Bus Accident Compensation Claims

Have you been injured as a result of an accident involving a bus that was not your fault? You might have questions such as ‘How do I claim bus accident compensation?’ or ‘How long do I have to make a claim?’. This guide will aim to answer any questions about bus accidents that you may have.

It has been recorded that local bus passenger journeys in England saw an increase of 0.5 billion to 3.4 billion in the year ending March 2023, which was a 19.3% increase from the year before. With so many buses and coaches on the road, it is easy to see that they could be involved in road traffic accidents.

This particular guide will provide you with information about how compensation is calculated in bus accidents and also how one of the No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel can help you with your claim.

Please read the guide at your own pace, but if you would like to speak to an advisor right away, you can get in touch by:

A bus on a road.

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What Is A Bus Accident Compensation Claim?

A bus accident compensation claim is a claim for damages after negligence involving a bus. Most commonly, it involves a road traffic accident. Road users, including bus drivers, owe a duty of care to other road users to drive their vehicles in such a way that they avoid harm. To meet this duty, they must adhere to the Highway Code and The Road Traffic Act 1988.

If a bus driver fails to meet this duty and you are injured as a result, you may be able to bring a claim for compensation.

The three elements needed for a successful personal injury claim are that:

  • You were owed a duty of care
  • This duty was breached
  • You were injured because of the breach

To have a strong claim for damages, you must satisfy the above criteria.

Do Bus Drivers Have A Duty of Care To Passengers?

Yes, a bus driver would owe a duty of care to the passengers on the bus. If the driver was negligent, then a claim could be made. The same three elements of negligence should be present: duty, breach and loss.

In addition to the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act 1988, The Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990  states that a driver and a conductor shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of passengers who are on, or who are entering or leaving, the vehicle. So you could possibly make a claim if you are injured entering or exiting a bus if a driver didn’t take reasonable precautions to ensure your safety.

Should you want to discuss this further, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation.
A cartoon man who has injured his neck, arm and leg.

How Can Bus Accidents Be Caused By Negligence?

Here are some examples that would likely be negligent, meaning a claim for damages can be made:

  • A bus is involved in a head on collision with another vehicle when the driver loses focus and drifts into oncoming traffic.
  • The driver of a bus pulls out of a giveaway junction when it is unsafe to do so, resulting in a car colliding heavily with the side of the bus.
  • There is a rear-end shunt when a bus fails to leave sufficient braking distance to a vehicle in front. It collides heavily with this vehicle, and this injures passengers on the bus.

These are just some examples, and if you want to get a free no obligation eligibility check to see if you could claim bus accident compensation, why not give us a call?

What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured In A Bus Accident?

If, in the unfortunate event, you have been injured in a bus accident, then you could take the following steps:

  • Seek medical attention
  • Collect evidence you believe to be helpful (bus or train tickets, CCTV or dashcam footage).
  • Take photographs of the scene of the accident or the damage to the vehicles.
  • Take photographs of any injuries you have sustained.
  • See if there were any witnesses for witness statements to be taken later. Getting their contact details can be crucial.

Other forms of evidence may be helpful and this is something you can discuss with us when you are ready to begin your claim.

Will I Need To Attend A Medical Examination When Making A Compensation Claim?

As a result of your injuries, you may need to attend an independent medical examination with a specialist. They will complete a medical report, which will provide you with a prognosis period (how long it will take you to recover) or advise if you require further treatment or an additional medical examination from an alternative consultant.

The medical appointments can be arranged by our panel of experts, who will try and make them as close as possible to where you live to ensure this process is stress free. Medical evidence can be extremely important when valuing your claim. We will discuss how compensation is calculated in the next section.

How Much Compensation Could I Claim For A Bus Or Coach Accident?

The potential compensation you could receive when claiming for a bus or coach accident could include general damages and special damages. General damages are for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). The amount for general damages will be based on the medical evidence obtained confirming your injuries.

In addition to a medical report, a tool known as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can also be useful to calculate the general damages in a case. The JCG is a list of injuries and the corresponding suggested compensation brackets for them.

Whiplash Reform Program

Road traffic accident claims can be made for minor injuries and whiplash. Such claims come under the Whiplash Reform Program (WRP). These reforms affect those over the age of eighteen and who have sustained injuries which are valued at £5,000 or less. The injured party must also have been the driver or passenger of a vehicle. Additionally, the accident must have occurred in England or Wales.

Whiplash injury claims are valued using the tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. There are fixed amounts which may be awarded for differing degrees of whiplash injuries.
Please note if you sustained additional injuries outside those listed in the tariff, they will be valued in the same way as any other type of personal injury claim.

Injury Compensation Table

To help you think about injury compensation, we have included a table of examples of general damages below. Please note that the amounts are only guidelines and are not definitive awards. The top figure also does not come from the JCG, and the bottom two figures come from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.

InjurySeverityGuideline
Multiple InjuriesSevereUp to £1,000,000 plus
Brain InjuryVery Severe£344,150 to £493,000
Neck InjurySevere (i)In the region of £181,020
Severe (ii)£80,240 to £159,770
Back InjurySevere (i)£111,150 to £196,450
Hand InjuryExtremely Severe£117,360 to £133,810
Severe£75,550 to £110,750
Knee InjurySevere (i)£85,100 to £117,410
Whiplash TariffWith Psychological Damage£4,345
Whiplash TariffWithout Psychological Damage£4,215

Can I Claim For Loss of Earnings Caused By A Bus Accident Injury?

Yes. Loss of earnings can be included in a successful bus accident claim as special damages. The lost wages need to be caused by your injuries, and you will need to provide some form of proof, such as wage slips or bank statements.

Other special damages that could be claimed include:

  • Future loss of earnings.
  • Care & assistance costs.
  • Rehabilitation fees.
  • Travel costs.
  • Medical expenses.
  • Clothing (if it has been torn or ruined in the accident).

There are other out of pocket expenses, and to find out more please do not hesitate to call for a free no obligation chat to discuss the matter further.
A doctor looking at an x-ray of a back injury.

How Long Do I Have To Claim Bus Accident Compensation?

There is a time limit of 3 years from the date of an accident when making a claim for bus accident compensation. This is explained in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are a few exceptions regarding the 3 year time limit.

  • If the injured person is a minor (under 18), they cannot bring their own claim before they are 18. The 3 year time limit runs from their 18th birthday, meaning they have until they are 21 to bring a claim.
  • Another exception is where the injured person does not have the mental capacity to make decisions themselves. The time limit does not run in this instance until they regain capacity, and they have 3 years to claim from this date. If capacity is not recovered, there is no time limit.
  • In either of the exceptions above, a litigation friend can bring a claim whilst the time limit is paused, i.e. before 18 for a minor and whilst capacity is lost. A litigation friend is approved by the court as part of the proceedings.

To find out if you are still in time to make a claim you can contact us on the details provided.

Claim Bus Accident Compensation On A No Win No Fee Basis

The solicitors on our panel are experts in recovering bus accident compensation. They can help you in many ways, including:

  • Collecting the evidence needed to give you the best chance of winning
  • Advising you about the value of your claim
  • Negotiating a settlement with the defendant or their insurer
  • Explaining legal terms or jargon to you
  • Filling in legal documents on your behalf

Our panel solicitors can offer services on a No Win No Fee basis under a  (Conditional Fee Agreement) which comes with a number of benefits, such as:

  • No upfront solicitor’s costs
  • No ongoing solicitor’s costs
  • If your case fails, there are no solicitors fees to pay.

In a successful case, a success fee is due to your solicitor. This is a percentage of the compensation awarded. As the percentage has a maximum cap, this means you will keep the bulk of any settlement or award. The success fee is paid only if your case wins and only at the end of the case.

If you would like to discuss moving forward with a potential claim, please contact us on the following:

A No Win No Fee solicitor exmplaining bus accident compensation to a client.

Learn More About Claiming For Road Traffic Accidents

Below are a few additional links from our site we believe you might find useful:

And here are some external links for you to look at:

Thank you for considering our guide about bus accident compensation. Our advisors are ready to take your call.