Seeing a tour bus drive down I-80 is a regular occurrence in Reno. Whether a tour bus is taking visitors to one of the many casinos or heading down I-580 toward Lake Tahoe, tour buses are all around Northern Nevada.
This is good for the local economy as they provide revenue to our community. But, they can also create extreme hazards for other drivers. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a tour bus accident, you need to speak with a bus accident attorney today. You may not know the exact cause of your accident or who to hold accountable for your medical bills. That is where your lawyer can help.
The most important thing to do after getting into any accident is to get a medical professional to care for your health and well-being. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may face a long road to recovery. You may not have time or energy to worry about a lawsuit and that is why you should speak with a Reno tour bus accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Large vehicles, including tour buses, are more likely to be in fatal crashes. This happens because of the sheer size and weight of a tour bus. Most fatalities happen to pedestrians or passengers in other vehicles. While not every tour bus accident will cause death, the recent example of a Grand Canyon tour bus roll-over shows the potential severity of injuries caused by an impact with a tour bus.
Victims need to know they do not have to face this alone. Contact a bus accident attorney today to discuss your legal options.
Who Is to Blame?
When a tour bus gets into an accident, blame is not always clear. Getting compensation for your injuries requires an intense and detailed investigation to determine who caused your accident. Because a tour bus is substantially larger than a regular vehicle, there are many moving parts and many people or companies who could be held liable. If you were injured while riding in a tour bus or when a tour bus hit your vehicle, you could be entitled to compensation. But you first have to know what parties may be at fault.
Bus Driver
The most obvious place to look after any vehicle accident is the driver. The tour bus driver is in charge of the safety of all passengers. If you were injured while riding in a tour bus, you may have a claim against the driver. If you were on the bus, you may have suffered less severe injuries; but do not discount these types of injuries.
A concussion, one of the most common injuries in a car accident, can cause millions of dollars in medical expenses over the lifetime of the injured person. When a tour bus driver fails to drive safely or drives too fast, the consequences can be tragic. The driver may be responsible for the accident and any injuries caused, both on the tour bus and to passengers of other cars or pedestrians.
Bus Company
Oftentimes, the bus is a charter and owned by a third-party company. Even though the tour company you booked with may not own the bus you are riding in, that does not necessarily mean the bus owner escapes liability for an accident. If the bus company failed to properly maintain and service the bus or hire and train skilled drivers, you can hold it liable for your injuries. This can create complexities in the legal case, so you need to speak with a trusted Reno tour bus accident attorney as soon as possible.
Tour Company
When you book a tour, the company is responsible for your safety. Even if they do not own the bus, they have a duty to you to select a safe bus. But you might hold the tour company liable because of their own direct negligence. They may own the bus and have not maintained it, causing an accident. They may have also neglected to hire and train drivers who can operate such large vehicles.
When this happens, they could share liability with the driver. This further complicates your case and requires a skilled legal advisor to help you determine who is at fault and hold all of the negligent parties responsible for your medical expenses.
Maintenance Company
No matter who owns the bus, the maintenance company may also bear some liability for the accident where you suffered injuries. If a maintenance technician does not repair an issue correctly or the company fails to properly maintain the integrity of the bus, that could cause an accident. But the only way to know for sure is to conduct a thorough investigation. Getting the help of a tour bus accident lawyer can help you recover faster.
Get Help From a Tour Bus Accident Lawyer
To determine who may be at fault for your tour bus accident injuries, a detailed investigation must take place. Tour buses are extremely large vehicles with many components. There are countless reasons why an accident could have happened. While the police may conduct an investigation, accident reconstruction experts comb over every detail and can work closely with your Reno bus accident lawyer to hold the negligent party or parties liable for your accident and injuries.