Make a No Win No Fee Bus Crash Claim

By Danielle Newton. Last Updated 4th October 2022. In this guide, we will look at how you might be able to make a bus crash claim. According to The Highway Code, anyone using the roads is obliged to keep other road users safe by adhering to the standard care and skill required.

bus crash claim

Bus crash claim guide

To be eligible to claim compensation, you would need to be able to provide evidence that what happened wasn’t your fault. You’d also need to show that the accident caused or worsened your injuries. Examples of evidence that you could provide to support your case will be explored later in this guide.

If you want to make a bus crash claim after your accident, our team of advisors can offer free legal advice. You may even be connected to a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel, who could help you make a personal injury claim.

Read on for more information about bus crash claims. If you want more information or are ready to start a claim today, get in touch now by calling us on 0800 408 7825

Select A Section

  1. Bus Crash Claims Explained
  2. What Could Cause A Bus Crash?
  3. Emergency Stop Bus Accidents
  4. Types Of Injuries Suffered In Bus Crashes
  5. Will The Whiplash Reform Program Affect Your Bus Crash Claim?
  6. Bus Crash Claim Calculator
  7. Contact Us About Your No Win No Fee Bus Crash Claim
  8. Related Road Traffic Accident Claims 

Bus Crash Claims Explained

A bus crash could happen in a variety of ways. For example, if your bus driver is driving dangerously and you are thrown from your seat, this could cause you personal injury that you could claim compensation for. 

Alternatively, a bus could crash into you as another road user, like a pedestrian or cyclist. No matter your situation, you could suffer from breaks, fractures, sprains, whiplash or mental health issues because of your bus crash. 

To make a claim, it is helpful first to collect evidence relevant to your case. Helpful evidence can include:

  • Photographs of the situation or injury
  • CCTV footage
  • Witness contact details for statements at a later date 
  • Medical records

A medical assessment will be provided as part of your claim, but it’s important to seek medical help as soon as possible after the accident. Records from the time of your accident can help the validity of your claim. 

When making your claim, you could seek two different types of compensation: general and special damages. General damages cover any physical or mental injuries caused by the accident. Special damages cover direct financial costs caused by your injuries.

What Could Cause A Bus Crash? 

There are many different situations in which a bus crash could happen:

  •     Emergency stop and emergency braking accidents
  •     Crashes caused by the bus driver or another employee
  •     Road traffic accidents caused by other road users
  •     Crashes in which pedestrians are involved
  •     Those caused by poor road conditions
  •     Crashes caused by mechanical failure

For example, if you’re crossing the road at a zebra crossing and a bus fails to stop within a safe distance of you and knocks you down, you could claim compensation for your injuries. Or, if you’re on the bus and knocked out of your seat and injured after it goes over a large pot-hole in a public road, you may be able to claim from the local council or relevant party that was aware of the hazard but failed to fix it. 

Emergency Stop Bus Accidents 

An emergency stop is when a motorist has to press hard on the brakes to avoid a collision. For example, if someone is driving and a child runs out into the road without looking, the driver will have to make an emergency stop to ensure they don’t hit that child.  

An emergency braking bus accident follows the same rules. However, in the case of an accident, it could be that the emergency braking has propelled someone forward with force, perhaps into the seat in front, causing injury to their person. 

There are various instances in which a bus would need to make an emergency stop. It could be a mechanical failure or to avoid collision with another road user or pedestrian. 

When Could You Make A Bus Crash Claim For Emergency Stops?

The emergency stop may have been caused by the bus driver’s negligent driving. Alternatively, it may have been a mechanical failure caused by the controller of the bus neglecting to ensure it’s safe to drive. In these situations, if the emergency stop causes you injury, you could claim against the bus company.

However, the bus may have needed to stop because a car user on the road acted recklessly. The driver may have done what’s reasonable to keep you safe but you suffered injuries anyway. In that instance, you could claim against the car driver. 

Types Of Injuries Suffered In Bus Crashes

You could suffer a variety of injuries in a bus crash. You could suffer from fractures, breaks, sprains, strains or whiplash. Even if your injury is not listed here, you could still make a valid claim for compensation if medical records indicate that you have been injured in some way. 

Although there are a variety of safety measures taken for bus drivers, users and those who have to share the road with them, there is always the opportunity for accidents to happen. 

Due to the comparative size of buses on the road, it’s likely that most accidents will not result in grievous harm if you’re a bus user. However, in worst-case scenarios, a bad bus accident could end fatally.

Will The Whiplash Reform Program Affect Your Bus Crash Claim?

As of the 31st of May 2021, the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 changed the way minor injuries acquired in road traffic accidents are claimed for. This includes minor injuries from bus accidents. Bus accident claims for minor injuries must be made through the Whiplash Reform Programme government portal. A minor injury is considered to be an injury valued at £5,000 or less.

When making a bus accident claim, it is important that all your injuries are accounted for. This is because once bus accident claims are settled, they cannot be reopened. Before claiming, you may wish to contact a specialist road traffic accident lawyer. A solicitor can help ensure that your claim is fully filed with all injuries accounted for.

Get in touch with our advisors for more information on bus accident claims.

Bus Crash Claim Calculator

Please see below for our table of compensation for possible injuries in a bus crash claim. These figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines, which is used to value various injuries.

Edit
Injury Severity Amount Notes
Neck Moderate (ii) £13,740 to
£24,990
This involves cases where a soft tissue injury results in recurring pain and limitation of movement. Also includes the possible need for surgery.
Neck Minor (i) £4,350 to
£7,890
This involves cases where a full recovery has taken place between three months and a year.
Back Moderate (ii) £12,510 to £27,760 This involves cases where there is a disturbance of ligaments and muscles that causes backache, soft tissue injuries or the worsening of a pre-existing condition. May also be judged on severity of original injury, impact of symptoms and ability to engage with life.
Shoulder Moderate £7,890 to £12,770 This involves cases where the shoulder is limited in movement, and discomfort and symptoms persist for about two years.
Shoulder Minor (i) £4,350 to £7,890 This involves cases where a soft tissue injury to the shoulder causes pain, but there has been an almost complete recovery. Will also be judged on severity of original injury, degree of pain and ongoing symptoms.

It is important to note that these figures are just estimates, and each case is valued individually. If you get in touch with one of our advisors, they can give you more information.

You may claim for special damages as well. This covers financial losses or expenses that you have had to cover or may have to cover in the future due to your injuries. This could be:

  • Loss of past and future wages
  • Medical expenses
  • Travel expenses
  • Adjustments to the home

In order to claim special damages, you will need to provide proof that you have had to pay out of pocket. For example, you could show invoices for private physiotherapy services that the NHS couldn’t cover or bank statements to show income changes.

Contact Us About Your No Win No Fee Bus Crash Claim

We hope this guide has answered any questions you may have had about making a bus crash claim. 

If you are connected with one of the personal injury lawyers on our panel, they can represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay your solicitor their fee or make any upfront or ongoing solicitor fee payments. 

If your claim is successful, your solicitor will take a legally capped fee from the compensation. However, you’ll know the percentage of the fee before you agree to using the services of the solicitor. What’s more, the fee will only be taken after the compensation has come through.

If you’ve judged by our bus crash injuries calculator table that you could make a personal injury claim, get in touch today.

  • Call us on 0800 408 7825
  • Alternatively, you can get in touch via our website.
  • Use our live chat to speak to an advisor online.

Related Road Traffic Accident Claims 

Public Bus Accident Compensation Claims Guide – A comprehensive guide to claiming compensation after an accident on a public bus. 

Car Accident on a Public Road Claims Guide – A comprehensive guide to claiming compensation after a car accident on a public road. 

Public Road Accident Claims Guide – A comprehensive guide to claiming after an accident on a public road. 

The Highway Code – Guidelines on appropriate behaviour for road users. 

Physiotherapy Services – Find physiotherapy in your area on the NHS website.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents –  A charity that aims to reduce the rate of accidental injury through advice and guidance.

We also have some other guides you may find useful:

Thank you for reading our guide on the process of a bus crash claim. 

Article by AO

Publisher UI