The Deuce is a public bus service that operates 24 hours a day in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It is owned by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada. While taking The Deuce can be an easy and cost-effective way to visit the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown, accidents and injuries can occur on this bus service.
If you are a victim of an accident on The Deuce, a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas can help you pursue fair compensation for your losses.
What Types of Accidents Can Happen on The Deuce?
The Deuce in Las Vegas could expose passengers and the public to the risk of many different accidents, including single-vehicle accidents, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, T-bone collisions, fixed-object collisions, lane-change accidents and bus rollovers.
Accidents involving a city bus can arise from various examples of bus driver negligent, such as:
- Driving while distracted
- Texting while driving and other cell phone use
- Driving while impaired
- Breaking hours-of-service regulations and driving drowsy
- Speeding and breaking other roadway rules
- Failing to check blind spots and making unsafe lane changes
- Reckless driving, such as running red lights
If a bus driver working on The Deuce fails to act with the amount of care that a reasonably prudent driver would have, this is known as negligence. A bus driver’s negligence would give all injured victims the right to seek financial compensation from the city. Let our Las Vegas accident attorney guide you through this process.
Who Is Liable for Accidents on The Deuce?
An accident that occurs while riding a bus can be particularly harmful due to a lack of protection available to riders. In an accident, bus passengers on The Deuce can be thrown from their seats and strike objects or other passengers. If the bus collides with a motor vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian, victims outside of the bus could suffer significant injuries due to the size and weight of the bus.
For these reasons, bus drivers for The Deuce must have commercial driver’s licenses and undergo special training before they drive. In addition, all double-decker buses that are used for these rides must be properly maintained and in good working order. Any negligence on behalf of a bus driver or the RTC increases the odds of an accident and could lead to the government being held responsible since the RTC is city-operated.
What to Do After an Accident on The Deuce
If you get into an accident while riding The Deuce in Las Vegas, try to stay calm and remember to take the following steps:
- Check yourself and others involved for injuries and get medical care immediately.
- Call 911 to report the accident and request an ambulance, if necessary.
- Write down the bus driver’s name and your bus number.
- Get the names of all witnesses, including bus passengers.
- When the police arrive, give them your side of the story.
- Take pictures and videos of the bus accident scene before you leave.
- Contact RTC at (702) 228-RIDE to report the crash and file an insurance claim.
- Continue your medical treatments and keep copies of your hospital bills and records.
- Do not give an insurance company a recorded statement.
- Contact a Las Vegas bus accident attorney before accepting a settlement.
The most important things are your personal health and safety. Once you have received medical care, you can focus on gathering evidence and documentation to start building a claim.
Why You Need to Hire an Attorney After an Accident on The Deuce
Going up against the RTC after an accident involving The Deuce will not be easy. Government agencies are protected from liability in many situations by a law known as sovereign immunity. You may need an attorney to help you navigate the challenges of your case and hold the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada responsible for your injuries and bills.
Contact an attorney at Koch & Brim, LLP for a free consultation about your case. We can help you with settlement negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit after a bus accident in Las Vegas.