the bus, a pedestrian acting carelessly, or even the local government if the crash was caused by very poor road conditions, like massive potholes or unclear signage.

No matter who or what caused your bus crash, if your accident was caused by the carelessness or recklessness of another person or company, we can review your claim and determine if you are eligible for compensation.

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The Severe Injuries from Bus Crashes

Because buses are so much bigger and heavier than regular cars, the injuries in a collision are often catastrophic. When a massive bus collides with a passenger vehicle or a person walking, the human body suffers severe trauma.

Here are some of the most common and serious injuries we see:

  • Traumatic Head Injuries: Damage to brain tissue from bruising, bleeding, or swelling. This can cause permanent loss of function.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: Fractures to the spine, damaged nerves, or herniated discs often result in some level of paralysis.
  • Internal Organ Damage: Organs like the liver or spleen can tear, rupture, or bleed. These injuries require immediate emergency surgery.
  • Broken Bones: Victims frequently suffer multiple fractures to their arms, legs, hips, pelvis, and ribs.
  • Limb Loss: Severe crushing injuries may be so bad that they require the removal of fingers, toes, or entire limbs.
  • Wrongful Death: Sadly, the force of a bus collision is often fatal. When a fatality is involved, we help the family pursue a wrongful death claim.

Any injury you get in a bus accident, even if it seems minor at first, needs immediate medical care. Getting checked out by a doctor as soon as possible is the first step in protecting your health and creating evidence that will support your claim later.

Going Through the Complicated Legal Process

Bus accident cases are often much more difficult than a typical car crash claim. They involve unique legal hurdles that require an attorney who knows the special laws and regulations that apply to these large commercial carriers.

Some of the complexities include:

  • More People to Sue: In a regular car crash, you only deal with one driver. In a bus accident, there are often multiple defendants, or parties who share the blame. This can include the bus driver, the bus company, the maintenance crew, or the parts supplier. This means making claims against many different parties at once.
  • Hiding Evidence: Bus companies are large corporations. They often move quickly to hide, alter, or destroy evidence right after a crash. We must act fast to secure things like driving logs, maintenance records, and video footage.
  • Legal Limits on Payouts: Bus companies and government transit agencies sometimes lobby for state laws that limit the amount of money they have to pay accident victims. Our lawyers look for ways to overcome these limits and pursue total damages.
  • Delayed Symptoms: Some major injuries, especially head trauma, may not show clear symptoms for days or even weeks after the accident. You should not settle your case until all your injuries are fully known. Our attorneys make sure to account for all future medical needs.
  • Pressure to Settle Quickly: Insurance companies for the bus lines will try to push you into a quick, low settlement before you know the full cost of your injuries. We reject inadequate offers and fight for what you are truly owed.
In the aftermath of an accident, you’re not alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us now. Contact Us

How Friedman Injury Law Helps

As your legal advocates, we take the complex legal process off your shoulders so you can focus only on getting better. Allow us to handle all the legal details while you concentrate on your recovery.

Here is how we help you:

  1. Investigate the Accident: We launch an immediate and thorough investigation to figure out exactly what caused the accident and who is responsible. We know the regulations that bus companies must follow regarding driver hours, maintenance, and training. Proving they failed in their duty of care is how we establish who is liable.
  2. Gather Evidence and Prepare Your Case: We collect all the necessary documents, including medical records, police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction evidence. We then build a strong case that fully documents your suffering and financial losses.
  3. Handle Insurance Companies: We deal directly with the bus company’s insurance adjusters and lawyers on your behalf. We protect you from their tactics and ensure they do not take advantage of you. We then negotiate fiercely for a fair settlement offer.
  4. Take Your Case to Trial: Most cases settle out of court. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to pay what you deserve, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial and fight in front of a jury for the maximum compensation possible.

What to Do Right After a Bus Accident

If you find yourself injured in a bus crash, your actions in the moments that follow are very important for your health and your eventual claim.

  • Get Medical Help Right Away: Your health is the most important thing. See a doctor immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Having your injuries documented by a medical professional is necessary to support your future claim.
  • Report the Crash: Make sure the accident is reported to the police and the bus driver. An official police report will be filed, which can be used to help determine fault later on.
  • Document the Scene: If you can, take photos and videos of everything: the scene of the accident, the vehicles, your injuries, and any road conditions that may have played a part. Also, collect the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
  • Do Not Talk to Anyone Except Your Lawyer: Do not discuss the facts of the case or your injuries with the bus company, their insurance company, or their lawyers. They are not on your side. Never accept a quick settlement offer before talking to an attorney and knowing the full value of your claim.

Maximizing Your Financial Recovery

The purpose of a bus accident claim is to recover money for every single way the crash has affected your life. We fight to help our injured clients obtain all available damages after a serious crash.

Compensation often includes recovery for:

  • All Medical Expenses: This covers everything from the ambulance ride, emergency room visit, surgery, hospital stays, medications, and any long-term physical therapy or medical devices you will need.
  • Lost Wages and Income: This includes the money you lost from missing work during your recovery.
  • Loss of Future Earnings: If your injuries are so severe that they prevent you from going back to the same job or working at all, we will seek payment for all the money you will lose in the future.
  • Pain and Suffering: This is compensation for the physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life you have experienced.
  • Wrongful Death Costs: If a fatality occurs, we seek money for funeral and burial expenses, as well as the loss of companionship and financial support.

We believe that accident victims should not have to worry about the cost of getting quality legal help. This is why Friedman Injury Law offers a 100% free case evaluation with no pressure or obligation. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means if we do not win your case and recover compensation for you, you pay us nothing.

We are ready to stand up to large transport companies and pursue the rightful compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (702) 970-4222 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Boulder City bus accident lawyer. Let us handle the legal fight while you concentrate on healing.