Does Nevada Have a Bus Accident Statute?

Posted on April 6, 2022

Nevada does not have a specific bus accident statute. But if an automobile collision occurs that involves a bus, the motorists involved are required to comply with Nevada Revised Statute chapter 484E.

NRS 484E.010 through 483E.130 detail drivers’ duties following any motor vehicle accident.

What should I do after a bus accident in Nevada?

Following a bus crash, the drivers involved are required to stop at the scene of the accident or park as nearby as possible without blocking roadways.¹ Drivers then have the duty to take these three steps:

1. If the collision causes physical injuries or a fatality, render aid to the accident victims. This typically includes calling 911 for an ambulance;
2. Provide their name, address and vehicle registration number to the other people involved. Upon request, they should show them their driver’s license also; and
3. Provide the above information to any law enforcement officers present at the scene investigating the collision. They also have to surrender their license if asked. But if no police officer is present, they must report the crash to the Nevada Highway Patrol or closest police authority.²
   

In situations where drivers crash into an unattended vehicle or property, they have to take the following two steps:

1. Attempt to locate the vehicle’s owner or operator. Failing that, they have to place a conspicuous note on the unattended vehicle or property. The note must contain their name and address as well as the name and address of their vehicle’s owner (if different);³ and
   
2. Report the bus accident to the Nevada Highway Patrol or the closest police authority. Or if the driver is physically unable to call the police, any occupants must do so.⁴
   

Note that the bus driver may have additional legal and occupational duties following a crash, particularly if it was a public transportation bus.

Do I have to report bus accidents in Nevada?

As long as police officers were at the scene and made a report, the drivers involved do not have to file an accident report. But if police are absent, the drivers have 10 days from the date of the accident to fill out and mail an SR-1 form to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles at 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711. In addition to the form, the driver has to include these three documents:

1. The driver’s insurance that was in effect on the date of the accident;
   
2. A repair estimate of total loss if the crash caused $750 or more in property- or vehicle damage; and
   
3. A physician’s statement of each victim’s injuries (if any).⁵

People face gross misdemeanor charges for knowingly filing an accident report with false information. The penalties are up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines. And the DMV can suspend the person’s license for one year for willfully failing to file a report at all.⁶

Filing an SR-1 form is not required if the bus crash caused no death, injuries, or $750 or more in damages.⁷

What happens if I hit and run after a bus crash in Nevada?

Fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury or fatality is a category B felony. The sentence is two to 20 years in Nevada State Prison and $2,000 to $5,000 in fines. And the judge may not allow probation or a suspended sentence in lieu of prison.⁸

If the Nevada bus accident caused no injuries or death, then hit and run is a misdemeanor. The punishment is up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.⁹

Who can I sue if I was in a bus accident?

Depending on the circumstances, potential defendants in a Nevada bus accident claim may include:

• The negligent driver(s);
• The bus company or owner;
• The bus manufacturer (if the bus may have had a design defect); and/or
• The mechanics company responsible for ensuring bus safety.

In any case, bus accident lawyers pursue the maximum financial compensation for the victims’ medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the at fault motorist’s insurance company. But even if bus crash victims may have been partly to blame (such as by not wearing a seat belt), it still may be possible to bring a successful personal injury claim under Nevada’s comparative negligence laws.

Note that under Nevada law, bus accident victims usually have only a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit. And personal injury lawyers need as much of that time as possible to craft a winning bus accident case.

 

Have you or a loved one been injured in a bus accident in the state of Nevada? Call our Las Vegas, NV law firm for legal advice. Our personal injury attorneys represent accident victims throughout the state. 

See our related articles on bus stop accidents, shuttle bus accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, pedestrian knockdowns, wrongful death and 10 critical steps to take after a Nevada car accident.

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Legal References