Bus, coach & minibus accident compensation claims

How common are bus, coach or minibus accidents?

Thankfully, due to the skill, care and attention of their drivers, who must be well trained and conform to strict health and safety regulations, accidents involving buses, coaches and minibuses are rare in the UK. 

In fact, according to the most recent data available on the Government website, detailing figures of all road accidents in the UK, of the 167,375 accidents in 2020 only 2,213 involved a bus or coach. For accidents involving minibuses, the number was even lower, at 225. 

While these figures are relatively low, such accidents are still the most common cause for public transport accident claims.

What are the most common injuries caused by bus, coach and minibus accidents? 

As is the case with all road traffic accidents, the injuries suffered by anyone involved in a bus, coach or minibus accident will depend on the circumstances of the accident, the cause and the result of it. Therefore, it is difficult to detail every possibility. 

Generally however, the injuries suffered are often similar to those received in other types of road traffic accident, such as: 

• Bone breaks or fractures
• Damage to ligaments, muscles, tendons and other soft tissue
• Head injuries
• Back and/or neck injuries
• Cuts and bruises
• Sprains, strains, tears and pulls

What should I do if I'm injured in a bus or coach accident? 

If you're injured in a bus or coach accident, as the first port of call you should of course ensure you get any medical attention and care you require, as soon as possible. 

It is likely the emergency services will be called to respond to any accident you're involved in, so be sure to alert the responders, beit paramedics, the police or firefighters, and let them know of your injuries. 

Looking ahead, as you begin your recovery you may wish to consider claiming compensation for any injuries you've suffered. If so, it is important to - if you can - retain any evidence or details that may help you with your claim. 

So be sure to keep your bus ticket, ensure the bus or coach company knows you were injured on board and make note of the driver's name and the bus number, take the registration numbers of all vehicles involved, and take pictures if possible. 

When you're ready to talk about making a claim, National Accident Helpline are here, waiting to help you get the compensation you deserve and help you on your journey to recover. You can give us a call on , request a call back or use our claim online tool to see if you can start your claim online.

Do bus drivers have a duty of care to passengers?

In accordance with The Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990, bus drivers do indeed have a duty of care to their passengers. 

It is the job of the driver to ensure that all passengers are safe, and that their driving, behaviour and everything within their control doesn't put anyone on board their bus at risk of danger. 

If a driver fails in their duty of care, and you are injured in an incident that the driver could have avoided, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

It is worth noting that, as a passenger, you have a duty of care to yourself and your fellow passengers too, and that not all incidents can, or will, be blamed on the bus driver and/or the bus company. 

Can I make a bus or coach accident compensation claim? 

If you've been injured in an accident that wasn't your fault, whether you were on board a bus or coach, or another party involved in the accident, you may well be entitled to make a compensation claim for your injuries and to help you on your road to recovery. 

At National Accident Helpline, we're ready to help you make your bus or coach accident compensation claim. Our friendly advisors will hear your story and be able to tell you whether you'll be able to claim. 

So, to find out if you can make a claim, call us on , request a call back or use our claim online tool to see if you can start your claim online.

What do I need to prove in a bus accident compensation claim? 

To help us ensure your bus accident compensation claim is successful, it is important that you collect all the details and information about your accident that you can, as well as any proof that the accident wasn't your fault, in addition to records of the injuries you suffered. 

As already mentioned, after the accident be sure to, if possible: 

• Keep your bus ticket
• Ensure the bus or coach company knows you were injured on board 
• Make note of the driver's name and the bus number
• Take the registration numbers of all vehicles involved, and details of the drivers
• Take pictures if you can, and look for CCTV, making note of camera locations
• If you were hit by a bus when driving a vehicle, exchange details with the bus driver
• Get contact details of any potential witnesses

Additionally, following any medical treatment you receive for your injuries, it is important to obtain evidence of your medical records, as these will help to build and support your compensation claim. 

Will I need to attend a medical examination? 

As stated in the previous section, evidence of your injuries and your medical records post-accident are an important part of building and supporting any accident compensation claim. 

Therefore, we highly recommend that you seek an independent medical opinion. In some cases, when details of an accident and any injuries suffered are difficult to gauge, it is in fact mandatory to have a medical examination. 

To make this process easier, your solicitor will arrange a medical assessment for you with a government-approved agency - usually it'll be local to you. The assessment can take up to an hour, depending on the nature of your injury, and the medical professional will review your treatment notes. 

While it's not a physical examination, they will usually ask you to make certain movements so they can judge injury impact.

How much compensation could I receive for a bus accident claim? 

Every accident involving a bus, coach or minibus is different, and therefore so are the types and severity of any injuries caused by such an accident. 

With this in mind, it is difficult to provide an exact amount that you could be awarded for making a successful bus accident claim without knowing the full details of your accident and your injuries. 

To find out how much compensation for a bus accident you could claim, speak with our friendly team who'll listen to your story, get an understanding of your situation and explain how we can help you get your life back on track. 

Call us on or request a call back when you're ready - we're waiting to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, perhaps use our bus accident compensation calculator for an idea of the compensation you could claim.

How could compensation help?

If you've been injured in a bus accident that wasn't your fault, it's likely that - in some way - your life has been changed through no fault of your own too. 

By making a successful bus accident claim, the compensation you receive can help you get your life back by covering any financial losses you've had, or help to pay any additional costs you've had to pay because of your accident and/or injury. 

In addition to any money, your compensation claim may also lead to you receiving an apology from the other side. This may help set your mind at ease regarding your accident, confirming that it indeed wasn't your fault and helping you to move on from what's happened.

How long do I have to start a claim after a bus or coach accident? 

Under UK law, to be eligible to claim compensation for your accident, you usually have a three-year time limit from when the accident occured. Additionally, the accident must have been wholly or at least partially the fault of someone else. 

When thinking of making a compensation claim for your bus, coach or minibus accident, consider the following:

• If you were over 18 at the time of your accident , you have three years from the date of the accident to make a personal injury claim for compensation 
• If you were under 18 at the time of your accident, you have 3 years from your 18th birthday - until age 21 - to make a personal injury claim for compensation 

In some cases, such as situations when you or a loved one you're claiming on behalf of has impared psychological function from a serious head or brain injury caused by a bus, coach or minibus accident, the time scale for a claim may be longer. 

While there is a limit on the time in which you can make a claim, be assured that at National Accident Helpline we'll never rush or pressure you. We'll simply be here, ready and waiting to help you if and when you do wish to make a claim.

How long could my bus or coach accident compensation claim take to settle? 

Similar to how much compensation you may receive, the amount of time your bus or coach accident claim could take will depend on your accident and the circumstances around it, as well as the complexity of the investigation into your case. 

In rare cases, you may be lucky to settle your claim in around three months. But this is reliant on the other side admitting liability early, therefore reducing the amount of investigation required. 

It's likely however that you'll need to be prepared for it to take some time, especially if the other side denies, or disputes, liability. Negotiations can be a long process too. Generally, there are a lot of variables that could cause delay. 

When you speak with a National Accident Helpline solicitor, they will be able to give you some idea of how long they expect the claim to take, based on your claim, circumstances and their experience of taking care of similar claims previously. 

Will I need to go to court? 

It's not likely that you'll need to go to court for your claim. In fact only about 5% of our claims require a court hearing, and in most cases - even if your solicitor brings about legal proceedings against the other side in your claim - negotiations will often ensure all parties are kept out of court. 

There is always a small chance of your case going to court, as not all claims are the same. However, you may not need to be present in court yourself. 

Your solicitor will of course advise you of any court requirements and what you may need to do for them.

Can I make a no win no fee bus accident compensation claim? 

If you were hurt in an accident that wasn't your fault, yes you can. We work on a no win no fee basis on the vast majority of claims we handle, meaning that if we lose your claim, you'll have nothing to pay to us or anyone else. 

A no win no fee agreement is the contract between you and the personal injury lawyer we appoint for you.

•  There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges.
•  If you don't win your claim, you pay nothing to anyone.
•  Your lawyer may need to arrange insurance for you to ensure claiming is risk free.
•  You'll never be left out of pocket - that's our guarantee.

Your solicitor will talk to you about no win no fee, our fixed fee structure and what we can do for you if we think you can't claim on a no win no fee basis at the start of your claim, so you've all the information you need to make a decision.

Can I claim on behalf of a loved one or family member? 

You can, depending on the circumstances surrounding a bus or coach accident and the injuries suffered from it, make a claim on behalf of a loved one. 

For example, if a loved one has suffered a brain or head trauma from an accident, or has a pre-existing medical condition meaning they can't - in the opinion of a medical professional - make their own decisions, you can claim on their behalf. You can also claim for your loved one or child if they were injured in an accident and under the age of 18. 

As is the case with any claim, it is important to have as much detail of your loved one's accident and injuries when you speak with one of our solicitors. This information will help us investigate your claim and explain how it will work.

What if my child was injured in a bus accident? 

If your child was injured in a bus, coach or minibus accident, and they are under the age of 18, you will be able to make a no win no fee compensation claim on their behalf, as outlined above. 

Do I need to use a bus accident solicitor to make a claim? 

We would strongly advise doing so, yes. 

If you were to try and make a direct claim against the bus, coach or minibus company/owner, and any other parties involved on their side, it is likely that you would be left to deal with their insurers. This would leave you in a stressful, potentially difficult and costly situation, in a case that you're not as likely to win. 

But, with one of our solicitors by your side, an expert who has years of experience in investigating accidents like yours and making successful no win no fee claims, you'll have the best possible chance of getting the compensation and help you deserve.