Bus Passenger Accident Claims – How to Get Injury Compensation

By Ian Morris | Updated December 12th, 2022

94 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

Compensation is fully justified if you’ve been injured in a bus or coach accident. Whether as a driver, passenger or pedestrian, if the accident was not your fault, you are entitled to make a claim. He we look at what should you do to make sure you have every chance of being compensated for your injuries, whether physical or psychological.

When can you make a bus accident claim?
The evidence you’ll need
How much compensation can I get for a bus accident?
Comments – your questions answered

If you are a passenger on a bus or any form of public transport and injured in an accident, you have a legal right to make a claim for personal injury compensation against the operator of the service. This is the same right to claim compensation for injuries and losses as in any road traffic accident, in the same way as a driver or passenger does in a car crash.

Common bus accident injuries include whiplash, soft tissue injuries, concussion and bone fractures. A successful outcome will depend on having the right evidence in place to support your claim. Whether you are a passenger on a bus that collides with another vehicle or object, or a cyclist or pedestrian that is hit by a bus, you’ll need to prove you were there and that your injuries were caused by the accident.

With all claims for compensation, it is really important to report and record your accident with the right people. In all cases, there will be a requirement for evidence to demonstrate that the claim is justified. Early on in the claims process, defendant insurers will require the injured claimant to prove that they were on the bus at the time of the collision. This would seem a fair enough requirement, but how do you do that? How can you make sure that the details of your bus accident are properly reported and recorded? Who should you speak to? What evidence can you provide to prove your claim and maximise your chance of succeeding with a claim for bus accident compensation?

One thing is for sure, the passengers travelling on the bus are non-fault parties and as such, if they are injured, they have every right to pursue a claim for compensation against which ever party was responsible for the accident.

As all bus and coach accident compensation claims are made on a No Win No Fee basis, you will never be charged if your claim does not succeed.

When can you make a bus accident claim?

As with all claims, you must allege negligence (responsibility) against the driver or a 3rd party. It is not possible to claim compensation if the injured party is responsible for their own injuries. Common scenarios leading to bus or coach accident compensation include:

Colliding with a 3rd party vehicle
Colliding with a solid object – such as a road sign, bus stop, kerb
A driver losing control and leaving the highway
A driver not allowing a vulnerable person (eg elderly, immobile, disabled or with special needs) sufficient time to take a seat before pulling away from a stop, and causing the person to fall due to the movement of the vehicle

In all cases of someone making a bus accident compensation claim, they are doing so because they have been injured as a result of someone else’s mistake or negligence.

Bus and coach companies (and their employed drivers) that fail to ensure passenger safety, compliance with relevant vehicle maintenance, adequate driver training and adequate safety warnings to paying passengers, may well be liable should any injuries happen to the passengers travelling on their vehicle. Any person injured in this way is entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.

Alternatively, if the bus or coach was the non-fault vehicle in an accident, the 3rd party driver/insurers will be liable to compensate any passengers that they are responsible for injuring.

The evidence you’ll need for proof

To make a successful claim, a solicitor will need evidence to present a compelling case to the defendant insurers. Firstly, a solicitor will need to be able to prove that the bus accident has happened and that injuries have been treated professionally. All claims for injury compensation need to be supported by medical evidence and all claimants will need to sign authorities to enable their solicitor to access relevant medical records to prove the extent of any injury sustained. If you have not yet seen your GP, you can still pursue a claim and you can contact us for advice and support in this.

The accident should be recorded with the responsible party, which in the case of a bus or coach accident, would be the operating company. In most cases, when a qualified bus or coach driver is involved in a collision, the driver will ensure that they have properly recorded the necessary details. Then you will simply need to obtain an incident reference from the company. You should contact them as soon as possible to obtain this and report your involvement in the accident.

It is really important to make sure that the details of your accident have been recorded properly and with the right people. If you haven’t completed these steps already, we can help you to do so.

Insurers will exploit all areas of weakness in any claim, especially in claims for bus accident compensation. To combat this, there are some really helpful things that you can do to ensure any future claim is not easily defended. Here is a useful checklist of the things you can do to protect your rights and give you the very best chance of success:

Retain proof of travel. If you have a bus ticket, keep it. This provides irrefutable proof that you were on the bus at the time of the accident
Ensure that the driver takes your details in full, including a description of any injuries if they are immediately present
Take the name and ID of the driver of the bus and any other vehicles involved
Record the bus service number and registration plate
Record the registration plate of any other vehicles involved
Note the accident location – street name and any landmarks
Take the details of any fellow passengers who may be witnesses
If the police attend, take details of the investigating officer and ideally a collision reference number
Contact the customer services department of the bus company to further report the accident and make sure that your involvement is recorded
Attend your GP surgery or local A&E asap, or should any injury symptoms worsen. This will add further medical evidence to support your claim

How much compensation can I get for a bus accident?

A successful claim will lead to a compensation settlement being made to you, with the value of the claim including any lost income and incurred costs as well as a settlement value for the injuries you have suffered, and medical treatment that has been required.

As well as a final settlement, claiming compensation can also help you in other ways.

If successful, a claim can release funds from the liable party to pay for private medical treatment and rehabilitation therapies to speed the recovery process of the injured party.
A successful claim settlement will make up for lost income now and in the future if the injuries that are being claimed for have prevented the injured party from working, either temporarily or again.

Specialist rehabilitation therapies

When your claim is active and your specialist solicitor has been able to obtain an admission of liability (from the insurers that provide the vehicle insurance for the liability party), your claim will succeed. It is at this point that your solicitor can look to obtaining specialist rehabilitation therapy if it is deemed beneficial to your injuries.

Bus accidents often involve soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, a back injury or broken bones, and such rehabilitation would most likely involve physiotherapy, osteopathic/chiropractic or massage therapies. You can also claim for psychological damages, such as PTSD. Any private treatments will be provided at the expense of the third party dealing with your claim and their cost will form part of the value of the total settlement. Further information on this will be available from your solicitor once your claim has been active for a sufficient amount of time.

Remember, you can claim compensation for the injuries you have sustained – the value of which will depend on the nature of the injuries and any supporting medical evidence – and also for special damages. This will recover any lost income and costs incurred as a result of the injuries sustained in the bus accident

To find out more, or to start your claim today, call us on 01225 430285. If you prefer, . After just a few minutes on the phone, we’ll have enough information to allow our solicitors to get your claim started.

94 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

Request a call back

Use the form below to request a call back from one of our personal injury advisors.

Ask a question Cancel reply

Questions

Read on for questions and advice about claiming, plus bus accident claim examples...

I was a on a bus with my newly turned 1 year old son when a motorcycle crashed in front of us. This caused the bus driver to slam her breaks on twice at different times which sent my sons pram flying. I now have tingling in one side of my face and a stiff neck. Is there anything that can be done about this??

You are likely to be able to pursue a claim as the cause of the injuries sustained rests with the motorcycles/other vehicles that crashed. This caused the bus driver to have to take evasive action and as such, the other vehicles are liable.

You should ensure that a report of the incident is made with the bus company and that appropriate medical attention is provided. You can then seek to make a claim. If your injuries are of a ‘soft tissue’ nature and you have avoided any broken bones or serious lacerations, you will have to pursue your claim without legal representation via the official injury claim website.

I was in the bus station on a bus last Thursday and we reversed out of the bay, as we reversed back ready to turn and move off another bus next to us reversed back into the front of us, I was on my phone so my head was down and the bang made me jolt, it wasn’t a really fast speed however I suffered a really bad headache straight afterwards and attended hospital the next day as my GP told me to as I was still sufferering and had a really sore neck and back. The gp prescribed me strong codine and said I had torn a muscle in my neck and tissue in my back and this is what has been causing me to feel this way. The gp said I should be better in a couple of weeks. The bus company straight after the incident asked if we were ok but at the time I seemed ok, they didn’t take anyone’s details. I contacted the bus company the following day and they noted what I reported, I initially did this so I had evidence for my employer as I had to take the day off to go to hospital but I’m wondering would I have a claim as I feel it’s unfair I’m currently down a days pay and bonus from work because of this happening?

You certainly have a claim, but it is unlikely to be a matter that you can instruct a Solicitor to act on a No Win No Fee basis. This is due to the recent changes to soft tissue injury claims arising from motor accidents effective from 1st June 2021. Claimants who have not suffered broken bones or lacerations in non-fault motor accidents must establish that their soft tissue injuries exceed £5000 in value to be able to recover legal fees and it is extremely rare for soft tissue injuries to meet that valuation. In a further reduction to justice for people in your situation, the Government have also bowed to insurer pressure to vastly reduce compensation settlement amounts in claims for whiplash and other similar soft tissue injuries.

As such, you would need to pursue a claim via the official injury claim page.

Hi there
My partner and children where on the 63 bus service from Horsham to Guildford departing at 1605 and there was incident where a window has smashed and caused glass to travel up the bus My daughter was sat next to my partner and ended up with glass down her and in her nappy and in her hair and also all I her buggy witch luckly she wasnt sat in as things cokld of been a lot worse and my son was sat behind them and also had it all in his hair he is emotionally distressed as he has a intellectual disability and this is rhe second time something had occurred on the bus he now doesn’t feel safe to travel by bus anymore but he needs to use the bus as he needs yo get to and from school

Has the incident (& the previous one) been reported and recorded with the bus company? To be able to pursue a claim, it is important that there is sufficient evidence available to support the matter and ensuring a report is an important step in ensuring that this is the case. In terms of any claim for psychological injury, it is only possible to do so if the psychological injury has been reported to a GP and a referral to a suitably qualified clinical psychologist has been made.

My friend and I took the bus to Kings cross station from the university’s direction. We went to the top, when our driver stopped at the stop before ours, we stood up to go downstairs the moment thr bus stopped. We were still going down the stairs, my friend just before me, and the driver pulled away from the stop with such a speed, My friend grabbed the rail and got herself to a seat below next to stairs. I had to cling to rails on stairs and in the force that he pulled away. I hit my knee to the side of the stairs. We got off at our next stop and immediately could not walk properly. The driver took off again, I did not have time to even take the plate or details. I didn’t think of it at that time. My friend helped me home and it will be a week ago to this day and still very sore, got better but can’t walk or climb stairs properly. Can you give advice on what I need to do? I am an international student, living in London.

Do you have any proof of travel? (did you keep the bus ticket or do you have a bus pass?). It is really important that you ensure that the details of the injury and the actions of the driver are on record with the bus company. You can contact them via one of their bus stations or regional hubs to do so. You need to let them know of the date, approximate time and which bus service (route number) you were on at the time. It is also important that you seek medical attention regarding the injury too.

I was on a bus when it braked hard so that it didn’t collide with a car. I went forward and banged my face and head onto the seat in front of me. I have been in pain off and on since the accident. A work colleague put an ice pack on my face when I got to work and I have been sick a few times.

Do I have a claim or would it be disregarded because it was to prevent the accident of hitting the car?

It would appear that you can’t make a claim against the bus company as their driver appears to have been taking evasive action to avoid a collision and was therefore not the negligent party. You may however have a valid claim against the insurance of the car that caused the driver of the bus to have to apply emergency braking to avoid the collision.

You should contact the bus company to enquire as to whether the bus was fitted with a dash cam and if the details of the vehicle that caused the driver to slam the breaks on and swerve can be provided to you. If so, you could then pursue a claim against that drivers insurance.

Hi , I was on a coach that hit a road sign as we were turning in London . I was on the toilet and got a bang to my head and shoulder and a few other lads were jolted by where the bus hit the sign. . The company have said because he was doing under 10mph there is nothing we can do, is he right?

Sadly, it is very unlikely that you would be able to make a claim. Although your accident is not a classic road traffic accident, the scenario in which you were injured is not excluded from the recent reforms for soft tissue personal injury claims as of 1st June 2021 and it is therefore not likely that you would be able to recover any legal fees or instruct a Solicitor to act for you (unless the head injury was substantial and there was evidence of a notable head impact – photos of bruising/soft tissue injuries etc?) and medical evidence to confirm the same.

There are also likely to be considerable issues with causation given the low velocity of speed at the time – which the coach company appear to have identified. A coach is very large and heavy vehicle and would have run through a medium sized sign with ease. Further, when you use the toilets on a coach, it would be expected that there is some risk of the coach wobbling about and that extra care will be needed to keep your footing.

With this in mind, it may well be a struggle to succeed with a claim in these circumstances.

Hello
My sun was run over by a bus.
He was on a E scooter and riding in a bus lane.
The bus was behind my sone and the cut into my son to pull into the bus lane.
the bus wheel ran over my sons foot and has sustained serious injuries which have been confirmed by A&E.
We have the bus drivers details and police also attended the accident scene.

Please contact us so that we can get our specialist Solicitors acting in this matter for your Son.

I’m not sure whether I should complain or not but today the bus I was on stopped abruptly (at red lights). The driver slammed the brakes so hard that my 15 month old daughters pushchair tipped backwards. She was strapped in and absolutely fine as I immediately bent down to sit her up again and calm her down as she had also been asleep so she was frightened, as I was comforting her the driver accelerated quickly making me fall backwards into the seat leg and leaving a large, painful and swollen bruise on my upper back under my left shoulder blade.

You should certainly make sure that the bus company has a record of the incident in which you were injured.

It was little pieces of glass that came out, it was just cracked it didn’t put a hole in the window, a load of tiny glass went all over me, the driver didn’t take my details he just told people get off the bus and rang for help then drove back to the garage.

If you have not been psychologically traumatised by the incident, you won’t be able to make a claim. You have been fortunate to avoid physical injury, but you could pursue a claim if you feel genuinely traumatised and struggle with returning to using the bus.

I was on a bus yesterday and the bus has hit the branch and the window shattered. With me being behind the window little pieces of glass went all over me, but I suffered no cuts. What can I do?

It is very fortunate that you have escaped any physical injury from the broken glass. However, you may still be able to pursue a claim for personal injury if the incident goes on to cause you a psychological injury or trauma. With this in mind, it is clearly too early to say whether you will develop symptoms of this sort, so it is therefore vital that you protect your interest and ensure that a full report of the incident and your involvement in the same is recorded correctly with the right people at the bus company. As such, if the driver didn’t take your details (and to be honest, even if they did), you should contact the bus company to report that you were present and sat right by the window that smashed. If you are feeling anxious or concerned – or of course if you have any physical pain, make sure that you note that in your report.

In terms of psychological trauma, if you are aware of any such symptoms – flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety about future bus travel – make sure that you attend your GP and seek a referral for appropriate specialist medical treatment. This would provide important medical evidence to go with the bus company report that would then open the opportunity to pursue a claim in the future and you should contact us to start your claim for compensation at that time if you require further help.

I work as a transport passengers assistant for a school. Last week, I had accident while we are on our way to pick up the kids in the morning. I was sitting on my seat, suddenly the seat and my self fell down to the side on the bus floor while the bus was moving and making a side turn. I had a severe back pain and the osteopath suspected that I have fracture in my back, can I make a claim against my employer?

You certainly have a right to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation and we would like to help you to do so. As the injury to your back appears to have been caused through a mechanical fault in the seat you were sat upon, it is more than likely that your employers insurers will have to settle a claim in your favour.

Please call us on 01225430285 to get further advice and to find out more about the claims process.

Hi ,
My Niece was injured on a bus a few days ago as a result of the bus driver purposely trapping her in the doors and not releasing them , her four year old child became separated from her and ended up on the pavement alone whilst the incident happened .
She has reported this to the bus company who are saying due to legal reasons they are are unable to dilvulge the results of any investigations .
Just wondering if the info can be requested under the freedom of information act ?

Thanks

Such information can be requested, but the names of the individual driver or staff members on duty may be withheld.

Your Niece can certainly make a claim for personal injury compensation and we can assist with this.

I got injured on a bus 5 February 2021. The driver slammed his brakes. The bus company insurance copany called today and stated a scooter came accross him. I did not see a scooter. I have asked for this information to be in writing and to see bus video footage.

Can I make a came for my injuries which are still ongoing?

If the bus company can demonstrate that their driver was acting correctly in attempting to avoid a collision caused by the actions of a 3rd party, the bus company will not be liable. However, it may be possible to pursue a claim against the offending 3rd party – or if their identity is unknown, a claim could be pursued via the Motor Insurers Bureau ‘untraced driver’ scheme.

I was on a bus yesterday that crashed in to the back of a car. I hit my knees on the seat in front of me. I just left as I had to go to work and did not say anything to the driver because I just took it as I wasn’t in too much pain at the time, but this morning I woke and my knee was really painful when I had to go down the stairs.

As a passenger on the bus, you are entitled to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation regardless of who is found to be the at fault party. It would appear that the bus company is the liable party as their driver has collided with the rear of another car.

It is important that you make sure that the accident is reported to the bus company and that they record your details. It would be a good idea to either call or email the bus company in question to make sure that they have your details listed as being on the bus at the time and a list of the injuries you have sustained.

Our Solicitors can help you to make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis and recover compensation for the knee injury you have sustained.

I had an accident last Friday. I was on the upper deck of the bus when I buzzed the buzzer to get off. The Driver stoped at the bus stop, so I started to make a move to get off and go down the stairs. However, as I was going down the stairs, the driver started to drive off. This caused a jolt which resulted in me falling down the stairs. I held tight on the handrail which hurt my right arm. I also had a little scratch on my hand and some bruises on my right knee as it hits the stairs edges.

If you haven’t already done so, you should immediately report the details of your accident to the bus company in question – which can be done over the phone or via the internet. Make sure you detail which bus service, the location and date and time and explain that the driver failed to allow you sufficient time to descend the stairs. Having an accurate report or record of an accident and any injuries sustained can be very important in a claim for personal injury compensation.

We can help you to make a claim for personal injury compensation against the bus company. Our No Win No Fee service guarantees that you’ll pay no fees whatsoever if your claim isn’t successful.

Hi I suffered really bad injury’s when I was a child at a bus station caused by a bus which has left me with skin graphs on both legs teeth missing muscle loss to arm broken arm nerve damage to arm mettle plates to rebuild arm. I’ve also suffered PTSD. I would like some kind of justice considering I was a 9 year old child when a bus nearly took my life. I’m an adult now and starting to relive that day when accident happened, please can some one help me?

As a child, your claim limitation period would expire on your 21st Birthday. If you are now older than 21 years of age, you are sadly unable to pursue a claim. However, if you are yet to reach the age of 21, you should contact us to pursue your claim.

I think the driver of a bus in which I had an accident was traveling too fast approaching the bus stand then had to perform an emergency stop so not to hit a child cycling out in his path. The bus company has said it’s no one’s fault, has not commented on speed he was traveling, can I prove that he was going to fast? CCTV shows me thrown into the air and I sustained severe injuries.

Do you have the details of any witnesses who were also on the bus? If a number of individuals come forward to allege negligent driving, it may well be possible to pursue a claim.

As things stand, the bus company will deny any liability as they will simply say that their driver acted appropriately in taking evasive action to avoid the cyclist and pass the blame to the cyclist. In normal circumstances, that would be a robust and just defence that would see any claim fail. However, if you can provide any evidence – such as witness details, video footage or similar that indicates that the driver was going too fast and has therefore contributed to, or caused the incident, you could make a claim.

Good afternoon, I have had an accident on the bus due to the driver’s erratic driving. I am feeling pain and bruised on my right side, the arm, back, leg and foot. I approached the driver for an accident report form but he insisted he did not have one. Furthermore, he was rude to me, shouting and not helping me at all. Though I did not get any witnesses due to being in shock, there were several people who witnessed the incident. The driver has denied that I fell and states that he was not aware of it, even though he has cctv screen at the front and also that I fell very near him. Please could you let me know how and what to do from here. I am upset, shocked and feeling pain as well. Thank you.

You should make a formal complaint and report to the Bus Company regarding the incident as they will be able to access and retain any CCTV footage (you should request that they retain the footage and if possible pass a copy to you). As you have witnesses, you appear to be in a relatively strong position and you should retain the witness details going forward.

Once you have made a report to the Bus Company and had a response (even if it is simply an acknowledgment response with a reference number), we can help you claim from the bus company. If you can, it would be helpful to retain your bus ticket too.

Thank you for the response. However, I did not get any witness details due to being in shock. However, would the solicitor be able to contact witnesses if CCTV footage was obtained? How likely am I to be compensated without witnesses but with the CCTV footage? Many thanks.

The key is to ensure that you have made a formal report to the Bus Company and received an acknowledgement from them. They should be able to retain any CCTV footage of the incident and a Solicitor can access this in due course should a claim proceed.

Hello I had an accident on the bus where the driver pulled away while me and children were standing to leave the bus for our stop which ended up with us all failing down the stairs.. I have now chipped my ankle and have to have further xrays and physio, but the driver did not note the innicent though I have kept my bus ticket.

Your situation would certainly warrant detailed consideration by our specialist Solicitors.

Hi was in a bus crash company admitted liability. Have had physio and a private medical . Said Ive got 70% movement in lumbar and cervical spine, been put forward for a MRI with a orphapedic team, as walking and standing is moderate to severe restricted and in neck. But I have still not been told what my claim may be worth – if anything?!

If you have undergone a medical assessment arranged by your Solicitor, the experts report will be passed to a Barrister to consider and offer advice as to an appropriate level of compensation. Have you spoken with your Solicitor about this?

Unfortunately, it would not be possible for us – or indeed helpful – to suggest a claim value as we are simply not in sight of the full facts and medical history information. However, it is clear that your claim will certainly have a settlement value that could be substantial.

I have been contacted by my insurers that I caused an accident back in 2017 when I braked and a bus travelling behind me had to also brake and a passenger on that bus was injured. I have no recollection of this as there was no accident just me braking. This is the first time that I have been contacted about the incident and they want an immediate response. There is no postcode or date and time included in this letter as I may be able to prove that I was at work Thank you

The insurers are obviously contacting you because a claim has been made against the bus company and the bus company are saying that their driver was driving correctly and simply applied the brakes to avoid colliding with you. They must have some sort of video evidence from the bus that shows your vehicle number plate – otherwise, how would they be able to prove that you were present?!

If you had to perform an emergency braking manoeuvre because of another driver, a pedestrian or to avoid a hazard in the road, you were also acting correctly and would not be liable.

As the bus was following you, it is hard to see how you can be held liable for this incident as the bus driver must always allow sufficient braking distance and as no collision has happened, you probably have nothing to worry about.

Thank you so much I will let you know how it goes.

You are welcome.

My mum was on a TFL bus en-route to work. The driver slammed his brakes really hard and my mum flew across the bus and hurt her back and head. She didn’t hold the pole because she was taking the newspaper after that she was stunned on the floor. A nurse on the bus helped her and bus driver didn’t want to call ambulance so he continued until next stop after that he gave up and call them.
How do I proceed to make a complaint against tfl? we’d like action against the negligent and disheveled driver.

You should report the incident to TFL in order that they can investigate the actions of the driver. The bus should have CCTV footage both within and outside of the vehicle and this will show whether the driver acted correctly due to a 3rd party who was negligent and the driver was forced to ‘slam on the brakes’ to avoid a collision, or whether the driver was negligent and driving dangerously.

This is something we can help with on a No Win No Fee basis. Please call our team on 01225430285.

hi,my wife got on a bus with our grandson and dog but before she could sit down the driver pulled away she then fell into the footwell between the seats breaking a rib and causing her considerably amount of pain can she make a claim against the bus company?

Has the accident been reported to the bus company? Has the bus company entered in to any correspondence with your wife since the accident? There is certainly a possibility of making a claim for personal injury compensation and we would like to help in further investigating this for her.

Hello. A four weeks ago, I was getting of the bus and twisted my knee( my foot stuck between trolly bag and seat). It was very painful. But I manage with help to get off the bus (been told later should call an ambulance ) and the same day went to A&E. Was sent home with painkillers, after 3 weeks find out I have tear meniscus and tear of ligaments. And today taxi driver advise to speak about compensation, I am on crouches now and waiting for appointment with orthopaedic surgeon. I wasn’t sure just want to have advise. Thank you

It is very difficult to see how negligence could be attached to the bus company in this case. To be able to make a claim against the bus company, you’ll need to establish that they have been negligent. Negligence on their part in this case would be a fault with the seat or floor of the bus. The bus company are not responsible for the trolley bag and the positioning of it.

If it was your bag that caused you to trip, you would have responsibility for your own accident. If the bag belonged to another passenger, they may have caused the accident and were technically negligent, but it is likely to be impossible to pursue a claim against that individual as we simply do not know who they are.

Last April on my way to work, the Bus driver had to brake very hard and I hit my knee so painfully that I had tears in my eyes and was limping.

After lots of Doctor appointments and various scans, I now have learned that I have torn my ACL. After the accident I was just happy to be “alive” and got off the bus at my bus stop and went to work. I now realise that I should have got the bus registration number or reported the incident. As I didn’t I guess that there is no way that I can ever prove that day ruined my life? The injury has had a huge impact on me especially because I used to be a dancer.

If you didn’t report the incident at the time and don’t have a record of the injury with the bus company, there really is nothing that you can now do to pursue a claim. As you appreciate, there is simply no evidence available to support your claim.

Hi,

My wife and 2 kids (both under 5) had an incident when the bus pulled away before they could sit down. The distance between the bus stop and roundabout was only 100 yards away, the bus driver braked so sharply that my wife and children fell down and got hurt. Though they were not seriously hurt but still called the police and ambulance. My wife got bruise on hand and muscle pain since then.

How strong is the case?

There is no obligation on the bus driver to allow passengers to sit before they depart a stop, but they must pay due attention to those passengers who may need a little more time or have extra needs (including a mother with young children).

As the incident was reported and Ambulance attended the scene, it is certainly worth looking further in to this matter.

Hi,

Thank you for your response, would you offer no win no fee if bus company denies the liability?

Amit

Any claim work we and our Solicitors undertake is done on a No Win No Fee basis. Therefore, the only fee any client with us could ever face would be a deduction of up to 25% of any agreed settlement should then win their claim and repayment of any ATE premium should the same be required.

The only caveat to this would be if a claimant were found to have provided false and dishonest information in their claim or if the claimant failed to cooperate with the Solicitor acting for them.

My wife was involved in an accident in Great Yarmouth. The bus she was on was coming to a stop in the bus station. It suddenly breaked hard & my wife was thrown to the floor. She banged her head & hurt her foot, at the time she was seen by an ambulance & sent home. She went to hospital the next day & was found to have broken her foot. We have tried to claim for this with a solicitor & the bus company have said a person walked out in front of the bus so they are not responsible. We don’t have the vehicle or driver information & they are holding it from us (Data protection), they say there is no cctv of the incident so our solicitor will not take it forward. Could you help?

Sadly it would seem that despite your wife’s obvious and nasty injuries, that there is no claim to pursue here. The Bus driver was not acting negligently and given that a pedestrian walked out in to the path of the bus, the driver had no choice other than to slam the brakes on.

To make a claim for personal injury compensation, a claimant must be able to identify an act of negligence on the part of the party they allege caused their injury. Without any evidence to support an allegation of negligence against the bus driver/bus company (and it does not appear that any such evidence would exist), there is simply no claim to pursue.

I went to step in to the bus, but suddenly I fell and slipped backwards, falling down from the bus. The bus was stationary at the time when I got on to the bus. I was unable to hold my on and fell from the bus.

Can I mąkę a claim?

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can discuss your accident and further consider your potential claim.

I was in bus stop and tried to climb psv vehicle but before I was not fully entered the driver moved the vehicle. I fall on road and the back wheel crushed me on the road as the drive applied instant brakes and got soft tissues injuries. What the amount can I be paid for this condition?

The value of a personal injury compensation settlement will only be known at a later stage in the claims process. To answer the question; ‘How much is my claim worth‘ a Solicitor will need to access medical evidence by way of your medical records and also instruct a specialist medical expert to assess you and provide a detailed report with a prognosis for recovery or otherwise and from this, an appropriate value range for the injury element of a settlement can be obtained.

I was in accident this morning on a bus. There was a car in front that braked hard and we nearly crashed in to that car when the bus slammed the brakes on as well. I’ve been to the hospital this morning but they didn’t do much as I wasn’t in that much pain this morning. However, I am now and I am now waiting for the Doctors to call me for a further check up. Would I be able to claim?

In this matter it would not be the bus company that were the liable party, as the driver of the bus has applied his brakes to avoid a collision and as they have managed to avoid a collision, they have done what would be expected of them.

However, if you have reported this incident to the bus company and retained proof of travel (ticket or bus pass), it could still be possible to pursue a claim – possibly against the vehicle ahead that caused the bus driver to take evasive action, or if it was due to an untraced driver driving dangerously.

I would like to know if I am eligible to make a claim if i have been involved in a bus crash (I was not injured) which left me in an anxious and emotional state due to the children and elderly people who were on the bus?

If you have suffered psychological injuries as a result of the bus accident in which you were involved, you can make a claim for compensation. To pursue the matter, you’ll need to have discussed your anxiety and emotional issues with your GP and you’ll also need the details of the incident – accident date, location and ideally the bus details.

I was involved in a hit and run whilst in my mobility car. My solicitor had said that they were going to get me an interim payment, but they’re now saying that the Motor Insurers Bureau are taking on my claim as the driver wasn’t insured. Will I still get the interim payment or not?

In cases where a liable driver was uninsured or untraced, a claim for personal injury compensation for the non-fault parties involved in an accident will be handled by the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB). The MIB act as an insurer and may make interim payments if applicable, so in your case it is likely that an interim award may still be obtained.

I had an accident on the bus in London on 12th of July, during a sightseeing tour. The fall happened when at the bus stop as we were all getting out of the bus. The driver stopped twice and I fell down from the stairs. Due to my accident, the bus stopped it’s service and all passengers were made tyo leave the bus and staff called an Ambulance.

I have already written regarding this case to the Bus company, but for me it is quite difficult following the contact from Italy. I want to know if you can help with with a “no win no fee” claim?

We can certainly investigate your claim on a No Win No Fee basis with our specialist Solicitors for you. It is good to hear that you have written to the bus company to ensure that they have a record of the incident and the fact that an ambulance attended the scene is further supporting evidence of an accident.

My mother was sitting on a bus and the driver suddenly slammed the brakes on, my mother hit her head on the bell sustaining a fractured nose, cut above the eye and bruising she was taken to A&E by ambulance. The driver said he slammed the brakes on because another car pulled out in front of him from behind a stationary car from the opposite lane. The bus company are denying liability as the third party driver caused the driver to slam his brakes on, does my mother still have a claim?

It would appear that the bus company are not liable as they have not been negligent in this incident. Whilst your Mother has been injured on the bus, the cause is with the other vehicle that cut in front of the bus. The bus driver took appropriate action in slamming on the brakes to avoid collision and is not therefore guilty of any negligent actions.

It may still be possible to pursue a claim for your Mother against the liable party – the other vehicle. Perhaps the bus company have the registration details of the other vehicle or ‘in-bus’ cctv footage of the incident? If not, it may be possible to make a claim via the Motor Insurers Bureau ‘untraced driver’ scheme where the victims of injuries caused by hit and run or untraced drivers (including where there has been no collision but the actions of the untraced driver have caused injury) can pursue a claim for compensation.

Our Solicitors can assist with such claims. Alternatively, you can visit the Motor Insurers Bureau website and submit a claim directly to them without legal representation.

I was injured in mini bus accident while working. I was a passenger but went back to the job after 2 days. It was the other vehicle that caused accident, I have internal bruising and it could take 4/6 weeks to get better, can I claim for this injury?

You can definitely pursue a claim for the injuries you sustained in the road traffic accident you mention. The fact that you have returned to work will not prevent you from making a claim.

I had an accident at June 19th 2018, my job did not want to cooperate with me because of my injury saying that I caused the accident with another bus, but I was still hurt on the job. I left the job because I was under a lot of stress, from now I’m getting ready to have an operation that’s going to keep me out of work for my new job for 3 months, can I still proceed with this case?

The fact that you no longer work for your former employer has no impact on whether or not you can make a claim for compensation. The important facts are that there was an accident and that it was recorded with the employer and medical treatment was sought. If those criteria are met (and to be fair, the medical treatment issue is not totally vital), you can seek to make a claim for compensation for the injuries you sustained in an accident at work. Whether or not you can succeed with a claim will depend on the cause of the accident and by being able to demonstrate employer negligence.

I am wondering if I am able to claim insurance for this incident. I was climbing up the stairs on a double decker bus the driver pulled away quickly, I thought they needed to wait until you sat down and i grabbed the bannister on the stairs to hold myself while the bus began moving unfortunately my little finger got caught underneath and as I went to grab the bannister the finger pulled so hard it fractured a bone in my hand. I have proof of travel and hospital letters but didn’t inform driver as I thought it was something minor until later on in the day when swelling and bruising became apparent. Of course there will be cctv on the bus to prove the incident.

We would be happy to investigate your claim enquiry further with a view to seeing whether or not a claim for compensation can follow. It would be a sensible move for you to report the incident to the Bus company at the earliest opportunity – even if some time has passed. If you can remember the location of the accident and the date and time, they should be able to locate any CCTV if it is available.

Once you have done this, please use the ‘start your claim’ page of our website to make contact with us to take this further.

My daughter slipped on a wet floor on her school bus and hurt her back. She had to have the next day off school and went to gp. The bus company said they asked 40 of the children if the floor was wet and they didn’t think so. I told them I had a witness and gave them the name. I told them their own driver slipped just after my daughter. I then asked couldn’t they ask their own driver and check their cameras- they have not replied as yet. My daughter suffers with pain in her back, particularly when lying down at night. She has had to miss trampolining and swimming and although it is just extremely sore in the day she struggles to sleep due to the pain at night- even with paracetamol and ibuprofen prescribed by the doctor. She is not allowed to do sports for at least 2 weeks. I am upset that there had been no apology and no response with regards to cctv. Do I have a case?

The details you describe regarding your daughters slipping accident certainly warrant detailed consideration. We would be happy to speak with you and obtain some further details regarding the incident and feedback you have received from the school bus operator, so that we can present a claim to our solicitors and get some feedback for you.

Hello, my girlfriend travelled from home to work on a local bus in south London when the bus has a collision with a car, she fall down and she have some bruises on arm and leg but she was late to work and left the scene without taking details and before emergency service come, my question is, she can still ask for compensation for her injury, there are tons of cctv on a deck bus?

If your Girlfriend has proof of travel (bus ticket, used bus pass/oyster card) it will not be a problem to now pursue a claim. In the first instance, she should contact the bus company to make a report of the incident and request a reference number. Of course, she should then seek medical attention regarding any injuries and then use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website or call us on 01225430285 in order to get her claim started.

Hi I was involved in a bus accident. I was sat at the front. Somebody pulled in the bus lane. Driver slammed on breaks. I went flying. Had bad swelling to elbow and bruising and down one leg. Still have pain in elbow. Doctor told me I have nerve damage and has referred me for physio. The driver was liable and I have the details. Do i have a worthy claim or no? Tia

Please use our ‘start a claim’ page or call us on 01225430285 so that we can help you. Yes, you do have ground to pursue a claim in this scenario.

I fell on a bus and hit my head when the bus harshly jerked. I didn’t tell the driver at the time as just thought it would be OK.

It turns out I had a concussion and was nauseous, fatigued, severe migraines, earaches, painkillers and ringing in my ears and memory loss. This was four months ago and I still get headaches, earaches and forgetfulness. My Doctor says it could be Post Concussion Syndrome.

I have tried to make a claim but liability was denied as they say they have deleted cctv evidence so now I can’t prove it happened. They said i told them too late but I told the bus company’s insurer just 2 days after accident and the insurer failed to ask the bus company for the cctv until weeks later.

Is this claim still worth pursuing? It has affected my life, work and day to day living.

Sadly, it is likely that any further pursuit of this claim would end up with the same response as there is no evidence available to support your claim. Do you have any witnesses to the incident?

I was riding on a city bus with my boyfriend. The road ahead curved and the bus driver hit the curb and I flew off my seat and hit the floor. The bus driver didn’t stop to see if I (or anyone else) was ok. This happened in Feb. It is now September – my question is whether it is now too late to file a claim? I am still experiencing a lot of pain.

It is not too late to pursue a claim for compensation in this matter as you are allowed up to 3-years from the date of your accident in which you can take action.

In your case, as the driver didn’t take any details at the time, do you have anything on record with CityBus? Did you contact them at all post accident? If there is nothing on record, it may be hard to prove causation for the injuries you have sustained but it would be wise to pursue a claim in this matter.

If you would like to take this further, we would be happy to assist you.

Last night I was on my way home from work when the bus driver stopped abruptly and made me fly into the front seat. That caused me a head injury and injuries to my knees with numerous bruises. This morning I couldn’t get off my bed because of a stiff neck and back pain. Also I feel nauseous when I try to turn my head. The Bus driver asked me if she should call the Ambulance but I refused as I thought I would be fine with just some ice for my head injury. However, I am now wondering if I would be entitled to make any claim? I will get a medical check up. Let me know what should I do. Thank you!

Whether or not you can make a claim will depend on what caused the bus driver to suddenly stop. If the driver was simply avoiding a hazard (such as a person running out in front of the vehicle or an animal etc), they were not acting negligently and you would not be able to make a claim against the bus company as the driver is obliged to attempt to avoid collision or objects that could cause an accident. However, if the driver was driving dangerously or if a 3rd party vehicle caused the driver to have to slam on the brakes through negligent driving, a claim would be possible.

It is vital that you contact the bus company to report the incident and ask them for their view as to why the driver took the action that they did.

Tracey just asked a question on How long does an insurer have to reply to a compensation claim?... I fractured my elbow end of September this year has I fell in a public house I've rung no win company up took my details and told me what s...
Keith just asked a question on Injury disclaimers – do they prevent the right to claim compensation?... I signed a disclaimer for cataract operation, I was told I would be able to see without spectacles but not for reading, I was happy with tha...
Dorothy McCall just asked a question on Can I be sacked for having an accident at work and making a claim?... I had a couple injuries in work from Robbery was traumatic. Company started to manage me out got the sack I believe because of PTSD it e...
AD just asked a question on Claiming compensation for pre-existing injuries made worse after an accident... Hi Ian,I thought I would update and also ask for some more advice please.Following my medical in March 2023, my pain symptoms have ...
Donna Andrews just asked a question on Is it worth making a compensation claim?... I had a trip on my landlords pavement and fractured my ankle this was in August I am still suffering and hanig treatment I don't know wjat t...

Table of contents