By Danielle Griffin. Last Updated 27th September 2023. Welcome to our guide on bus accident compensation claims. If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident on a bus, you may be looking for free legal advice on claiming compensation for London bus accident claims. Our bus passenger accident claim guide should answer many of the frequent questions surrounding such claims against bus companies.
A guide to bus accident claims
Below, we explain how an accident on a bus claim works. We offer tips on making claims against bus companies for accidents that happen on the bus due to the negligence of others. Further to this, we give guidance on bus accident compensation amounts.
If you would like to speak with an adviser at any point about filing a successful claim while reading this guide, why not give us a call on 0800 073 8801. Initial consultations are free of charge and come with no obligation to use our services.
Select a Section
- What Should You Do If You’ve Been Injured In A Bus Accident?
- Bus Passenger Accident Claim – What’s Involved?
- Accident At Work Bus Injury Claims
- An Emergency Stop On The Bus Caused Whiplash – Can I Claim?
- How Much Are Bus Accident Claims Worth?
- Claiming For A Bus Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
What Should You Do If You’ve Been Injured In A Bus Accident?
If you would like to make a claim for a bus accident in London, you will need to submit evidence.
There are ideally three types of evidence to gather when making a personal injury claim. This is
- Evidence that can help prove fault or liability for your injury
- Evidence that can show the extent of your injury
- Evidence that can support the financial losses you could be claiming for
To prove that a bus driver was liable for your injuries, you could collect evidence such as:
- Contact details of witnesses to the incident, such as the other passengers
- CCTV, dashcam footage or any other forms of footage of the accident that might exist
- Details of the vehicle, and if possible, the driver’s details
In order to prove your injury, you could collect evidence such as:
- Photos of your injuries, taken after the accident
- A medical report of the injuries you had suffered
To help support your financial losses you could collect:
- Receipts, or records of your spending towards your injury
- A medical report that can prove that you will be/or were unable to work because of your injuries to prove loss of earnings
- Records of prescription costs or travel expenses
Call our advisors about evidence that could be submitted when making London bus accident claims.
Bus Passenger Accident Claim – What’s Involved
There are various factors that could determine whether you could be eligible to make a bus passenger accident claim. We describe incidents that could lead to someone making claims against bus companies in the later sections of this guide.
However, in order to seek compensation, you must be able to prove that a third party breached the duty of care they owed you and caused you harm. This is known as negligence. Negligence must be proven in order for you to be able to seek compensation.
Time Limits When Making Claims Against Bus Companies
There are time limits that apply to bus accident claims. As set out in the Limitation Act 1980, you usually have three years from the date of your accident to claim personal injury compensation. However, it is in your best interest to act sooner rather than later to ensure you give yourself sufficient time to prepare any evidence for your claim.
In certain circumstances, the limitation period may be suspended. For example:
- The three-year time limit for a child injured in a bus accident is suspended until their 18th birthday.
- The time limit is suspended indefinitely for someone who does not have the mental capacity to start their own claim. If the person regains their capacity, they will have three years from the date of their recovery to start their own claim.
The court may appoint a litigation friend to make a claim on behalf of a minor or a claimant who lacks the mental capacity to begin their own claim while the time limit is paused. However, they must act in the interest of the claimant during the bus accident claims process.
If you have any questions regarding how long you have to claim bus accident compensation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our advisors can be contacted for free and at any time using our online chat service. They can also discuss claims against bus companies in more detail as well.
Accident At Work Bus Injury Claims
Public transport accident claims could also be made by those working on buses if their accident has been caused by their employer’s negligence. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a duty of care to take steps to prevent reasonably foreseeable injuries and illnesses befalling their employees at work.
For example, they should ensure that all employees are trained to perform their jobs safely. Additionally, they should ensure that equipment is safe to use, and that safety standards are maintained.
If an employer breaches their duty of care in this regard, and you suffer injuries in a bus accident because of the breach, you could be eligible to claim bus accident compensation.
If you would like to check whether one of our solicitors could help you with your claim, please contact an advisor. They would be happy to answer any questions you might have about making bus accident claims as an employee.
An Emergency Stop On The Bus Caused Whiplash – Can I Claim?
Drivers are taught to perform an emergency stop in the event of a threatening situation. It is an evasive action and one that no driver takes unless they have no alternative option. If the duty has been breached, then you could have grounds to make a claim.
You could be eligible to claim whiplash compensation if you suffered a whiplash injury in an accident on a bus. However, injuries suffered in a road traffic accident valued at £5,000 or less are now claimed for through the Whiplash Reform Programme government portal. This is due to the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, which applies to soft tissue injuries that occurred on or after the 31st of May 2021.
Once your bus accident claim is settled, it cannot be reopened. If you hire a No Win No Fee solicitor, they can help ensure that you are claiming for the correct amount.
Call our advisors for a free valuation of your bus accident claim.
How Much Are Bus Accident Claims Worth?
If your bus accident claim is successful, your settlement may consist of two heads of claim. These are called general and special damages.
General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by your injuries. To help assign a value to your claim, legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for help. The JCG is a document that provides a guideline list of compensation brackets for different types of injuries.
In our table below, we’ve provided a few figures from the 16th edition of the JCG. These figures are only to be used as guidance.
If you suffered a whiplash injury in the bus accident, this will be valued in line with the tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. These are fixed amounts, and we have included some of the amounts from this tariff in the table below.
| Injury | Compensation Award Scale | Further Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | £150,110 to £219,070 | Moderate (c) (i) |
| Hand Injuries | £55,820 to £84,570 | Serious Damage to Both Hands (b) |
| Neck Injuries | £24,990 to £38,490 | Moderate (b) (i) |
| Elbow injuries | Up to £12,590 | Minor to moderate injuries such as a simple fracture or lacerations. (c) |
| Less serious leg injuries | Up to £11,840 | Soft tissue injuries and tibia or fibula fractures. (c) (iii) |
| Psychiatric Damage Generally | £1,540 to £5,860 | Less Severe (d) |
| Chest Injuries | Up to £3,950 | Minor (g) |
| Whiplash Tariff | £4,345 | Whiplash with a psychological injury lasting longer than 18 months, but not longer than 24 months. |
| Whiplash Tariff | £4,215 | Whiplash lasting longer than 18 months but not longer than 24 months. |
Special Damages In Bus Accident Claims
Additionally, your settlement might also include special damages. This head of claim compensates you for the financial losses caused by your injury. To claim special damages, you should submit evidence, such as receipts or invoices.
A few examples of the financial losses you could be compensated for as part of a claim for a road traffic accident include:
- Medical costs, such as medications and physical therapy.
- Loss of earnings for time spent off work, including pension contributions.
- Travel expenses, such as the cost of taxi fares to work or medical appointments.
You can contact one of our advisors to discuss what could be included in your claim. They can also provide a valuation of your potential settlement.
Claiming For A Bus Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you suffered injuries in a bus crash and would like to claim compensation, a No Win No Fee solicitor could provide you with legal support. Their services may be provided under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
When your bus passenger accident claim is supported by a No Win No Fee solicitor, they typically won’t ask you to pay upfront for their services. They don’t usually ask you to pay for any ongoing costs either. If your solicitor successfully helps you recover compensation, they take a success fee from your award. This amount is limited by the law. Your solicitor usually won’t ask for payment for their services if they don’t succeed.
Bus crashes in the UK can cause a variety of different injuries. If you have any questions about your eligibility to claim, contact our advisors. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your potential case. If it seems like it might be successful, they could pass you on to one of our solicitors. Our solicitors typically offer their services under a No Win No Fee arrangement.
Contact us today to discuss London bus accident claims on the details that follow.
- Start a claim by filling in our call back form.
- Call 0800 073 8801
- Use our live webchat at the bottom of the screen.
Helpful Links Relating To Bus Accident Claims
Additional road traffic accident claim guides:
- Cycling Accident Guide
- Pedestrian Accident Guide
- Road Traffic Accident Guide
- Car Park Accident Claims
Sites you may find helpful:
Get in touch with our advisors if you have any queries about bus accident claims.
