Bus and coach travel in the UK is generally very safe. However, accidents and collisions still happen. Importantly, if you’ve been injured by the negligence of the bus driver, the coach company, or 
another road user, you may be eligible to make a bus accident claim for compensation.
We specialise in personal injury and public transport accident claims. If you contact our claims advisors, you’ll get free legal advice about your options during a no-obligation telephone consultation. If your advisor decides a bus accident claim is viable, they could put you in touch with a personal injury solicitor from our team.
You can call 0800 6524 881 if you’d like to talk through what’s happened right now, or just read on to learn more about how bus accident compensation claims generally work first.
Table of contents
- Am I Eligible To Make A Bus Accident Claim?
- What Should I Do After A Bus Accident?
- Common Causes Of Bus & Coach Accident Claims
- Common Injuries From Bus & Coach Accidents
- How Much Compensation Do You Get For A Bus Accident?
- Evidence To Support A Bus Accident Claim
- Time Limits For Claiming Bus Accident Compensation
- Why Choose Our Solicitors To Make A Bus Accident Claim?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Starting The Bus Accident Claims Process
Am I Eligible To Make A Bus Accident Claim?
Under laws such as the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1990, bus drivers and bus operators owe passengers and other road users a legal duty of care to drive and operate their vehicles safely.
Therefore, you may be eligible to make a bus accident claim, where:
- The bus driver, operator, or another road user owed you a duty of care;
- That duty was breached through negligence; and
- You suffered an injury as a result.
For example, you may have a claim if you were injured as a bus passenger during a collision, while boarding or leaving a bus, or because a driver braked suddenly due to negligent driving.
What Should I Do After A Bus Accident?
If you’re involved in a bus accident, your safety should come first.
- Seek medical help if needed. If anybody is seriously injured, call 999 and seek medical assistance right away.
- Report the bus accident. Inform the bus driver or operator so the incident can be recorded. Bus companies usually keep internal accident reports that may later help confirm what happened.
- Note key details. Try to record the bus company name, route number, location and time of the incident, as this can help identify the driver and vehicle involved.
- Get medical advice. Even if your injuries seem minor at first, it is sensible to seek medical advice. Some injuries, such as soft tissue injuries or concussions, may not become obvious until hours or days later.
Taking these steps can help protect your health and may also make it easier to support a bus accident claim later on.
Common Causes Of Bus & Coach Accident Claims
The public transport system in the UK has a high level of health and safety standards, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Accidents may happen for a whole range of reasons, including:
- Driver tiredness or distraction.
- Sudden braking, harsh cornering, or pulling away before passengers are seated.
- Failing to signal properly or give way to other road users.
- Poorly maintained buses (e.g., faulty brakes or worn tyres).
- The bus moving off before passengers have safely boarded or exited.
Once your solicitor knows what caused your bus or coach accident, they’ll work out who’s legally responsible for it.
Common Injuries From Bus & Coach Accidents
Bus and coach accidents can lead to all sorts of injuries, some of which might not show up straight away. Some typical injuries are:
Even something that seems minor at first can end up lingering. If it’s affecting your daily life, it’s worth finding out if you can claim.
How Much Compensation Do You Get For A Bus Accident?
There isn’t a set amount of compensation for a bus or coach accident, as it depends on your injuries, how long they take to heal, and what kind of dent they’ve made in your life. Instead, your solicitor will usually calculate a settlement based on two main factors:
- General damages – for physical pain, suffering, and loss of amenity.
- Special damages – for financial losses caused by the accident (e.g., lost income, travel, care, or treatment costs).
When you speak with us, we’ll review exactly what you could claim compensation for.
Bus Accident Compensation Calculator
Here, we have added a bus injury compensation calculator that uses data for general damages from the Judicial College. Their guideline figures are used by solicitors, lawyers, and insurers to help calculate settlements.
Evidence To Support A Bus Accident Claim
Evidence is everything in these cases. You don’t need to turn detective, but the more you can pull together, the easier it is to prove what really happened. Things like:
- A copy of the accident report filed with the bus or coach company and/or police.
- Medical notes showing your injuries and any treatment.
- Bus driver’s details, bus number and route, and the date and time of the accident.
- Names and contact numbers of witnesses (bus passengers, pedestrians, other motorists).
- Photos or videos of the scene and visible injuries.
- CCTV footage from the bus or nearby cameras (bus companies often record incidents on board).
- Proof of any costs you’ve racked up, such as prescription receipts and lost wages.
If you don’t have everything, that’s fine. Your solicitor can help with gathering evidence once they’re on board.
Time Limits For Claiming Bus Accident Compensation
You’ll usually have three years to start a bus or coach accident claim, in most cases, from the day the bus accident happened.
Importantly, there are some exceptions to this rule. However, it’s best to check with a solicitor from our team to make sure the usual three-year limit applies in your situation.
- Children – The time limit starts on their 18th birthday.
- Lack of mental capacity – No time limit until capacity is regained.
We’d always suggest getting things moving sooner rather than later. The longer you leave it, the harder it can be to find evidence like CCTV or witness statements.
Why Choose Our Solicitors To Make A Bus Accident Claim?
If you’ve ever tried dealing with an insurer on your own, you’ll know how quickly your patience can wear thin. Their job, bluntly, is to save the bus company money. Ours is to make sure you get any compensation you’re entitled to.
Our solicitors know the ins and outs of bus and coach claims. They’ll gather the right evidence, deal with all the forms, and negotiate directly with the insurer so you don’t have to. You’ll get regular updates, clear advice, and no sugar-coating, just straight answers from people who’ve done this many times before.
Not only that, but our team of solicitors handles all bus accident claims using a No Win No Fee agreement. Put simply:
- You don’t pay anything up-front.
- If your claim doesn’t succeed, you don’t owe us a penny.
- If the claim is won, a capped success fee (usually up to 25%) comes out of the settlement.
This means you can pursue your bus accident compensation claim without worrying about legal costs spiralling or unexpected fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve answered some common questions on bus accident compensation claims.
What should I do straight after a bus accident?
Try to stay calm and make sure you’re safe. Report the accident to the driver or bus/coach company, take photos if possible, and get contact details for any witnesses. Always get yourself checked by a doctor, even if your injuries seem minor, and keep any medical records. When you’re ready, speak to a solicitor who can advise you about starting a claim.
How do I claim after a bus accident?
It usually starts with a chat with a solicitor who deals with public transport or road traffic accidents. They’ll look at what happened and explain whether you’ve got a viable claim. If you do, they’ll handle most of the legwork for you while you focus on your recovery.
Who pays my compensation?
It’s normally the bus company’s insurance provider who covers your compensation, not the driver personally. If another motorist caused the crash, their insurer may be the one paying instead. Your solicitor will figure out who’s legally responsible and handle everything with the insurers on your behalf.
What happens if the bus driver’s negligence caused the crash?
If it turns out a bus driver’s negligence caused the crash, your claim would usually go against the driver’s employer (the bus company) rather than the driver, but every case is different. A personal injury solicitor with experience in accidents on public transport can go through the details with you and figure out exactly who’s liable.
Can I still claim if I was partly to blame for the accident?
Possibly, yes. This is called contributory negligence. If you were standing when you shouldn’t have been, or didn’t hold on properly, you might still be entitled to some compensation, but it may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility. Your solicitor will talk you through how that works.
Can I claim for a child injured on a school bus?
Yes, absolutely. If your child was injured on their school bus and it wasn’t their fault, a parent or guardian can claim on their behalf. You’d act on their behalf as what’s called a litigation friend.
In the UK, children are not legally allowed to make a claim themselves until they’re 18, so if nothing’s done before then, the time limit starts on their 18th birthday. They’ve then got until they’re 21 to take it up themselves.
How long does a claim usually take?
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A straightforward bus accident claim where everybody agrees what happened and who is liable might only take a few months. A more complicated one, for example, where several parties are involved, or the injuries are serious, can take much longer.
Starting The Bus Accident Claims Process
If you think you might have a claim, or you’re just not sure, give us a call on 0800 6524 881. It’s free, and you won’t be pushed into anything.
If we think you’ve got a case, one of our experienced solicitors can take it on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning nothing to pay upfront and no fees if the claim doesn’t succeed.
To get started with a bus accident claim today, you can call us, request a callback by filling out one of our online forms, or speak to us via live chat on the website, whichever works best for you.