Las Vegas Public Transportation Accident Attorneys
Gazda & Tadayon
are top-rated public transportation attorneys in Las Vegas, NV, and surrounding areas. Our law firm has helped numerous clients receive the compensation they deserve after experiencing a public transportation accident. We have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury cases and are one of Nevada’s most experienced public transportation attorneys. Additionally, Attorney Lewis Gazda has been named as one of the Top 25 motor vehicle accident attorneys from a national organization composed of premier trial attorneys in a state or region and is invitation-only.
Our Experienced Public Transportation Accident Lawyers Can Help
As former insurance defense counsel attorneys, we have the insider knowledge on what it takes to win these types of cases. Therefore, we will use all possible resources at our disposal to get results, including our insider knowledge of insurance companies. Since we have formerly served as defense counsel for these insurers, we know how the “other side” thinks. This is a huge asset when handling a public transportation accident case – we know exactly what questions to ask, and the right steps to take in order to get the compensation you deserve.
After a public transportation accident, every single detail can make or break a case. To cover all our bases, we make it a point to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident site, questioning witnesses and evaluating every detail that may contribute to your case. When you choose us to handle your public transportation case, you choose lawyers that care about your personal and legal success.
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What You Should Do If You Get Involved in a Public Transportation Accident
Most people never expect to be in an accident involving public transportation, but it can happen in Las Vegas, with its high number of public and private buses, charter vehicles, and taxis. It’s easy to assume that these drivers are trained professionals who know how to drive safely, but it just takes one moment of inattention or negligent driving to cause a serious accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a public transportation accident in Las Vegas, like a bus, limousine, or cab accident, you may be owed compensation from the company. At Gazda and Tadayon, we have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We are experienced traffic accident attorneys who know what it takes to fight for your rights and rightful compensation.
It is critical that victims seek medical assistance regardless of how they might feel since a medical professional will be able to take a full inventory of any issues. This medical record also helps us build the case later on, especially for injuries that require long term rehabilitation like orthopedic care or chronic pain management.
If injury from the public transit crash can be demonstrated, the company that owns the taxi, limousine, bus, or other public transportation vehicles can be held responsible. The victim can claim compensation for a number of damages, including:
- cost of the initial ER visit
- cost of medical treatment
- long-term rehabilitation services
- medication for chronic pain and emotional suffering
- property damages
In the most severe cases, a crash may lead to the death of the passenger, either at the site of the accident or as a direct result of their injuries. This case may qualify as a wrongful death case, for which the company can also be held liable for a whole suite of damages.
We Can Help You
- Determine if the bus driver or other third-party was at fault
- Gather concrete evidence from the accident
- File the necessary paperwork
- Consult with medical experts on costs of treatment and long-term care
- See your case through either to trial or to a settlement
To get started, schedule a free consultation for your public transportation accident claim, or read what our clients have to say on our Gazda and Tadayon reviews page. You can also visit us in person at our welcoming and compassionate law firm, located at 2600 S Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89146.
Telltale Signs That You’ve Been Injured in Public Transportation Accident
After a jarring bus accident or collision, the extent of your injuries may not be immediately obvious. Many injuries make themselves fully known in the long term, and some people might want to downplay their injuries, assuming it’s “no big deal”. However, the long-term costs of medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wages can pile up, and many bus accident victims experience emotional upheaval as well. It’s perfectly reasonable. No one wants to get involved in any traffic accident, let alone an accident involving a heavy bus or other public transport vehicles.
Here are a few common injuries after a public transit accident:
- whiplash
- sprains and strains
- soft tissue damage
- bone breaks and fractures
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- head or brain injury
- spinal cord injury
- burns
Vehicles that Qualify as Public Transportation
There are many vehicles that can qualify as public transportation in Las Vegas. The most obvious is our RTC transit buses, but there are other vehicles that qualify as well, including:
- private shuttles
- charter buses
- school buses
- tour buses
- taxis and cabs
- limousines
Most of the vehicles operated by hotels, casinos, and convention centers also fall under this category, as does almost any bus, which is defined as any vehicle with 10 or more passengers including the driver. These accidents happen more often than one might think, even if the vehicle was going at relatively slow speeds, and they often involve more than one other vehicle.
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Public Transportation FAQs
You should contact a Bus Crash Lawyer promptly once you accept all danger has scattered at the location of the mishap and all who need clinical treatment have been tended to. One needs to act quickly in getting a discussion from a lawyer who will inform you with respect to the lawful criticalness of any move you make. A lawyer needs to quickly make a lawful move for your sake so we can secure your privileges and expand any future recuperation for your sake.
1.) Promptly Seek clinical treatment. Regardless of whether you trust you just endured minor wounds you should search out a clinical expert since there might be wounds that will just surface after a clinical test.
2.) Gather Information: Once danger has cleared up you ought to request the names, addresses, phone numbers, drivers permit numbers and protection data of the other driver.
3.) Contact a bus accident law firm immediately following a motorcycle accident.
Every bus accident is different but the following could potentially be held liable:
Drivers – either the bus driver or the drivers of other vehicles who may have contributed to the accident
Bus manufacturers and retailers – if there is a defective product such as a faulty braking system, a broken engine component or a defective tire
Bus companies – the employers who hired an unqualified driver or failed to regulate the limit the driver was on the road
You can sue whoever was conceivably to blame for the accident including: the transport administrator and transport organization; the driver of your own vehicle; the drivers of some other vehicles engaged with the accident just as some other individual or element which may have added to the accident.
The general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years. However, if you were hurt by a vehicle that is owned and operated by a public transit district or government entity, you are required to file a “tort claim” before you can file a lawsuit which is 180 days after the accident. Contact an attorney immediately if you’ve been involved in a bus accident.
Common Reasons for Bus Accidents
While these operators are licensed professionals, there are many variables that can contribute to a disastrous accident on the road, no matter how experienced or skilled the driver may be. The vehicle’s maintenance workers also play a role, and they could have missed something critical during their routine checks of the vehicle.
Some of the most common causes for public transit injuries are:
- wide, sharp turns
- intoxicated bus driver (DUI)
- general disregard for traffic laws
- poorly marked bus lanes
- poor weather
- improperly maintained brakes, tires, or safety equipment
Unfortunately, many accidents could have been avoided if the driver did not initially choose to drive while fatigued or intoxicated. In Nevada, we have one of the highest DUI rates in the United States, and it’s not beyond a bus driver or taxi driver to be drunk or under the influence of drugs while working. Some drivers work long hours on a shift, and while it’s illegal for operators of public transportation vehicles to drive for extended periods of time, these laws can sometimes be ignored.
In most public transportation accidents, the claim is filed against the company, not the driver, since it’s the company that purchases the necessary insurance and is responsible for the maintenance and operator training required for the vehicles. It’s these companies that will also call to settle after such an accident.
It’s important that the victim does not take the initial settlement. No matter how caring, patient, and understanding the company’s representative may be on the phone or in person, they have the company’s best interests in mind, and at the end of the day, the company is looking out for themselves. Even when they accept fault for the incident, these companies can try to minimize the amount of compensation paid out to the victims, which they can do by low-balling the estimates for the victim’s medical care and other damages. For example, if an injured passenger suffers a traumatic brain injury after the accident, the company may cover the costs of the initial ER visit and the immediate medical care, but they can refuse to cover other costs such as lost wages, medication, and physical therapy.
Once a victim accepts a settlement, there’s no going back to ask for additional compensation, no matter how rightful or justified it may
Taking Action: Next Steps and Compensation
At the end of the day, no one deserves to be hurt in a traffic accident. It is the public transit operator’s duty to keep their passengers and other motorists safe, and if you or a loved one have been injured by one of these vehicles, it is your legal right to fight for justice and demand compensation. Even if the injuries may seem minimal at first, there can be complications that arise in the long term that must be rightfully covered by the liable party.
The amount of compensation varies from case to case, but some of the costs that can be covered include:
- cost of initial ER visit
- surgery and medical treatment
- therapy for emotional damages
- long-term rehabilitation
- loss of current and future wages
- property damage
There are two possible ways your case could go: settlement or litigation. With a settlement, the case is still negotiated outside the courtroom, but we can secure a much better payout from the liable company than what you may have been offered initially. However, companies aren’t always willing to provide a fair settlement. In that case, we pursue litigation and file a lawsuit against the company. Not all lawyers have the experience it takes to successfully litigate a case; luckily, at Gazda and Tadayon we are known across Southern Nevada for our ability to litigate even the most challenging cases. We have helped other major law firms on more than 500 outside cases.
In the event of a lawsuit, the case will go to court and be seen by a judge or jury. In either case, we cover all legal fees until we collect from a case, so you can focus on regaining the quality of life you had prior to the accident.
It is critical that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Nevada has a statute of limitations, which means that victims are only allowed to file for damages within a certain time frame after the accident. But even if your accident happened in the past, there could still be time to file. Choose a personal injury attorney with the confidence and knowledge to take on your case as soon as possible.
Because of the complex nature of car accident injury law in Nevada, it’s critical that you explore your legal options and potentially file for damages as soon as possible. Our state law limits the amount of time after an accident that a victim can file for damages and claim compensation. Contact us today to assess your individual case in a timely manner.
GAZDA & TADAYON INJURY LAW PRACTICE AREAS
Attorney Lewis J. Gazda
Awards
- Million and multi-million advocates forum
- Martindale Hubbell with AV Ratings
- Top-Rated Avvo Lawyer
- Top 25 Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiffs Lawyers
With almost 30 years of experience, Attorney Lewis Gazda is one of the most respected lawyers in the Las Vegas community. Attorney Gazda specializes in both personal injury and wrongful death cases. He is recognized by his peers for his superior negotiation skills and extensive legal knowledge, earning the highest possible rating of AV Pre-eminent from Martindale-Hubbell.
Learn More About Attorney Lewis J. Gazda
Attorney Afshin Tadayon
Awards
Attorney Afshin Tadayon has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney in Las Vegas, with a diverse range of practice areas including personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death, criminal law, and mass tort litigation. Attorney Tadayon formerly served as a defense lawyer for insurance companies; his insider knowledge of their legal tactics makes him a potent advocate for clients seeking the compensation they deserve after an accident.
Attorney Tadayon is ranked AV Pre-eminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a rating reserved for only the top 10% of attorneys as designated by their peers.
Learn More About Attorney Afshin Tadayon
Awards & Accolades
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