Bus accident claims may help you recover compensation if you were injured in a road traffic accident involving a public or private bus that was not your fault. At No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, our panel of solicitors understand the physical, emotional, and financial impact a serious bus accident can have; from minor injuries such as whiplash to more severe head injuries, we’re here to help you seek the compensation that you deserve.
Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, or another driver, it is important to understand your legal rights and what steps to take after an accident. We understand that after such a traumatic accident, starting a claim can feel really daunting, which is why having a team on hand who understands how to support you can make a massive difference. With years of experience, a solicitor from our panel could help you seek compensation that provides immediate relief and future support by assessing the full impact of your injuries.
Get In Touch
To find out if you’re eligible in minutes to claim bus accident compensation, please get in touch with our advisors today. They can give you a free case assessment, where they will listen to your experience and offer clear and supportive advice. If you’re eligible, they can then connect you with one of the expert solicitors on our panel who can begin working on your case straightaway.
You can reach our advisors by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 4194
- Contacting us online
Jump To A Section
- What Are Bus Accident Claims?
- Who Can Claim Compensation After A Bus Accident?
- Can I Make A Bus Accident Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
- Can Claims Be Made After A Fatal Bus Injury?
- Bus Injury Claim Examples
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For After A Bus Accident?
- What Evidence Will Be Needed To Claim Bus Injury Compensation?
- How Long After A Bus Accident Can I Make A Claim?
- Why Choose No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct For Bus Accident Claims
- Can I Claim For Bus Injuries On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
What Are Bus Accident Claims?
Bus accident claims are personal injury claims made by people who have suffered injuries, financial losses, or other harm as a result of a bus accident. In the UK, these compensation claims are usually brought against the party responsible for the incident, such as a bus company, local authority, vehicle maintenance provider, or another road user, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
A bus accident claim may arise for several reasons, including driver negligence, inadequate vehicle maintenance, unsafe road conditions, or breaches of health and safety regulations. Claims can be made by passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, or bus drivers involved in the accident.
Compensation awarded through a bus accident claim is intended to help cover losses such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of earnings, travel expenses, and pain and suffering.
For more information about bus accident claims, or to find out how you could be eligible to secure compensation with us, please contact our advisory team today.
Who Can Claim Compensation After A Bus Accident?
Anyone can claim compensation after a bus accident if it can be shown that the accident and subsequent injuries were caused by negligence. In order to demonstrate this, your case must satisfy the following criteria to be valid:
You Were Owed a Duty of Care
The bus company, driver, another road user or local authority owed you a duty of care. This is a legal obligation meaning that the liable party had a responsibility to protect your health and safety whilst using the bus or to use the roads in a safe manner.
This Duty Was Breached
We must then demonstrate that the duty owed to you was breached. This can arise if the party responsible for upholding your safety failed to act reasonably; for example if a bus driver is speeding, if a local authority or bus company fails to ensure that the bus itself is maintained and safe for passengers, or if another road user operates on the roads in a way that increases their risk of causing harm to others.
You Suffered Injuries As a Result
Finally, we must show that you suffered injuries as a result of the breach of duty. If we’re able to show a chain between this breach and your injuries, you could be eligible for bus accident compensation with a solicitor from our panel. Moreover, you could seek compensation for multiple injuries, whether minor or more severe.
You’re also eligible to recover compensation for any psychological impacts caused by the accident, for example if you’ve developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the incident.
Can I Claim If I Was Injured As A Passenger On A Bus?
Yes, you could claim if you were injured as a passenger on a bus, provided your injuries were caused either by a third-party driver’s negligence or the bus driver’s negligence.
Am I Able To Claim As A Passenger If My Injury Wasn’t Caused By A Collision?
Yes, you are able to claim compensation as a passenger if you were injured, even if there wasn’t a collision.
You can be injured in a range of different ways, for example if seating on the bus is defective, if the driver performs an emergency stop or suddenly brakes, if the bus driver swerves to avoid obstacles and runs off the road without hitting another vehicle or even if the doorways of the bus are defective.
Can I Claim If My Vehicle Collided With A Bus?
Yes, you could claim compensation if your vehicle collided with a bus, provided that we can show that a bus operator or driver was at fault.
Can Pedestrians Or Cyclists Claim For A Bus Accident?
Yes, both pedestrians and cyclists can claim for a bus accident through either a pedestrian claim,or a cycling accident claim. Any road user that satisfies the above eligibility criteria is able to make a bus accident compensation claim.
Am I Able To Claim As A Bus Driver Injured In An Accident?
Yes, you would be able to claim as a bus driver if you were injured in an accident. Depending on the situation, you could either claim against another road user, or you could claim against your employer’s insurance company if their negligence was the cause of your injuries.
Claiming For Whiplash Suffered In A Bus Accident
In some circumstances, bus accident claims involving whiplash or other low-value injuries may be affected by the Whiplash Reform Programme introduced in England and Wales.
These changes could apply if:
- You were aged 18 or over at the time of the accident
- The accident happened on a road in England or Wales
- The bus accident was caused by the negligence of the bus driver or another road user
- The overall value of the injury element of your claim is £5,000 or less
- You were travelling as a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle, including a bus
It is important to note that the reforms are not limited solely to whiplash injuries. They can also affect claims involving other injuries, or a combination of injuries, valued at £5,000 or less, such as minor soft tissue injuries, bruising, or psychological injuries.
Where a claimant suffers whiplash injuries in a road traffic accident, compensation for those injuries may be assessed in line with the fixed tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. However, any additional injuries suffered alongside whiplash may still be valued separately using other relevant guidance, such as the Judicial College Guidelines, which we discuss below.
If the circumstances of your accident were different to the situations we’ve discussed above, please get in touch with our advisors today. They can tell you in minutes whether you’d be eligible to make a bus accident claim, and if so, can then connect you with one of the expert solicitors from our panel.
Can I Make A Bus Accident Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
Yes, you could make a claim on behalf of a loved one if they’re unable to claim independently. This is called acting as their litigation friend, and can be used in cases where:
- A claimant is under 18 at the time of the bus accident
- The claimant lacks the mental capacity to make their own claim
Acting in this role comes with a few responsibilities, such as ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the claimant, keeping them as informed as possible and discussing the claim with the claimant’s legal representatives.
Get in touch with our advisory team today to find out more about how No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct can help you claim on behalf of a loved one.
Can Claims Be Made After A Fatal Bus Injury?
Yes, claims can be made after a fatal bus injury under certain legislation. In the first 6 months after the death, only the deceased’s estate is eligible to make a claim under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934. The estate is able to claim for the deceased’s pain and suffering caused by the bus accident, as well as any financial losses incurred prior to their death.
During this initial 6 month period, the estate also has the power to make a claim on behalf of the dependents. However, if no claim is made on their behalf, then under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, certain qualifying relatives can bring a claim for the impact that the death has had on them.
If you’d like any further information about how to make fatal accident claims, please get in touch with our advisory team today. They’re available to answer your questions and offer their support during such a difficult time.
The journey begins with a no-obligation consultation. We assess your injury and evidence to explain your options clearly. If suitable, you'll be offered a No Win No Fee agreement immediately. Your dedicated solicitor gathers medical records and witness statements. We handle all communication with the negligent party and work tirelessly to prove their liability while you focus on recovery. We negotiate your settlement to ensure you receive the maximum compensation. If successful, a pre-agreed success fee is taken, and the remaining funds are paid directly to you. No success, no fee.About The No Win No Fee Claims Process
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Bus Injury Claim Examples
Bus injury claims can arise in various ways, including from incidents like sudden braking, road collisions or falls whilst boarding or alighting the bus.
Some more specific examples include if:
- A bus driver swerved and collided with the back of a car, as they were speeding over the limit and didn’t have enough time to come to a complete stop. This causes you to suffer whiplash, and a broken arm as you are thrown from your seat due to the impact of the collision.
- The bus company has failed to regularly inspect the machinery of their doors, meaning that they missed a defect. When you are getting on the bus, due to faults on the door sensors, your hand becomes trapped between them. This causes a severe crush injury to a number of your fingers.
- You’re cycling in front of the bus, when the bus gets too close behind you, and fails to leave you enough room. The bus knocks you from your bike, leaking to a fractured pelvis and a broken wrist as a result.
- Another third party road user was driving whilst distracted, as they were looking at their phone. This meant that they swerved into the side of the bus, causing multiple passengers to suffer injuries. You personally experience a head injury, as the car crashed into the side of the bus that you were sitting on causing you to fall onto the floor.
These examples are by no means exhaustive and only a few of the ways that you could have grounds to make a claim, so to discuss your own experience, please get in touch with our advisory team today.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For After A Bus Accident?
The amount of compensation that could be awarded for successful bus accident claims will depend on the type of injuries sustained, how severe your injuries are and the wider impact they have had on your daily life. Additionally, compensation can be made up of two different heads of claim, called general and special damages.
The first head of claim compensates you for the physical injuries and psychological damage caused by the bus accident. When this is being calculated, professionals can consider the extent of physical pain, suffering and any impact on your daily life. Additionally, those responsible for valuing your general damages can also consider frameworks such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).
This is a document that offers categories of injury types with brackets of compensation, and we’ve taken some figures from this framework to populate our table below. Please note that the top entry has not been taken from the JCG, and that our table is illustrative only and not a guarantee of compensation. We’ve also taken 2 tariff figures from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 for the last two rows.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries and Financial Losses | Very Severe - more than one serious injuries as well as financial losses including lost income, medical expenses and professional care costs | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis Injuries | Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) - cases at the top end of the bracket will include those injured where there is a serious impact on the senses and the ability to communicate | £428,850 to £533,720 |
| Brain Injuries | Very Severe - those injured will suffer with double incontinence, and will have very little, if any, evidence of response to environment | £372,570 to £533,720 |
| Moderately Severe - there will a very serious level of disablement with a large reliance and dependence on others for care | £289,420 to £372,570 | |
| Back | Severe (i) - the most severe injuries to the back including spinal cord damage and nerve root damage | £120,340 to £212,670 |
| Leg | Above-Knee Amputation of One Leg - the amount awarded will depend on the level of any phantom pains, and associaed psychological problems | £138,490 to £181,610 |
| Pelvis + Hips | Severe (i) - multiple extensive fractures to the pelvis including intolerable pain and necessitating spinal fusion | £103,580 to £172,970 |
| PTSD | Severe (a) - permanent impacts which prevent the injured person from operating near the pre-trauma level | £79,080 to £133,000 |
| Whiplash and psychological injuries | Lasting longer than 18 months, but less than 24 months | £4,975 |
| Whiplash | Lasting longer than 18 months, but less than 24 months | £4,830 |
Can Bus Accident Claims Compensate For Financial Losses?
Yes, bus accident claims can compensate for financial losses that are related to your injuries. This head of claim is called special damages, and aims to ease the financial burden of any economic loss incurred after your accident.
You could claim for:
- A loss of earnings if your injuries have restricted your ability to work, for example, if your mobility has been permanently affected, you mightn’t be able to do your job role in the same way you would before the bus accident
- Future lost earnings if your future earning capacity has been reduced, or your employment prospects have been affected due to injuries sustained on a bus
- Medical expenses, including any private treatments you have opted for, ongoing prescription costs or any other relevant medical costs caused by your injuries
- Home adaptations such as stairlifts or accessibility adjustments, if these are required to cope with bus accident injuries
- Care costs encompassing professional help, gratuitous assistance from family or friends and domestic support
- Travel expenses, including the costs of fuel, taxis or public transport to and from medical appointments
However, for you to claim these special damages, you will need evidence that shows the financial impact of your injuries. This could usually include payslips to show lost earnings, invoices for any adaptations or receipts for medical costs and travel expenses.
Make sure to keep hold of any financial documentation as it can be really useful when claiming for special damages within your compensation. A solicitor from our panel could help compile these documents to create a reliable body of evidence.
What Evidence Will Be Needed To Claim Bus Injury Compensation?
The evidence needed to show how your bus accident injuries occurred can typically include:
- CCTV footage from inside the bus or dashcam footage of the incident
- Comprehensive medical records detailing your injuries and any treatments you may have received
- The vehicle registration and details of the bus driver, including the bus company and route the bus was taking
- Details of how the accident happened including the date and time of the accident
- Your bus ticket which can be used to show that you were on the bus at the time of the accident
If you choose to work with a solicitor from our panel here at No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, you would have help in gathering and preserving this information, so please don’t worry if you haven’t already compiled this evidence.
Get in touch with our advisors today for more information about what evidence would be useful in your bus accident claim.
How Long After A Bus Accident Can I Make A Claim?
After a bus accident, you will typically have 3 years from the date of the incident to make your claim. This time limit is established under the Limitation Act 1980, which places a strict time limit on compensation claims to prevent them from being brought indefinitely.
There are, however, a few exceptions to these time limits, which can apply to claimants who are unable to make a claim during this period. For more information about how the time limits will apply to your own claim, please get in touch with our advisors today.
Why Choose No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct For Bus Accident Claims
Here at No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, our panel of solicitors have years of experience supporting personal injury claims, including bus accident claims. By offering a fully holistic service, you’ll have a legal team on hand who understands how to prioritise both your physical and emotional wellbeing, which can make a huge difference towards your future.
Starting your own claim can feel overwhelming, which is why our panel of solicitors are committed to providing you with a comprehensive service from the very beginning. With assistance in gathering evidence to support your bus accident claim, and connecting you with recovery specialists, our panel is here every step of the way.
Some of the services provided include:
- Investigating your bus accident claim to find what entity was liable for your injuries and drafting the letter of claim.
- Handling all legal intricacies on your behalf, including communicating with third parties and insurance companies.
- Ensuring that all injuries suffered in the bus accident are accounted for and valued in your claim.
- A bus accident can be life-changing, so receiving the correct therapy and rehabilitation is vital. Our panel will ensure you have the right healthcare professionals at your side.
- Providing you with regular updates about how your bus accident claim is getting on, and ensuring that you have a dedicated point of contact throughout the process
As well as this, the solicitors on our panel here at No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct are committed to ensuring that your compensation covers not just your immediate expenses, but also provides financial stability and security for any care needs you might require in the future.
Can I Claim For Bus Injuries On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you could claim for bus injuries on a No Win No Fee basis with a solicitor from our panel. At No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, our entire team from the advisor you first speak to, all the way to the solicitor from our panel who handles your case, understand that making a claim can feel daunting, without added concerns of how to afford legal representation. This is why our panel offers services under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which means:
- You’d have no upfront payments needed for a solicitor from our panel to start working on your claim
- You wouldn’t have ongoing payments for our panel’s work
- You’d have nothing to pay for a solicitor from our panel’s services if your claim was unsuccessful
Instead, if your claim was won, then a small percentage would be taken as our panel’s success fee. This is limited under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to make sure that you receive the majority of your compensation at the end of your claim.
Additionally, this percentage is agreed upon before your claim even begins to make sure that you understand how the success fee works, and how it would impact your compensation. This means that you can ask any questions that you may have, and discuss your concerns with our advisors before your claim starts.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you make a No Win No Fee bus accident claim or to ask any questions you might have.
Contact Our Team
To take the first steps in securing the bus accident compensation that you deserve, get in touch with our advisory team today. You can reach us by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 4194
- Contacting us online
Learn More
Other types of claims that we can help with:
- Supermarket accident claims
- How to make slip, trip and fall claims
- Soft tissue injury claims
Helpful External Resources
- How to report a bus or coach service or driver, from GOV.UK
- Find out if you could claim Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK
- How to check your insurance policy after an accident from GOV.UK
Thank you for reading our guide on bus accident claims, we hope it has been useful for you today.