What to Do If You’re Injured on City Public Transportation

Las Vegas offers extensive public transportation that makes it easier to get around the city. Most of the time, public transit is safe and statistics show that buses, which are the most popular form of city public transportation, are involved in fewer accidents than privately operated vehicles. However, that does not mean accidents involving buses never happen, according to a Las Vegas injury attorney.

 

Typical Bus Accident Injuries

When buses are involved in accidents, many types of injuries are common. These may include broken bones, sprains, whiplash, concussions, and bruising. Due to the construction of city buses, unique injuries may occur. Buses have a high center of gravity and may roll over much easier than other types of vehicles. They rarely have seatbelts or restraints and, because you must hold your belongings, items may become projectiles during Las Vegas car accidents involving buses.

 

Legal Issues

When you are injured in an accident involving public transportation, the insurance policy for the drivers involved is used to pay claims. The process, although it can get complicated, is relatively straightforward. In an accident involving public transportation, there may be a third party involved or the bus company may be immune from liability claims. A third party may be affected if another driver hits the bus, which allows you to seek compensation from the driver of the car’s insurance. If the fault lies with the bus driver, liability may be more complicated. Buses may be owned and operated by city or state governments, which means filing a claim can be much more difficult.

 

Suing Government Entities

Nevada does provide a method for people who are injured by an officer, agent, or employee of the government to file a claim. The statute is designed to avoid the rule of sovereign immunity, a law that originated in England and was adopted by many state governments in this country, preventing citizens from suing the government even if the city or state caused harm. In Nevada, if the party that caused your injury was a government employee carrying out their job duties, you can seek compensation from the governmental entity they were working for at the time. You will need to prove negligence on the part of the employee as part of the claim.

 

Filing a Claim in Nevada

There are specific rules to file an injury claim against governmental agencies in Nevada after Las Vegas car accidents. Particular forms must be filed and it may need to be reviewed by several agencies for approval. Claims against state or local government must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. In addition, damages in complaints filed against the state are limited to $100,000 per claim as of the date of this post.

If you have been injured in an accident involving public transportation, contact the Las Vegas injury attorney firm, The Schnitzer Law Firm, to learn what rights you may have. You can arrange for a no-obligation consultation by calling 702-960-4050, emailing TheSchnitzerLawFirm.com, or by filling out the secure online form.