5 Facts About Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can lead to a range of injuries because most bus occupants don't wear seatbelts. Also, if a bus hits a pedestrian or another vehicle, there is a heightened risk of injury or damage due to the large size of these vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, you may have a lot of questions. Here is an overview of the five facts you need to know.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, between 44 and 64 bus occupants died in traffic accidents every year from 2014 and 2017. Additionally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, annually, only four to six school-age children die in accidents involving school buses or other school transportation vehicles. Neither of these statistics take into account pedestrians or people in other vehicles who get injured in bus accidents.

While buses seem unsafe, statistically, children are actually 70 times more likely to get to school safely in a bus compared to a private vehicle, and public transit users are also about 40 to 70 times safer than people riding in private vehicles. But while buses are relatively safety, if you or a loved one does get injured in a bus accident, you may face a lot of injuries.

When you're in a bus accident, the injuries vary significantly depending on the situation, but you may have to deal with any of the following:

• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Lacerations
• Bruises
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Concussions

Those are just a few of the injuries that can occur in a bus accident. In many cases, you also get side effects. For instance, head injuries may be accompanied by dizziness, blurry vision, headaches, nausea, and brain damage.

When you bring a claim against someone for damages related to a bus accident, your damages include more than just your physical injuries. Damages include all the costs you incurred as a result of the accident, such as medical bills and lost wages, but they can also include impact on future income and projected future medical expenses.

On top of that, damages may also refer to intangible losses. For instance, if you experience emotional pain as a result of your injuries, you may be able to get financial compensation for your pain. Similarly, if you experience loss of consortium, disfigurement, PTSD, or a variety of issues that impact your life, you may also be entitled to compensation for those losses.

Generally, when you're in a car accident, the at-fault driver is liable for your damages. In a bus accident, the bus driver may be liable, but because they're working, their employer may be liable. If a city or a school district owns the bus, that entity may be liable for your damages.

In Nevada, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. If you wait longer than two years after the accident, you may not be able to bring a suit forward. In some states, cases involving government entities have a shorter statute of limitations than cases against private parties.

Luckily, in Nevada, you still have two years to bring a suit forward, but you have to follow a slightly different process when bringing a lawsuit against a government entity.

Have you been injured in a bus accident? Are you thinking about bringing a lawsuit forward? We may be able to help. To set up a no-cost case evaluation, contact Frank W. Thompson Attorney At Law Erwin Thompson Faillers.